Telecommunications Operator Trainee (9-1-1 Dispatchers)

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

WHO CAN APPLY - Persons working or residing in Edmonton or Red Deer, Alberta or within a 500 km radius of Edmonton, Alberta.

COMPLETED AN INTEVIEW IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS?

If you have completed an interview at the PO-TCO-01 level with in the last 6 months, the results will remain valid until 6 months has lapsed. Those results will be applied to this staffing process. You are encouraged to submit an application, please indicate on your cover letter the previous selection process you applied on.

WHAT’S NEXT?

1. BEFORE APPLYING, you are strongly encouraged to watch a short video www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4gJzrvpYTk to make sure that this work environment is right for you.

2. SUMBIT AN APPLICATION, by clicking on the “Apply Now” button at the end of this job advertisement. You must clearly demonstrate in your responses to the screening questions how you meet the education and experience by providing concrete examples. It is insufficient to only state that the requirement is met or to provide a list of your current responsibilities. FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT AND APPROPRIATE INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN ELIMINATION FROM THE PROCESS.

3. KEY DATES, dates noted are anticipated/approximate:
• September 6, 2022, CAREER PRESENTATION - You are required to attend a Career Presentation.
• September 9-16, 2002, CRITICALL EXAM** – Only those who attend the Career Presentation will be able to register for the CritiCall exam.
*Additional information on the CritiCall Exam can be found under “Other information.”
• September 19-26, 2022, INTERVIEW – Once you have been found successful on the exam will be required to participate in an interview.

Work environment

You don't have to wear a uniform to make a difference! As a Telecommunications Operator (9-1-1 Dispatcher), you have the opportunity to assist the public who are facing a crisis by getting them the resources and help they need.

9-1-1 Dispatchers provide a critical service within the RCMP that support both public and officer safety through the provision of information and assistance. They monitor police resources and systems with computer aided dispatch/monitoring systems and respond to public requests for police assistance, and provide emergency services as a Public Safety Answering Point for 9-1-1.

9-1-1 Dispatchers are often the first point of contact with people who call the RCMP and are the hidden back bone for the work that our police officers carry out in communities across Canada.
For more information on the role, please visit: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/telecommunications-operators-9-1-1-dispatcher

SHIFT WORK*:
The 9-1-1 Dispatch Centres operates 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days a year and are located across the country in municipal, provincial, federal Communication Centres. 9-1-1 Dispatchers are required to work irregular hours (mornings, evenings, weekends, and statutory holidays).

Intent of the process

The intent of the process is to establish a pool of qualified applicants for the training program. Positions may be staffed via specified term, acting appointments or assignments.

Candidates who qualify at the TCO-01 (trainee) level and are selected for the Telecommunications Operator Training Program will be appointed to a determinate (term) appointment at the TCO-01 group and level.

Upon initial appointment as a Police Dispatcher Trainee, continued employment is conditional upon successful completion of classroom training, field coaching, simulation exams and proficiency evaluations for call-taking and dispatching.

Only the TCO-01 who successfully complete the training program will be placed in a pool of qualified TCO-02 which may be used to appoint determinately (term) or indeterminately (permanent) at the TCO-02 group and level (Annual salary: $56,837 to $66,496, plus shift premiums/allowances. Salary under review).

Should a Civilian Member (CM) be found qualified and selected for appointment, the appointment will not result in a change of status to the Public Service (PS) category for the CM. Information regarding the CM appointment will be sent to all applicable candidates who are within the area of selection and participated in the advertised process.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

A covering letter "In 500 words or less, using proper grammar, sentence structure and paragraphs, please explain why you are choosing to apply for this job posting. Include a few paragraphs describing your work experience over the past five years. >>Please do not include your resume as part of your cover letter as it is not required at this time."

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

EDUCATION
• A secondary school diploma, or a satisfactory score on the Public Service Commission test approved as an alternative to a secondary school diploma.

Degree equivalency

The following 2 competencies will be assessed throughout the application process:
• Communication (written)
• Ability to follow instructions

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS
• Call-taking or dispatching in a police agency
• Experience working in an environment that requires multitasking
• Experience providing advice or services to the public
• Experience using a computer and computer applications (such as databases and word processing).

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• Travel (e.g. for the purposes of attending mandatory training, or testifying in a court of law)
• Work on short notice and overtime to meet operational needs.
• Upon initial appointment as a Police Dispatcher Trainee, continued employment is conditional upon successful completion of classroom training, field coaching, simulation exams and proficiency evaluations for call-taking and dispatching.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English essential

Information on language requirements

COMPETENCIES
1. Communication
2. Composure
3. Conscientiousness
4. Develops Self
5. Flexibility
6. Meeting Client Needs
7. Problem Solving
8. Teamwork

• Effectively communicate – oral

The following abilities are assessed using CritiCall, a computer program specifically designed to test knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for success in high-stress dispatch environments. For more information, applicants are encouraged to consult: https://criticall911.com/dispatcher-testing/applicants/
• Effectively communicate – written
• Recall details such as addresses, phone numbers and licence plates while performing other tasks
• Prioritize
• Read Maps
• Type 40 w.p.m. with less than 5% error rate (Applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure their typing skills are within the required limits prior to submitting application. Please note that over half of applicants do not pass the CritiCall Exam due to inability to meet the typing requirement).

Conditions of employment

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
• RCMP Enhanced Reliability Status (ERS) security clearance.
Those selected must meet and maintain the above condition of employment throughout their employment.
» » The successful applicant will have to obtain, as a minimum, an RCMP Enhanced Reliability Status (ERS). The process requires a Security/Reliability Interview and a field investigation in matters of credit/finances, education, employment, references, etc.
• Work shift work (24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year)
• Meet and maintain the medical profile standards established for the position, and (if applicable) any additional medical requirements for isolated posts, in accordance with the National Joint Council Isolated Posts and Government Housing Directive
• Exposure to emotionally charged clients and incidents which may be traumatic, violent and disturbing
• Work in a confined or restrictive workspace, wear a headset and exposure to multiple computer screens and noise disturbances for extended periods of time

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

For this selection process, only on-line applications received via the https://www.canada.ca/en.html site will be accepted.

Our intension is to communicate with applicants by e-mail for screening/assessment purposes (including sending invitations for written tests and interviews). Applicants who apply to this selection process must include in their application a valid e-mail address, and ensure this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence and telephone conversations, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

The CritiCall exam assesses the following:
Decision making, keyboarding (minimum 40 words per minute), data entry (multi-tasking), data entry (multi-tasking with audio), memory recall: (audio), call summarization (multi-tasking), map reading, reading comprehension, spelling.

Candidates who have successfully passed Criticall will have their results applied to current and future Telecommunications Operator Trainee processes in Alberta on which they have applied or will apply if Criticall was completed within the last 365 days.

Candidates invited to an interview will be required to bring proof of their education credentials, in the form of a diploma or official transcript (original documents only). Candidates who are unable to provide proof that they meet this essential qualification as requested may be eliminated from the process.

Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca/

The Telecommunications Operator Training Program is comprised of in-class training followed by field coaching.

Telecommunication Operators including Trainees (9-1-1 Police Dispatchers) occupy safety-sensitive positions and as such, must refrain from using recreational cannabis 28 days prior to reporting to work. A safety-sensitive position is a position in which the employee has a role in an RCMP operation or an operational support role where impairment could result in:

• a serious accident, injury, fatality or incident affecting the health and/or safety of employees, the public, or the work environment, and;
• poor decision making, which could lead to an inadequate response and/or failure to respond to an emergency situation

In accordance with paragraph 8(2)(a) of the Privacy Act, information or material, whether provided directly by the candidate or otherwise obtained by the selection board, used during the selection process for the purpose of assessing a candidate may be used as part of the selection review and recourse processes. Such relevant information may be provided to third parties, such as other candidates or their representatives, who have a legitimate reason to be aware of that information.

A random or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

Assessments comprise of an examination, interview and references.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Candidates from outside the federal public service may be required to pay for their own travel and relocation expenses.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.