Visitor Safety and Fire Operations Coordinator

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

Parks Canada is working with the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation to provide rental housing to Parks Canada team members. A Parks Canada position in Łutsël K’é is eligible for an Isolated Post Allowance to adjust for the higher cost of living. Please note, all rates listed below are subject to change. As of August 2020, the applicable annual rates are:
• Environmental allowance $8,320 (with dependants) / $4,992 (no dependents)
• Living cost differential $17,984 (with dependants) / $10,791 (no dependents)
• Fuel and utilities differential (not applicable if in Parks Canada rental housing with utilities included) $7,375 (with dependants) / $4,425 (no dependants)

Parks Canada also provides a vacation travel allowance (VTA). The VTA provides financial assistance to staff to travel to their nearest southern hub, which for Łutsël K’é is Edmonton. As of March 20, 2020, the VTA supported two trips a year from Łutsël K’é. Adults are able to apply for $1,556 per trip and children $1,460. The exact amount may be adjusted twice a year.

Duties

The successful candidate will be the first Visitor Safety and Fire Operations (VSFO) Coordinator for Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve. They will be responsible for developing and implementing the Park’s Visitor Safety Program. Responsibilities include visitor-risk management, wildfire risk management, and incident management and response. The VSFO Coordinator also supports, as and when needed, the field unit visitor safety program.

As the park is new, the VSFO Coordinator must research and develop the park’s visitor safety plans. All work is guided by Parks Canada's Indigenous management partners and national policy. The plans include visitor safety risk management, incident response, and wildlife safety. The VSFO Coordinator also supports the development of fire management plans. To succeed you need strong analytical and writing skills, and the ability to collaborate and work with partners.

Other duties include:
• Develop and maintain capacity to respond to visitor safety incidents within the park.
• Identify visitor safety risks and mitigation strategies (e.g., education and communication initiatives) to reduce the number and severity of incidents.
• Collect and manage incident data. Coordinate after action reviews (AARs), writereports and provide recommendations to park management.
• Improve protocols and plans through adaptive management.
• Develop and manage partnerships with other government agencies and emergency response service providers. This may include the development of arrangements, agreements, and/or memorandums of understanding (MOUs).
• Liaise with staff, partners, stakeholders, suppliers and the public.
• Coordinate staff medical, fitness and training requirements.
• Coordinate staff PPE requirements.
• Acquire, maintain and issue incident response equipment.

Work environment

The boreal forest and barrenlands converge in a stunning combination of lake, forest, river and plain in Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve. The 14,305km2 park includes part of the East Arm of Great Slave Lake, and innumerable smaller lakes. The Park Reserve is a culturally rich area. It includes hunting, fishing, gathering and spiritual areas used by Indigenous peoples. For the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation, Thaidene Nëné is the heart of their homeland and a sacred place. Thaidene Nëné means ‘Land of the Ancestors’ in Dënesųłiné Yati. The Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Deninu K’ue First Nation and Yellowknives Dene First Nation also have traditional and cultural ties to the area. Parks Canada works with these four Indigenous partners to manage Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve, a component of Thaidene Nëné.

Parks Canada and its Indigenous partners are just starting to build operations for Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve. The park office is located in Łutsël K’é, Northwest Territories. For the next few years, Parks Canada will have a small number of staff working from a temporary officeshared with Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation. A new multi-purpose office building and visitor centre are being built by Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, which will include Parks Canada’s permanent office in the community. With the completion of the new building and better knowledge of what is needed for operations, the Parks Canada staff will start expanding to full capacity.
Łutsël K’é is the nearest community to Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve. It is a small community of about 300 people. Łutsël K’é has an airport, K-12 school, store and hotel, community hall and arena. The community owned and operated Frontier Lodge is nearby. This scenic, Denesǫłine community is accessible only by air, boat or snowmobile. The community is a 45-minute flight from Yellowknife. Scheduled flights go between Łutsël K'é and Yellowknife at least once per day, every day of the week.

Łutsël K’é is approximately a 15-minute boat ride to the park boundary. It is an ideal spot to begin sightseeing, fishing, and paddling trips in Christie and McLeod Bays, and over Pike's Portage into the muskox and caribou-rich barrenlands. The Łutsel K’é Denesǫłine maintain a rich, land-based culture tied to Thaidene Nëné. There are local guides and outfitters that are happy to showcase the wonders of Thaidene Nëné and their Indigenous way of life to visitors.

Further west on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, is Fort Resolution. This community is home to Deninu Kue First Nation and the Fort Resolution Métis Council of the Northwest Territories Métis Nation.

Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve is a fly/boat-in park. Staff must be comfortable flying in small aircraft (i.e., float planes and helicopters), and experience operating boats is a huge asset. The VSOF Coordinator position is primarily office based. The successful candidate will work in Łutsël K’é and spend some time in the National Park Reserve. Travel for meetings in Yellowknife and other locations will also be required.

The successful candidate must be willing to work shifts on holidays, evenings and weekends. Shifts may also include single and multi-day trips into Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve. There are minimal park facilities and infrastructure, thus the majority of field work will involve tent-based camping.

Intent of the process

The results of this process may be used to create a list of potential candidates to fill permanent or temporary vacancies that may arise at the GT-04 group and level in the Southwest NWT Field Unit, for various tenures, such as: Indeterminate, Term, Acting Assignment or Assignment at level.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 2,500 words (maximum) "Applicants must clearly demonstrate in their cover letter how they meet the Education and Experience criteria listed in the Statement of Qualifications (see below). Applicants must list both of these factors in their cover letter, and then write one or two paragraphs for each demonstrating how they meet these factors by providing concrete examples. Please note that it is not sufficient to only state that these factors are met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. Resumes will be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described in the cover letter."

Contact information for 3 references.

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

Education

Graduation from post-secondary studies (minimum of 2-year program) in outdoor recreation, public safety or other discipline relevant to the the position, or an acceptable combination of education, training and experience in a field related to the position.

*Proof of education must be submitted with application. Failure to provide a copy of the certificate with your application will result in your application not being assessed further.

Degree equivalency

Experience

• Experience participating in incident response operations (i.e., search and rescue and/or human-wildlife conflict);
• Experience working in a leadership role within a team setting;
• Experience developing and writing protocols and plans;
• Experience working and travelling in remote wilderness environments for prolonged periods of time (i.e., 8 days or more).

Preference may be given to candidates who also have:
• Experience participating in incident response operations for wildland fire management;
• Experience developing and delivering training modules, and/or presentations;
• Experience developing and writing safety plans and/or emergency response guidelines;
• Experience working in the north and/or in a remote northern community;
• Experience with boat operations / working in a marine environment;
• Wilderness First Responder certification (80hrs) or higher;
• Incident Command System (ICS) 300;
• Wildlife Human Attack Response / Wildlife-Human Incident certification;
• Parks Canada Firearms Range Safety Officer and/or Long Arms Instructor certification.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge

• Knowledge of Parks Canada’s vision, mandate and objectives, especially as they relate to visitor safety;
• Knowledge of the Parks Canada Visitor Safety Directive;
• Knowledge of the Incident Command System (ICS).

Preference may be given to candidates who also have:
• Knowledge of Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve, the surrounding area and communities.
• Knowledge of one or more of the following:
o Łutsël K’é Denesǫłine culture and familiarity with Denesǫłine Yati;
o Indigenous Métis culture, language and way of life;
o Deninu K’ue Dëne Dédliné culture and familiarity with Dëne Dédliné Yati;
o Yellowknives Dene and Tetsǫ́t’ıné culture and familiarity with Tetsǫ́t’ıné Yati.
• Knowledge of climatological forecasting techniques used to assess wildland fire risk.

Abilities

• Ability to follow established incident response procedures and adapt them to changing circumstances and conditions;
• Ability to research, develop and review visitor safety program standards, requirements and/or techniques;
• Ability to write clear guidance documents (e.g., visitor safety plan, emergency response guidelines);
• Ability to collect, analyze, and present information relating to visitor safety and the causal factors of an incident;
• Ability to collaborate and work with partners;
• Ability to competently travel on and use the land.

Preference may be given to candidates who also have:
• Ability and skill in the use of long arms (shotguns and rifles).

Personal Suitability

• Exercises sound judgement;
• Connects with others;
• Makes things happen;
• Communicates effectively;
• Takes responsibility.

Conditions of employment

• Obtain and maintain a Reliability level security clearance;
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s Licence;
• Required to undergo and pass pre-placement and periodic medical checks (a pre-employment medical examination of an individual and his/her dependents is required);
• Valid Wilderness First Aid (40 hours) and CPR certificate;
• Valid Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL).


Operational Requirements
• Willingness to wear a Parks Canada uniform and personal protective equipment (PPE);
• Willingness to work and/or travel under challenging conditions. This includes complex terrain, inclement weather and transportation to remote wilderness locations by various means (i.e., rotary and fixed wing aircraft, snowmobile, and boat);
• Willingness to work shift work, irregular, overtime and/or standby hours during evenings, weekends and/or statutory holidays;
• Willingness to get certification in the operation of various forms of ground (e.g., snowmobiles) and water (motorized and non-motorized vessels) transportation as required.

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

Written test(s) may be administered.

Interviews will be conducted.

Reference checks will be conducted.

A simulation/situational exercise/role play may be used for assessment.

Parks Canada is committed to the principles of diversity and employment equity under the Employment Equity Act, and strives to ensure that our workforce reflects the diverse nature of Canadian society. We encourage women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of a visible minority group to self-identify in their cover letter.
Please submit your completed application, including all of the above-mentioned documentation. Failure to do so may result in your application being rejected.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection and appointment processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to this process, please advise the Parks Canada representative in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

The Parks Canada Agency is established as a separate employer in the Federal Public Service under the Financial Administration Act. Persons appointed to the Agency continue to be part of the Public Service. The Parks Canada Agency operates under its own human resources framework outside of the Public Service Employment Act and in line with values of fairness, competence and respect, and its operating principles.

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.

Persons who have a priority entitlement as defined by the Parks Canada Agency Priority Policy and Guidelines will be considered first.

Tips for applicants:
• Please provide complete and thorough details of your education and experience.
• Do not assume that the screening board has any previous knowledge of your background, qualifications, or work history. You must be specific and provide concrete examples/details for each Experience element, as applications will be screened only on the information provided.
• Failure to provide sufficient information may result in your application being screened out of the competition.

Persons who have received pay in lieu of unfulfilled surplus period, a Transition Support Measure (TSM) or an Educational Allowance and are re-appointed to the Parks Canada Agency are required to reimburse an amount corresponding to the period from the effective date of such reappointment or hiring, to the end of the original period for which the TSM and education allowance was paid. Please contact Vina Turner, A/Human Resources Manager if you are one of these individuals to find out how this applies to your particular situation.

Persons who are in receipt of a Canadian Government Public Service pension and are considering this employment opportunity with the Parks Canada Agency, should contact the PWGSC Public Service Pension Centre (1-800-561-7930) in order to determine the impact of an appointment on their pension benefit entitlements.

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

Contact information