Provincial Coordination Centre Watch Supervisor (3 positions) (Program Admin Officer 4)

The Government of Nova Scotia

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Emergency Management (NSDEM) is responsible for leading disaster and emergency planning, preparedness, response, and recovery activities for the Province of Nova Scotia, aiming to ensure Nova Scotians are safe, prepared, and resilient. The Department coordinates partners and resources during provincial critical incidents, supports municipal events, administers the 911 service, maintains critical communications infrastructure, and supports regional emergency management centers. The Incident Management and 911 Branch focuses on rapidly coordinating provincial response, setting standards for emergency management training, effectively managing incidents, ensuring integrated emergency responses through the Provincial Coordination Centre (PCC), strengthening critical communications, and modernizing the 911 system. NSDEM is seeking to hire three PCC Supervisors for the PCC within the Incident Management and 911 Division. Reporting to an NSDEM PCC Manager, the PCC Watch Desk is a specialized operations support unit that provides real-time situational awareness to emergency managers, government leadership, and public safety coordination & command staff. This position provides advice and guidance to partners as incidents unfold and monitors information from various sources. PCC Supervisors are the first point of contact for emergencies, including natural disasters and critical infrastructure issues, providing initial analysis on rapidly evolving incidents and making decisions and taking appropriate initial actions, sometimes with limited information. They also provide senior leadership with an early warning of evolving incidents to support a timely, proactive response. The PCC Supervisor oversees the performance of PCC Watch Desk staff during assigned shifts, ensuring compliance with operational protocols and standards, providing guidance and mentorship, conducting performance assessments, and coordinating shift schedules to maintain 24/7 operational readiness.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in emergency management, public safety, or another related field, along with at least 6 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Experience in 24/7 Emergency Operations Centers.
Public Safety Experience Under Stressful Conditions.
Experience in Emergency Response Teams during crisis situations.
Completion of a related master’s degree and four (4) years of experience (as an equivalency).
Completion of a related diploma and eight (8) years of experience (as an equivalency).
At least ten (10) years of related experience with no education (as an equivalency).
A valid Canadian Driver's License.
Immediate access to a licensed, safety-inspected, and operational motor vehicle.
Ability to acquire a Level 2 (Secret) Government Security clearance.

Nice To Haves

3 years of full-time experience in an emergency management-related field.
Experience working in a full-time 24/7 emergency operations center (EOC).
Proven ability to develop and maintain contingency plans, standard operating procedures (SOPs), response plans, and/or partnership agreements.
Advanced certifications (e.g., CEM designation).
Bilingual (English and French).

Responsibilities

Exercise sound judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving in a dynamic, high-pressure environment.
Take an active role in maintaining a real-time operational picture for government decision-makers and partners, ensuring continuous 24/7 situational awareness.
Independently assess, validate, and synthesize information from multiple sources to identify emerging patterns, escalating risks, and gaps in information, all while cross-referencing data from multiple sources to verify accuracy.
Apply professional judgment to competing priorities, adapt to rapidly evolving situations, and resolve complex operational issues with limited information.
Evaluate the impact of incidents in our cities, towns and at the provincial level to support emergency management coordination and resource deployment.
Serve as a subject matter expert on the National Alert Ready system, assisting stakeholders, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring effective alerting processes.
Work closely with the DEM Regional Operations Managers and Public Safety Field Communications team to ensure strong and coordinated regional response at the six Regional Operations Centres (REOCs).
Provide timely updates to relevant stakeholders, upload maps to critical incident websites, and present information clearly using dashboards and mapping tools.
Review, compile, and analyze data to assist in emergency response efforts, record-keeping, and data analysis.
Lead or assist in the creation of standard operating procedures, policies, and projects, including updates to the Disaster Financial Assistance Program and mapping.
Maintain up-to-date and accessible databases, assist during Provincial Coordination Center activations, and contribute to the development and implementation of innovative programs.
Determine when incidents, risks, or anomalies require escalation to DEM senior leadership, partner agencies, or emergency coordination partners, and recommend response options based on impacts and available resources.

Benefits

Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life Insurance
General illness
Short and Long Term Disability
Vacation
Employee and Family Assistance Programs
Career Development (access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career)
Engaging workplace (Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in; forward-thinking policies and strategies)
Countless Career Paths