Wildfire Comm Tech

Role Responsibilities

Are you passionate about communication technology and emergency response?

The Ministry of Forestry, Parks, and Tourism is currently seeking Wildfire Communication Technician to provide frontline support, operations, and maintenance for area and provincial telecommunication networks and sub-systems in Calgary.

As a Wildfire Communication Technician, you are responsible for:

• Designing, setting up, and maintaining all radio, data, and voice communications during wildfire and other emergency incidents. 
• Performing daily operational tests and measurements to ensure systems are effective and stable.
• Completing the radio frequency plan, monitoring, communicating, and modifying it to maintain the needs within the incident scope and scale.
• Maintaining a unit log with asset inventory, system and network designs.
• Protecting a large capital investment and ensuring networks and systems are available when needed.
• Managing a comprehensive preventative maintenance program for 150 Firenet, 11 Dispatch Centre’s, 127 Fixed Detection, and 130+ Alberta First Responders Radio Communication System Sites.
• Responding to outages, degradations, and general operational concerns in a methodical, prepared, and prioritized approach.
• Providing area communication support and expertise to enhance local area communication related needs.
• Maintaining provincial resource support systems such as the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system, Remote Camera systems, Lightning Locator Processor, Remote Automated Weather Stations, and the Firenet Data network.
• Supporting the Area and Provincial Telecom and Facilities unit by staying informed and up to date in the technical industry, maintaining a clean and safe work area, and being active on area and provincial standby rosters for outages and incident support.

As a Wildfire Communication Technician, you play a critical and vital role in ensuring Forestry staff, along with other ministry and municipal government staff, have the appropriate and dependable telecommunication platforms during wildfires, natural disasters, local emergencies, and daily operations.

Apply today and discover how you can help meet the communication needs of Albertans.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

About Your Competencies:

• Creative Problem Solving: Anticipates, assess, and readily adapts to changing priorities, maintains resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.
• Drive for Results: Strives to exceed objectives and maximize resources to achieve results aligned with the goals of the department, considerate to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Agility: Identifies alternative approaches in uncertain, complex situations, supporting others in determining and assessing strategy.
• Systems Thinking: Considers the changing environment, recognizing the work impacting a vast network of stakeholders.
• Develop Self and Others: Aims to learn from experiences, shift, and keep current with our skills and knowledge to remain competitive.

Qualifications

A two-year Electronic or Communication Technician/Technologist technical diploma, plus two (2) years of related experience in radio systems operations, wireless technology, telecommunications, or instrumentations.

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of:

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
• 1 year of experience for 1 year education.

Additional Requirements: Valid Class 5 Driver’s License or equivalent

Assets:

• Industry Canada Restricted Radio Operators Certificate – Aeronautical with Examiner status.
• Experience with or knowledge of Radio Frequency (RF) theory and Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems and equipment installation & commissioning
• Incident Command System training (ICS 100 & 200).
• Experience in IP data networks design (LAN, WAN), structural Ethernet cabling and equipment installation.
• Experience in DC power systems & SCADA systems installation (including solar), batteries installation and wiring, and in generators operations.
• Comprehensive and hands-on experience with Radio waves propagation and electronic theory, best practices and industry standards.
• Experience in tower climbing and telecom rigging (including RF connectors termination).
• Experience in analyzing and interpreting data obtained from specialized electronic test equipment such as antenna analyzers, RF spectrum analyzers and power meters, including their operation.
• Demonstrated communication skills to provide local training, local advice and technical support to fellow co-workers.

To be considered, your application must be accompanied with a cover letter that outlines how your education and experience make you suitable for the role. Your cover letter and resume will be used as a screening tool to assess your written communication skills.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards

Notes

This is a full-time, permanent opportunity located in Calgary. This position works Monday to Friday, 8:15 AM - 4:30 PM, 36.25 hours a week.

This position may require the ability to:

• Install antennas and transmission equipment on Forestry lookout towers and communication towers in excess of 150ft (requires Fall Arrest training and advance tower rescue certification, and an understanding of rigging fundamentals)
• Work for extended periods of time, on uneven ground, carry awkward heavy objects and the ability to work in high elevations (7500+ft)
• Occasionally travel throughout the province and be available for travel within the province, including in fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. This may also include travel across Canada and the United States as per the resource sharing agreement.

Application Information:

• In your application, please a include cover page detailing your interest, and role related experience. In your resume include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time or full-time. For example January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).
• Three (3) work-related references are required for those selected for an interview.
• Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

This position may require final candidates to undergo a security clearance.

What we offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive..
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.