Communication Officer

Role Responsibilities

Are you looking to contribute to the safety of your community? Do you want to be a part of a team that supports the safety needs of the Alberta Sheriffs as well as other Ministry partners with a challenging yet also rewarding position in the Sheriff Operational Communication Centre (SOCC)? If this has piqued your interest, we encourage you to apply!

The SOCC is seeking energetic, organized, and diligent individuals to provide communication support to Sheriffs Branch as well as Ministry partners. Reporting to the Communications Supervisor, Communication Officers fill a dynamic role as the primary point of contact for incident processing, resource coordination, communications and documentation during emergency and non-emergency deployments for Sheriff Peace Officers throughout the province of Alberta. Duties include simultaneous officer safety monitoring, call taking, status keeping, dispatching and complex decision making while operating an advanced multi-screen computer terminal with secure computer integrations, mapping & GPS software, Alberta First Responder Radio Communications System (AFRRCS) and software-integrated phone system.

In any situation—whether it's a Report-a-Poacher complaint, an incident on provincial highways, a Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence Force (RAPID Force) operation, the transfer of high-risk offenders between secure facilities, a wildfire, public disorder, or an incident at a government building or the Premier’s residence—the Communication Officer serves as the central hub for emergency response coordination. They facilitate communication among the Sheriffs Branch, Provincial and Federal Corrections, the RCMP, various police services of jurisdiction, Community Peace Officer Organizations, EMS, Fire Departments, and numerous non-emergency agencies. Communication Officers are responsible for managing multiple concurrent emergency and non-emergency incidents, triaging priorities in real time based on available resources and immediate threats to public safety. You will play a key role in the Ministry's commitment to promoting safe and secure communities throughout the province.

To be successful in this position, you will demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills as you interact with managers, professionals, staff and clients on a regular basis. As the ideal candidate, you will maintain a high standard of discretion through your regular exposure to confidential information. You also have the ability to remain focused, calm under pressure, and be self-motivated.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

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.

• Creative Problem Solving: Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.
• Agility: You are able to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.
• Systems Thinking: You consistently take a holistic and long-term view of challenges and opportunities at multiple levels across related areas.
• Develop Networks: You proactively build networks, connecting and building trust in relationships with different stakeholders. 
• Build Collaborative Environments: You lead and contribute to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.

Qualifications

One-year certificate in a related field; no experience required; or equivalent as described.

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

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

Preference will be given to candidates with the following:

•    Completion of an emergency communications post-secondary program.
•    Experience working in radio/emergency dispatching, telecommunications, alarm and/or control room environment. 
•    Knowledge of Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), warrants maintenance, familiarity with Computer Aided Dispatch, Record Management systems like JOIN/MOVES/ROADS.

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 for four permanent positions located in Edmonton.

Locations: 
Millbourne Professional Centre, Unit 154, 38 Ave Millwoods Road, Edmonton or 
SOCC’s offsite location located on the Alberta Legislature Grounds. 

Hours: This position works 38.75 hours per week on a rotating schedule to provide 24 hour/ 7 days a week coverage at the SOCC.

Candidates selected for an interview will also complete a computer skills assessment on the same day. The computer skills assessment test evaluates typing, listening, grammar, data entry, attention to detail, and multitasking.

Final candidates for this position will be required to obtain an enhanced security screening clearance.

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 competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

•    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.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.