Fire Weather Meteorologist

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Fire Weather Program Lead, the Fire Weather Meteorologist acquires, analysis, diagnoses and prognoses meteorological data to support the province's wildfire management. This position produces timely, professional fire weather forecasts, spot forecasts, and fire weather advisories/warnings for wildfire and prescribed burn operations provincially and nationally. The incumbent supports the development of fire weather and behaviour briefings to fire management, internal and external personnel, and the generation of fire weather and behaviour parameters for suppression and pre-suppression. 

The Fire Weather Meteorologist conducts fire weather research and operates the remote weather station network and lightning detection system while ensuring quality assurance and overseeing technical staff and contract meteorologists. 

Responsibilities include:
•    Interpreting and evaluating atmospheric computer models and remote sensing equipment (radar, satellite imagery and lightning detecting data).
•    Preparing and delivering daily fire weather forecasts on fire control zone, fire behaviour interpretations and weather advisories under operational time constraints.
•    Attending and participating in national and international symposia dealing with weather effects on fire behaviour.
•    Operate quality control software such as lightning detection network components and remote automatic weather station networks, deploying new meteorological data streams for forecasting.

Please click on this link to view the job description.

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: find solutions to solve complex problems while balancing the development, conservation, and use of resources for providing weather condition monitoring and forecasting services. Weather is constantly changing and there is continuous improvement required to ensure quality forecasts. Understanding unique conditions and seeking out new methodologies is critical to constantly improving forecasts.

Drive for Results: strive to exceed expectations and maximize resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the department while maintaining accountability to stakeholders.  This position is critical for life and safety of operational resources. Meeting timelines and delivering quality products are essential for Fire Weather Meteorologists.

Build Collaborative Environments: take a collaborative approach to facilitate open communication and leverage team skills to achieve desired outcomes. This position collaborates with internal stakeholders and many external stakeholders for more than just fire weather forecasts but consultation for other weather events.

Agility: identify alternative approaches or courses of action in unclear and complex situations and support others to cope with the constantly changing and stressful times of forecasting. 

Systems Thinking: consider the changing environment, recognize work impacts a wide range of stakeholders and processes.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirement:
The minimum requirements for this role are a degree in Meteorology or a related field with courses in meteorology/atmospheric sciences plus three (3) years of experience in weather analysis and forecasting with direct interaction with the user/client.

Assets:
•    Extensive knowledge of complex atmospheric and physical science processes with experience providing diagnosis and prognostics of complex meteorological data under operational time constraints.
•    Meteorological research, analysis and forecasting in application to fire behaviour.
•    Supervisory or leadership experience. 

Additional education may be considered in lieu of experience. Preference may be given to applicants with the following: 
•    Experience working with the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS).
•    Completed S-490 /Advanced Wildland Fire Behaviour or equivalent.
•    Completion of MOIP (Meteorologist Operational Internship Program).

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 position is a permanent, full-time role, with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday. The incumbent may be requested to work overtime, evening and weekends due to the emergency nature of wildfires.

Travel within the area and throughout the province will be required as part of your responsibilities to coordinate with Ministry staff and colleagues, other government departments, clients, and other external stakeholders. 

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. 

Candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment as a part of the interview process.
 

Application Information:

•    In your application, please a include cover letter 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 hour shifts/week).
•    Three (3) work-related references are required for those selected for an interview.

What the GoA has to 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