Emergency Response Officer

Role Responsibilities

The Emergency Response Unit within the Environmental Emergency Management Branch of Alberta Environment and Protected Areas is looking for an Emergency Response Officer to directly support the South Region.

Under the general direction of the Senior Manager, Emergency Response Unit, the Emergency Response Officer provides leadership, coordination, development, facilitation, and knowledge/skill transfer to multi-disciplinary teams involved with environmental emergency management issues and initiatives within the ministry, across the government, and throughout the province. This position employs a risk-based, all-hazards approach to emergency management.

This role coordinates and supports Environment and Protected Areas (EPA) planning and response to environmental emergencies and disasters, assuring public safety (which includes the protection of life and property) and environmental protection. This involves designing, planning, managing, and evaluating projects and contracts , coordinating EPA’s emergency response, and the development and execution of emergency response training and exercises.

As the expert in the field of environmental emergency management with a strong background in science/resource management, this position acts as the ministry spokesperson and representative concerning emergency management within a multi-jurisdictional group, including other government departments, the federal government, foreign governments, municipalities, research groups, and business and industry. This position operates in an environment that is highly stressful, and technically based, with potentially high political risk. 

Your duties as an Emergency Response Officer include:

• ASERT Duty Officer & Incident Management: Ensure 24/7 readiness as the primary contact for environmental emergencies, managing risk assessments, response actions, and incident action plans.
• Technical Support & Communication: Provide scientific expertise and resources during incidents, preparing and distributing Situation Reports, and briefing internal and external stakeholders, including the Minister.
• Personnel Management: Deploy on-call personnel, oversee their health and safety, and maintain incident documentation.
• Training & Development: work with the Training Officer to assess and address training needs, design and deliver courses in collaboration with stakeholders, and plan, budget, and maintain personal training records.
• External Coordination & Standards: Liaise with external partners on training issues, assist in exercise design, and contribute to training standards development.
• Emergency Planning & Demonstration: Develop and rehearse response scenarios, showcase departmental capabilities to industry and stakeholders.
• Assessment & Maintenance: Assess, maintain, and inspect emergency response equipment and resources, ensuring operational readiness through a strategic database and regular evaluations.
• Coordination & Resource Management: Liaise with agencies to secure resources during emergencies, manage PPE replacement and equipment upkeep, and operate response equipment like drones, vehicles, and boats.
• Scientific & Technical Expertise: Provide environmental impact analysis on air, water, and land during emergencies, coordinating with subject matter experts for comprehensive support.
• Incident Support & Guidance: Offer logistical, technical, and scientific support to EAP teams, contractors, and agencies, while ensuring timely information flow to stakeholders, including the Minister’s Office if required.
• Liaison & Command: Represent the department in large-scale responses, liaising with Incident Command and emergency centers, and assume command when needed.
• Command Support & Decision-Making: Assist in incident command system implementation, provide decision-making support on containment and remediation, and offer health, safety, and hazard guidance.
• Industry Compliance: Advise industry on meeting regulatory approval requirements and responsibilities under GoA legislation (EPEA, Water Act, Emergency Management Act).

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: You will use your scientific knowledge and expertise to create new and innovative solutions to mitigate environmental concerns.

Systems Thinking: You understand how your role impacts working with others toward the larger picture of overseeing the environmental well-being in Alberta.

Develop Networks: You will interact with other scientists, ministries, and external stakeholders to research, share and develop innovative approaches to projects, plans and situations as they arise.

Build Collaborative Environments: You will use effective negotiation and facilitation skills to bring resolution to complex issues among diverse group/individuals.

Drive for Results: Using your strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills, you will develop and deliver understandable scientific information to key stakeholders, the scientific community, public audiences, and senior executives in government.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• University graduation in a related field such as Environmental Protection, Sciences or Natural Resources Management, supplemented by 4 years related experience in environmental emergency response. 
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s License.

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered based on: 

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

Additional Assets:

Preference will be given to applicants who possess:

• Working knowledge of emergency management systems in Alberta and/or other jurisdictions, and an understanding of the Incident Command System.
• Experience in the direct application of provincial and federal legislation related to the environment and emergency management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of hazardous materials, industrial processes, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, spill response and emergency management. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

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 position working Monday-Friday, 36.25 hours per week. 

Travel throughout the region and province will be required as needed. 

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.