Experienced Officer Talent Pool - Fish and Wildlife Officer/Sergeant

Role Responsibilities

Are you passionate about conserving and protecting the province’s fish and wildlife?  Do you enjoy educating people and ensuring they understand and comply with the laws that are in place to protect natural resources that are enjoyed by Albertans?  If so, then Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services may be a great fit for you!

Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services is one of the most technologically advanced Conservation Law Enforcement Agencies in the Country; utilizing Computer Aided Dispatch, e-ticketing, a digital Records Management System, and various other enforcement databases. Alberta Fish and Wildlife Officers spend their days not in an office, but in the field interacting with iconic species in some of the most pristine environments Canada has to offer. Fish & Wildlife Officers pride themselves on being subject matter experts in the province when it comes to education, prevention, and enforcement of natural resource legislation. This position allows you to interact with resource users daily, conserving resources for generations to use now and in the future.  Alberta boasts a dedicated Forensic laboratory that is internationally accredited.  Along with the Enforcement mandate, Fish and Wildlife Officers receive comprehensive training so that they are well prepared to investigate human wildlife conflicts involving grizzly bears, black bears and cougars.   

This is your chance to make a difference and protect Alberta’s fish and wildlife resources. Your daily duties will be varied, often exciting and always meaningful.

Roles Continued

Natural Resources 6:
Job duties may include but are not limited to:

• Enforcing federal and provincial laws and regulations relative to fish and wildlife resources and public land;
• Responding to complaints and patrolling a designated district by truck, all-terrain-vehicle, snowmobile, watercraft, and aircraft or on foot;
• Inspecting commercial operations, conducting surveillance, gathering evidence, executing search and arrest warrants, organizing and conducting investigations, interviewing witnesses and suspects, preparing trial briefs and testify in court; 
• Responding to reports of nuisance and dangerous wildlife, investigating livestock predation and crop damage complaints;
• Providing public education about branch programs, including making presentations at schools and community meetings;
• Maintaining regular contact with various stakeholder groups: including sportsmen, Indigenous communities, guides, outfitters, trappers, landowners, industry representatives and other citizens. 

To be successful in this challenging role you will require exceptional communication, negotiation and problem solving skills; you must be self-motivated and have the ability to lead, build and maintain relationships and work well independently as well as within a team environment.

Being a Fish and Wildlife Officer can involve strenuous physical activity and exposure to extreme environmental conditions. You must be physically capable of performing all duties of the position.  

As part of the Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defense (RAPID) Response, Fish and Wildlife Officers are required to provide initial response to priority emergency calls for service when dispatched by the provincial police. Officers will be dispatched to priority one and two emergencies in rural Alberta, based on proximity to location and will be first on scene or back up to the RCMP. 

Natural Resources 7: 
Reporting to the Inspector, the Sergeant is responsible for overseeing administrative and program delivery operations within the district.  This position plays a key role in the development and implementation of district operations and requires a thorough understanding of core business objectives. 

The successful candidate will have a thorough knowledge of enforcement and compliance principles and techniques, resource management and problem wildlife practices, and public education techniques. These competencies will be supplemented by the organizational skills to effectively employ them. 

Sergeants require strong interpersonal and leadership skills and must be capable of providing leadership and guidance to Fish and Wildlife Officers and/or administrative support staff within the district.  The successful candidate will possess strong supervisory skills and knowledge of the related human resources and financial policies and procedures.

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.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following competencies:

Creative Problem Solving: Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.
 

Agility: Ability to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, manage resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.

Develop Networks: Proactively building networks, connecting and building trust in relationships with different stakeholders.

Build Collaborative Environments: Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.

Systems Thinking: The work done within the APS is part of a larger integrated and inter-related environment. It is important to know that work done in one part of the APS impacts a variety of other groups/projects inside and outside the APS. Systems thinking allows us to keep broader impacts and connections in mind.

Qualifications

As this talent pool is for experienced officers only, applicants should have some or all of the following assets:

•    Current or previous conservation law enforcement experience;
•    Experience and training as a conservation law enforcement officer;
•    A Western Canada Law Enforcement Academy (WCLEA) certificate.

Natural Resources 6:
A related two year diploma plus 3 years related work experience, or equivalent. 
 
Equivalencies will be considered on the basis of one year of education, for one year of experience.
 
Preferred education includes a Natural Resource Compliance Diploma, Applied Degree in Conservation Law Enforcement or other related Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource programs. Candidates with lesser qualifications may be considered for position at a lower classification.
 
Law enforcement education and experience may be considered in lieu of conservation law enforcement education and experience; however, preference will be given to candidates that meet or exceed the related standards. 
 
This position requires candidates to be eligible for an appointment as a Peace Officer, Fishery Officer and Wildlife Officer.
 
Candidates may be required to complete the Fish and Wildlife Officer Knowledge Exam.  

Qualifications Continued

Natural Resources 7:
An applied degree in conservation law enforcement or natural resource management with two (2) years of relevant experience in conservation law enforcement; or 

A technical diploma in natural resource compliance or related field with four (4) years of relevant experience.  

Some progressively responsible supervisory experience would be an asset.  

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.  

Candidates may be required to complete the Fish and Wildlife Officer Knowledge Exam and the NR7 Knowledge Exam to apply.

To qualify as an experienced officer, candidates must have previous full time employment as an appointed conservation law enforcement or a police officer.

Successful candidates will be required to provide proof of current or past conservation law enforcement experience and training, including a Western Conservation Law Enforcement Academy certificate (or equivalent, if prior to 2007), and appointments.  (ie. Jurisdictional Wildlife Officer or Fishery Officer).

Successful candidates will receive training specific to Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services, including meeting Alberta standards related to firearms and control tactics certification and RAPID-related training. 

 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 works 36.25 hours a week. Candidates must be able to work shift work, and standby.

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

Applicants may be contacted for a pre-interview discussion for clarification of resume and required documents. This will also allow us an opportunity to get to know the applicant prior to starting the interview process.

After the interview process, successful candidates will be required to provide the following documentation: 
 

• Current Standard First Aid and CPR - Level C 
• A 10-year commercial Driver’s Abstract
• Proof of valid AB Class 5 Driver’s License (or equivalent)
• IQAS or other standard equivalency certificate for educational credentials granted outside of Canada
• Successful completion of Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (PARE) of 4 minutes and 45 seconds or less
• Criminal record check including vulnerable sector check
• Enhanced security clearance
• Recruitment Package (including medical assessment, audiological and vision standards as well as demonstrating and understanding conditions for employment by reviewing and signing appropriate documents).
• Psychological assessment

Notes Continued

For more information on the above referenced medical standards, please visit the following link: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/Medical-Standards.pdf

Final candidates will be required to complete security clearances and background checks and must be eligible for appointment as a Peace Officer, as well as a Fishery Officer and Wildlife Officer. For more information on the Peace Officer Program, please visit the following link: https://www.alberta.ca/peace-officers-overview.aspx

Final candidates for this position will be required to complete a pre-employment psychological assessment and must be deemed suitable for employment as a peace officer. For more information on the pre-employment psychological assessment, please visit the following link: https://www.alberta.ca/pre-employment-psychological-assessment-directive.aspx

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. 

Links and information on what the GoA has to offer to prospective employee: 

• 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