Program Administration Officer 3 (PCC Watch Officer)(6 positions)

Nova Scotia; Dartmouth; On-site; CAD 2,000 - 4,000; Full time

Job summary

A provincial emergency management agency is seeking six PCC Watch Officers to monitor real-time emergency situations and support decision-making during crises. The role requires a Bachelor's degree and 5 years of related experience, particularly in emergency response. This position provides crucial support to Nova Scotians by coordinating information and actions during emergencies. Successful candidates will work in a fast-paced environment, ensuring safety and security through effective communication and analysis.

Benefits

Career Development

Engaging workplace

Training resources

Qualifications

• 5 years of related experience or an equivalent combination of training.
• Experience working in emergency management or public safety.
• Ability to make critical decisions under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Monitor real-time emergency events and assess impacts.
• Provide accurate, timely, and concise information to teams.
• Support decision-making during crises.

Skills

Experience with emergency response

Knowledge of emergency management technologies

Ability to assess emergency situations

Communication skills

Ability to work under stress

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Emergency management software

Job description

Program Administration Officer 3 (PCC Watch Officer)(6 positions)

Competition # : 47362

Department: Emergency Management

Location: DARTMOUTH

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 14-Nov-25 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Nova Scotia Department of Emergency Management (NSDEM) is responsible for leading disaster and emergency planning, preparedness, response, and recovery activities on behalf of the Province of Nova Scotia. The objective of the Department is to ensure that Nova Scotians are safe, prepared, and resilient in the face of disasters and emergencies. The Department leads the coordination and co-operation of partners and resources during provincial level critical incidents, administers the province’s 911 service, maintains critical communications infrastructure, and supports operations of our regional emergency management centres. The Department also works to ensure critical government services continue to function.

The Incident Management and 911 Branch is dedicated to ensuring the safety and resilience of our Province by:

• Rapidly coordinating provincial response and critical infrastructure partner resources
• Setting standards in the provincial emergency management program for training and exercising
• Effectively managing incidents to minimize impact and restore normalcy as quickly as possible
• Ensuring integrated emergency responses through the Provincial Coordination Centre
• Managing and modernizing the emergency 911 system including the move to Next Generation 911

About Our Opportunity

NSDEM is seeking to hire six (6) PCC Watch Officers to the NSDEM Provincial Coordination Centre (PCC) within the Incident Management Division.

Reporting to a NSDEM PCC Watch Supervisor within Incident Management Division, the PCC Watch Desk is a specialized operations support unit that provides the province’s emergency managers, public safety coordination & command staff, and government leadership with real‑time situational awareness. This position will monitor information coming in from various sources including news outlets, and social media channels. The PCC Watch Desk serves as a portal to the Province’s Department of Emergency Management in meeting departmental priorities, objectives, and an enhanced Level of Service to all Nova Scotians.

As a PCC Watch Officer, you will have a critical role in ensuring the safety and security of Nova Scotians by supporting emergency response operations. Acting as a key liaison for the PCC Watch Desk, you will monitor and assess emergency situations, communicate essential information, and support decision‑making processes during crises.

Primary Accountabilities

As a key member of the PCC Watch Desk team, you will play an essential role in creating and maintaining a real‑time common operating picture for government decision‑makers and partners. Your efforts will directly support effective emergency response and decision‑making by gathering, analyzing, and disseminating critical information in a fast‑paced environment, 24/7. In addition, you will:

• Monitor real‑time emergency events, assess their potential impacts, and provide preliminary analysis.
• Escalate incidents to the PCC Watch Supervisor as necessary to ensure rapid response and resolution.
• Provide accurate, timely, and concise information to emergency management teams and other stakeholders.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for municipalities, provincial/federal departments, and external agencies such as police, fire departments, and volunteer organizations.
• Facilitate seamless communication between emergency management partners and the PCC, ensuring coordinated emergency response actions.
• Assist the PCC Watch Supervisor in maintaining the operational readiness of the Watch Desk.
• Support the preparation and delivery of situational briefings for senior leadership.
• Maintain detailed, accurate logs and records of all incidents for future reference and analysis.
• Review and evaluate information from diverse sources to enhance emergency response efforts, record‑keeping, and data analysis.
• Assist in developing standard operating procedures, policies, and other projects as assigned.
• Research and help implement innovative programs to enhance the mission and capabilities of the PCC Watch Desk and its partners.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor’s degree + 5 years related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Required experience:

• Experience working as a member of an emergency response team or full‑time EOC in response to an emergency.
• Experience providing front‑line emergency responses during emergencies.
• Considerable knowledge of emergency management technologies.
• Experience working in Public Safety under stressful conditions making critical decisions using sound judgment.

Optional assets:

• 3 years of full‑time experience in an emergency management related field.
• Full‑time work experience working in an emergency management or public safety related operations centre that operates on a 24/7 basis.
• Demonstrated experience in editing and maintaining websites and portals (Drupal, WordPress), combined with experience creating, posting content, and sharing on professional social media platforms including X and Facebook.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain contingency plans, standard operating procedures (SOPs), response plans, and/or partnership agreements.
• Advanced certifications (e.g., CEM designation) are considered an asset.
• Incident Management System (ICS) certifications (100, 200, 300, 400) & experience.

Equivalency

We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise. Equivalencies include:

• Completion of a related master’s degree and three (3) years of experience.
• Completion of a related diploma and seven (7) years of experience.
• At least nine (9) years of related experience with no education.

Working Conditions

The PCC Watch Officer collects information regarding potential and actual risks, threats and ongoing incidents that may have operational consequences for Nova Scotia. Often functioning in a high‑stress and time‑critical environment, the PCC Watch Officer must determine the validity, urgency, and significance of this information and disseminate it to relevant parties.

The PCC Watch Unit operates 24/7. PCC Watch Officers will work shift work, a combination of 12hr day shifts and 12hr night shifts, including weekends and statutory holidays.

As there is normally only one PCC Watch Supervisor and one PCC Watch Officer on shift at any point in time, employees work collaboratively while supporting the coordination and response to an emergency.

You may be required to travel to remote worksite locations, load vehicles, carry and set up equipment in a variety of locations, and travel during inclement weather conditions.

Due to the multiple spheres of action and scope of responsibilities that this position requires, there is significant mental pressure, requiring resilience. Must be available to participate in the on‑call duty officer stand‑by rotation and available to support the response and recovery of emergency events as required in the Provincial Coordination Centre.

This position will be based in at the NSDEM headquarters in Dartmouth.

Additional Information

This position requires the following:

• A valid Canadian Driver's License.
• Immediate access to a licensed, safety‑inspected, and operational motor vehicle.
• Ability to acquire a Level 2 (Secret) Government Security clearance.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Engaging workplace. Our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward‑thinking policies and strategies.
• Countless career paths.

Pay Grade: PR 13

Salary Range: $2,556.10 - $3,107.16 Bi‑Weekly

Employment Equity Statement

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and other racially visible persons, persons with disabilities and women in occupations or positions where they are under‑represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self‑identify on your electronic application.

Accommodation Statement

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail].

Additional Application Guidelines

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. Please note: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to [e-mail].