BC Public Service - Internal Job Opportunities

The Team
The Environmental Emergency Branch Southern Interior Region is an established and highly collaborative team of environmental emergency professionals dedicated to protecting communities, public health, and the environment across a large region of British Columbia, from Manning Park to the Alberta border. Based in Penticton, you will work alongside three Response Officers, a Senior Emergency Response Officer, and a network of Recovery, Planning, and Preparedness Officers, while partnering with Indigenous Nations, local governments, industry, emergency responders, and other agencies. The team values diversity, inclusion, and the unique perspectives that each member brings, creating a supportive environment where learning, professional growth, and collaboration are encouraged. With a mix of office-based planning and hands-on field response, this role offers meaningful opportunities to contribute to environmental protection, build relationships across the province, and make a tangible difference when communities need support most.

The Role
As an Environmental Emergency Response Officer, you will play a key role in protecting British Columbia’s communities and environment by assessing spills and environmental emergencies, providing expert advice, and coordinating effective response and recovery activities. Working with Indigenous Nations, local governments, industry, emergency responders, and other partners, you will help reduce risks to public health, natural resources, and ecosystems. This role offers a rewarding mix of emergency response, problem-solving, collaboration, and continuous learning, with opportunities to support incidents across the province and build expertise in a variety of emergency management functions.

Qualifications:
Education and Experience Requirements

• Degree in a natural resource field (i.e. chemistry, biology, earth sciences, environmental engineering, or other relevant discipline) or emergency management plus one (1) year of related experience; OR 
• Diploma, or equivalent in a natural resource field or emergency management, plus five (5) years of related experience; OR
• Grade 12 with core grade 11/12 courses in the science and applied science focus areas plus a combination of 10 years related experience in the natural resource and/ or emergency management/ spill response fields such as on the job training within industry, government or other. 
• An equivalent combination of related education and experience will be considered.

Related experience MUST include a minimum of all of the following: 

• Environmental emergency response including attending or responding to hazardous materials spills, assessing spill related hazards or threats to health or the environment, determining if spill response actions are necessary to address hazards or threats, and monitoring or supervising spill response actions.
• Environmental protection and pollution prevention including assessing environmental impacts or pollution associated with discharges of waste to the environment and characterizing and managing hazardous materials related wastes and hazardous wastes.
• Experience in emergency management (hazmat emergency response, spill response, cleanup and remediation, fire suppression activities, transportation of dangerous goods, spill contingency planning, oil spill response).

Preference may be given to applicants with:

• Hazardous Materials Technician certification based upon the requirements of OSHA 1910.120(q) and NFPA 472 standard.
• Incident Command System (ICS) Certification.
• Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Certification (SCBA).
• Hazardous materials classifications and properties and their behaviour when released to the environment, potential reactions and incompatibilities.
• Applicable legislation, regulations, policies and procedures and related standards and criteria.
• Chemistry, geology, environmental science and waste management.
• Contracting, administration, budgeting and accounting.
• Site characterization, monitoring and remediation procedures and processes.
• Spill response safety and planning.
• Spill response certifications (i.e.: oil spill response, hazardous materials, in-situ burning etc.).
• Hazardous Materials Handling including TDG and WHMIS certification.
• Oil Spill Control training and equipment use.
• Legal Sampling and Enforcement.

For questions regarding this position, please contact Kandis.Lipsett@gov.bc.ca.

About this Position:
Flexible work options are available; this position may be able to work from home a few days a week subject to an approved telework agreement.
An eligibility list may be established to fill future temporary and permanent vacancies.
A Criminal Record Check (CRC) will be required.
Employees of the BC Public Service must be located in BC at the time of employment.

Working for the BC Public Service:
The BC Public Service is committed to creating a diverse workplace to represent the population we serve and to better meet the needs of our citizens. Consider joining our team and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

We are committed to ensuring that reasonable accommodations are available throughout the hiring process, including the assessment and selection stages. Please email the individual or contact listed on the posting if you require an accommodation to fully participate in the hiring process.

The Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service is available to Indigenous (First Nations [status or non-status], Inuit or Métis) applicants originating from the land now known as Canada, seeking work or already employed in the BC Public Service. Indigenous applicants can contact this service for personalized guidance on the BC Public Service hiring process including job applications and interviews.

The BC Public Service is an award-winning employer and offers employees competitive benefits, amazing learning opportunities and a chance to engage in rewarding work with exciting career development opportunities. For more information, please see What We Offer.

To learn more about these B.C communities you can click on the Hello BC link here!

How to Apply:
Your resume and/or cover letter must clearly show that you meet the education and experience requirements. Highlight the required qualifications and support them with specific examples, such as your responsibilities, projects you've worked on, or accomplishments. Find more information on the recruitment process, including helpful tips and videos about the application process, visit the Your Job Application page of MyHR.

Cover Letter: NO - Please do not submit a cover letter as it will not be reviewed.

Resume: YES - Ensure your resume includes your educational accomplishments, employment history including start and end dates (month and year) of your employment, and any relevant information that relates to the job to which you are applying.

Questionnaire: YES - You will need to complete a basic questionnaire to demonstrate how you meet the job requirements.

Applicants who are selected to move forward in the hiring process may be assessed on their knowledge, skills, abilities, competencies and other position related requirements as outlined in the Job Profile at the bottom of the posting. Applications will be accepted until 11:00 pm Pacific Time on the closing date of the competition. If you are experiencing technical difficulty applying, visit the Technical Assistance page of MyHR.