Program Advisor, Security Drills and Exercises

Program Advisor, Security Drills and Exercises

Parliamentary Protective Service- Operational Evaluation and Continuous Improvement Branch

Selection process number
26-PPS-SPP-PROGRAMADVISOR-OECI

Salary
$84,952 to $111,791-(The salary is based on a 35-hour work week and under review)

Level
PM-05-This position is at the PSA-08 group and level.

Who can apply
Open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents residing in the National Capital Region.

Duties

The Program Advisor, Operational Drills and Exercises is responsible for leading the development, conduct, and evaluation of dynamic (operations-based) exercises and drills that test and validate the readiness of the Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) and its interoperability with partners.

• Design and lead complex, realistic operational drills and exercises, including live-force and force-on-force activities, grounded in realistic and credible threat information and aligned with the organizational exercise and evaluation program framework.
• Manage all phases of exercise delivery, including scenario design, planning conferences, operational coordination, safety oversight, logistics, exercise execution, debriefing, and after-action reporting.
• Apply structured project management methodologies, including the development of work breakdown structures, milestones, and timelines for all drill and exercise activities.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary and interagency teams, including exercise control cells, safety officers, role-players, adversary controllers, and technical support, ensuring operational cohesion and safe conduct throughout.
• Operate and manage tactical simulation systems and associated AAR tools, to enable data capture and performance analysis.
• Deliver exercise briefings and debriefings to various internal and external partners, including law enforcement and first responders.
• Develop and implement annual exercise plans, including performance testing schedules and evaluation methodologies.
• Provide subject-matter expertise on physical protection systems, operational readiness, critical incident response, and law enforcement integration during exercise planning and execution.
• Support internal operational performance assessments, offering operational insight into strengths, vulnerabilities, and improvement opportunities in protective and response capabilities.

Work environment

The Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) is a separate and distinct organization not subject to the Public Service Employment Act. It has its own classification, compensation system, and staffing regime. Persons appointed to PPS continue to be part of the federal government and will receive the public service pension plan and public service insurance benefits plan.

What we offer:

• Paid Training
• Public service health, dental, and vision care insurance plans
• Public Service Pension Plan
• 35-hour standard work week
• Minimum 4 weeks of paid vacation
• Free on-site fitness facilities
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Flexible work schedules (minimum 2 days in the office per week)
• While this position is eligible for part-time telework, regular on-site presence is required
• Centrally located in downtown Ottawa
• Proximity to O-Train Parliament Station and most of all main OC Transpo and STO bus lines

Intent of the process

The purpose of this recruitment and selection process is to staff one (1) position on an indeterminate baisis and to establish a pool of qualified and/or partially qualified candidates for anticipatory needs of various tenures.The pool may also be used in the future to staff similar positions within the PPS.

Positions to be filled

1

Conditions of employment

For PPS Enhanced Reliability Status (ERS) with Top Secret clearance:All candidates must obtain both a Site Access Clearance and a PPS Enhanced Reliability Status with Top Secret clearance. To initiate the PPS security screening process, candidates will be required to complete a personal history questionnaire, a pre interview questionnaire, and undergo fingerprinting.
The security screening process involves a comprehensive background investigation to assess the candidate’s reliability, honesty, trustworthiness, loyalty to Canada and reliability as it relates to that loyalty. This security screening investigation includes, but is not limited to, a loyalty assessment, law enforcement verifications, financial verifications, internet inquiries, as well as personal and employment reference checks. Candidates will also be required to participate in a security screening interview, which will cover a range of topics relevant to assessing their overall reliability, honesty, trustworthiness, loyalty to Canada and reliability as it relates to that loyalty.
Candidates should be aware that participation in, or completion of, the recruitment process does not guarantee eligibility for a PPS security screening. Security screening is conducted as a separate process, and the outcome may be influenced by several factors, including the length of time an individual has resided in Canada and the resulting ability to verify required background information. Interactions with law enforcement, credit history, personal associations, and other relevant security considerations may also affect a candidate’s eligibility to be granted the required security screening level and may influence the time needed to complete the security screening process.
Candidates who do not meet the security screening requirements will not be granted the required security screening level and will therefore be removed from the hiring process as it is a condition of employment.

You need (essential for the job)

Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following

EDUCATION:Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution* in a field related to the position or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.*The educational program must be from an accredited learning institution recognized in Canada. If you completed a program outside of Canada, you will be required to obtain proof of a Canadian equivalency at your expense from an accredited learning institution recognized in Canada.

E1 - Significant* experience leading complex, dynamic security exercises and drills in law enforcement, military, or security operations environments.

E2 - Experience with command-and-control structures, adversary pathway analysis, and performance validation frameworks.

E3 - Significant* experience in coordinating and leading multidisciplinary teams in high-pressure environments, including safety officers, planners, responders, and technical specialists.

E4 - Significant* experience in preparing and delivering briefings to operational audiences.

E5 - Experience report-writing with the ability to evaluate operational performance and identify improvement measures.*Significant is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of complex activities related to this task, which are acquired on a full-time basis over five (5) years.

Applied / assessed at a later date

K1 - Knowledge of legislation, regulations, policies and practices related to security, policing, and emergency management including Firearms safety and use-of-force protocols.

K2 - Knowledge of discussion-based and/or operations-based drill and exercise design methodology, evaluation after-action review tools as well as root cause analysis.

K3 - Knowledge of operational security and physical protection principles/systems (physical, technical, and operational security), including deterrence, detection, delay, and response as applied in security and protection environments.

K4 - Knowledge of force on force, safety and risk mitigation practices specific to dynamic operational exercises involving simulation systems, armed personnel, role-players, and multi-agency response teams.

Competencies:

COMPETENCIES:

• C1 - Teamwork and Collaboration
• C2 - Thinking Skills
• C3 - Communication
• C4 - Leadership
• C5 - Client Service Orientation

OTHER COMPETENCIES:

• C6 - Time Management
• C7 - Facilitation
• C8 - Integrity
• C9 - Accountability
• C10 - Professionalism

Language requirements (essential for the job)

Applied / assessed at a later date

Bilingual - Imperative(CBC/CBC) - Self-assessment test in a second language:To help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your written expression and reading comprehension in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.Try out the self-assessment tests for written expression and reading comprehension by visiting:

May be applied / assessed at a later date

AE1 - Experience in firearms safety, with demonstrated application in dynamic training or exercise environments.

AE2 - Experience in force-on-force simulation management, including coordination of live role-players, application of safety protocols, and oversight of engagement rules.

AE3 - Experience developing and implementing threat aligned scenarios or adversary-based testing activities within a security, law enforcement, or military context.

AE4 - Experience within a security environment, such as parliamentary precincts, diplomatic facilities, military operations, law enforcement agencies, or critical infrastructure protection.

AE5 - Experience in project management, exercise control, or tactical operations.

AE6 - Experience with force-on-force simulation tools and after-action systems, particularly Tactical Engagement Simulation Systems or similar.

AK1 - Knowledge of physical security, firearms safety protocols (including semination, simulation, or FX-based scenarios), operational planning, and interagency response coordination.

Our commitment

We're committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please contact the hiring organization below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the population it serves. We promote employment equity and encourage you to self-declare if you belong to one of the designated employment equity groups when you apply.

We'd like to thank all those who apply. However, only the people selected for further consideration will be contacted.

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