Conservation Officer Service

Careers

Seasonal Employment Program

Objectives

The Conservation Officer Service (COS) implemented its Seasonal Employment Program in 2005. The Program provides additional capacity to increase contact with resource users, expand compliance verification capabilities and support succession and recruiting efforts.

Seasonal Conservation Officers receive specialized training that ensures their ability to perform a wide range of compliance and enforcement duties. Examples of these duties include:

• Providing proactive and reactive services in support of wildlife-human conflict prevention
• Contacting resource users in the field to gather data used to identify compliance trends
• Performing compliance verification inspections
• Employing enforcement tools in response to non-compliance
• Conducting public outreach and shared stewardship activities

(Click here to view a sample job description)

Additionally, the Seasonal Employment Program has partnered with BC communities to design and deliver enhanced conflict prevention programs to locations with high incidences of bear-human conflict.

Seasonal Conservation Officers are also integral to the COS’ recruitment goals. The Seasonal Employment Program provides practical, real-life natural resource law enforcement experience that has assisted many to advance to full-time field officer positions.

Recruiting:

If you are interested in learning more about the COS’ Seasonal Employment, please read the following section carefully.

(NOTE: All Seasonal Program employment opportunities are listed on the B.C. Public Service Agency’ website under Job Opportunities.)

Entry-Level Requirements

The following education and work experience requirements are based on the 2008 staffing process for Seasonal Conservation Officers. These qualifications may vary slightly, without notification on this website.

Preferred Education

Preferred education is defined as a University degree or technical diploma from a recognized post-secondary program, in natural resources law enforcement or renewable resources management (e.g. fisheries, wildlife, forestry, environmental sciences). Applicants with a degree require a minimum of 6 months preferred work experience while those with a diploma require a minimum of 12 months preferred work experience.

Preferred Work Experience

Preferred work experience in the field of natural resources law enforcement includes:

• Conducting inspections to monitor compliance with statutes, regulations and standards
• Investigations of non-compliance with statutes, regulations and standards
• Enforcement actions (e.g. issuance of tickets, recommendations for charges and/or administrative penalties or sanctions)

Note: For any given vacancy, a COS selection panel may limit the number of applicants who are short-listed to those individuals who satisfy both the preferred education and work experience requirements (see above).

Minimum Education

Minimum education requirements are defined as a university degree or technical diploma, from a recognized post-secondary program, in law, justice or criminology. Applicants with a degree require at least 6 months preferred and/or minimum work experience while those with a diploma require at least 12 months preferred and/or minimum work experience.

Minimum Work Experience

Minimum work experience involves employment with a municipal, provincial or federal agency and includes:

• Conducting inspections to monitor compliance with statutes, regulations and standards
• Investigations of non-compliance with statutes, regulations and standards
• Enforcement actions (e.g. issuance of tickets, recommendations for charges and/or administrative penalties or sanctions).

Candidates with a Grade 12 diploma may also be considered if they have a minimum of 36 months preferred work experience (as defined in the preferred work experience section above).

Physical Fitness

A variety of aerobic/ anaerobic fitness skills are required to perform many of a Conservation Officer's duties safely and effectively. Examples of these attributes include whole body muscular strength, balance, agility, and flexibility. To ensure that applicants are physically fit, they must be able to complete the Pre-employment Physical Abilities Test for Conservation Officers (PATCO).

Additionally, successful candidates must pass a pre-placement medical exam before an offer of employment can be confirmed.

Character

In order to uphold the public trust invested in their position, Conservation Officers must possess

• exemplary moral character,
• a high degree of personal integrity, and
• sound judgment, maturity and common sense.

To establish evidence of good character and qualify as a Conservation Officer and Special Provincial Constable, applicants must submit to a criminal records check, security interview and background investigation and a psychological assessment.

Licenses/Certifications

The following are conditions that must be met prior to employment:

• Valid Class 5 Driver's Licence without restrictions or contraventions
• Occupational First Aid (OFA) Level 1 or equivalent
• Canada Firearms Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) or Possession-Only License (POL)
• Pleasure Craft Operator Card

Other Requirements

Applicants who are invited to an interview must agree to and, in the event they are successful, meet the terms and conditions of the Conservation Officer Willingness Statement and Standards of Personal Deportment Agreement.

Please view the following job description for a complete list of duties and qualifications for Seasonal Conservation Officer.

Post-Secondary Education

The following are some of the few post-secondary schools that offer specialized training in natural resources law enforcement:

• Malaspina-University College, Nanaimo, BC
• Lethbridge Community College, Lethbridge, AB
• Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Prince Albert, SK
• Fleming College, Lindsay, ON

The number of programs that offer training in renewable resource management or other relevant fields of study are too varied to catalogue here.