Visitor Services Attendant II - INVENTORY

Important messages

The Public Service of Canada is committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection and appointment processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to this process, please advise the Parks Canada representative in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

Duties

Experience work-life balance in the mountain and ocean vistas of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park! Start a career with Parks Canada, where you can work, live and adventure among Canada’s natural wonders.

This competition will be used to fill positions at the following locations:

Entry Gates: Often the first point of contact for visitors, staff at entry gates use a Point-of-Sale device to sell a variety of National Park passes and provide essential information to contribute to visitor use, enjoyment, and appreciation. This role involves handling cash and card transactions, and properly accounting for revenue received. Staff must be willing to resolve visitor complaints or concerns as needed and demonstrate tasks to others when required.

Campgrounds: Visitor service, revenue collection and campground operations. This includes, but is not limited to, greeting visitors and providing orientation, information, and direction; confirming reservations; selling of campsites; providing support to grounds cleaning and litter picking. Campground staff must be willing to resolve visitor complaints or concerns as needed and demonstrate tasks to others when required.

Skyline Mobile Gate and Information Team: Skyline Mobile provides seasonal traffic management, visitor services, and revenue collection in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The work is active and takes place outdoors in all weather conditions. Staff work on their feet and may expect physical take-down and set-up of traffic and information tent equipment each day. Staff provide detailed information to the visiting public on national park rules and regulations, as well as safety information regarding closures or restrictions at popular sites. This role involves exposure to vehicle fumes and dust due to its proximity to traffic and outdoor working conditions. The work also involves educating the public on the national park pass program and performing regular compliance duties. The ability to communicate effectively while demonstrating tact and professionalism is a key requirement of this role.

Visitor Centres: Visitor Centre staff provide comprehensive information to the visiting public on a wide variety of topics related to park orientation, backcountry camping, hiking, and park rules and regulations. Strong knowledge of Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the surrounding area is necessary in this position, as well as the ability to communicate effectively in person and in writing. Staff handle high volumes of in-person, email, and phone interactions. The work includes operating a Point of Sale to sell park passes and retail merchandise. The ability to use various computer programs and spreadsheets is required. Backcountry camping knowledge and/or prior experience working with reservation systems are considered assets in this role. Staff must be willing to address visitor complaints or concerns and demonstrate tasks to others as needed.

In all positions, occasional facility cleaning and maintenance may be required.

Work environment

We are currently seeking passionate and visitor-focused team members who will work with others to provide awesome opportunities to visitors at the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Join thousands of colleagues from across the country who do amazing things every day so that Canadians and visitors from other countries can discover the natural treasures protected and presented by Parks Canada.

If you have what it takes to make a strong connection between our special place and those visitors, please seize this opportunity to apply for the job indicated in this posting.

Parks Canada is a federal government agency responsible for the protection and presentation of Canada’s outstanding natural and cultural resources through a system of national parks, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites in all regions of Canada.

Intent of the process

Anticipatory. This process may be used to create a list of qualified candidates to staff similar positions with various tenures, security levels or linguistic profiles in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

From the work locations currently listed on the poster, please clearly identify in your application the work location(s) in which you are prepared to work.

We will be pulling a first round of candidates for the 2025 operational season on January 13, 2025. Should there be vacancies later in the operational season, we will continue to pull from the list.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter "Applicants must clearly demonstrate in their cover letter how they meet the Education and Experience criteria listed in the Statement of Qualifications (see below). Applicants must list both of these factors in their cover letter, and then write one or two paragraphs for each demonstrating how they meet these factors by providing concrete examples. Please note that it is not sufficient to only state that these factors are met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. Resumes will be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described in the cover letter. Failure to clearly demonstrate in your cover letter how you meet the Education and Experience factors found on the Statement of Qualifications (see below), may result in the rejection of your application. Normally, applicants will not be solicited for incomplete or possible missing information."

Contact information for 3 references.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

A secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of education, training, and experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience in interacting with the public in a tourism capacity.

Experience in anticipating/meeting public needs, resolving complaints, anticipating/detecting incidents and finding solutions.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Various language requirements
Bilingual imperative (- - B/- - B; - - C/- - C)

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of services, programs/activities, and visitor services operations of Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Ability to adapt to change.

Ability to make decisions involving various levels of risk and ambiguity.

Ability to deal with situations and issues proactively and persistently, seizing opportunities that arise.

Shares our vision.

Personally connects with people.

Communicates effectively.

Demonstrates integrity.

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Experience handling cash and operating point of sales.

Knowledge of the natural and cultural history of Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Strives for excellence.

The position requires the incumbent to:
• Make moderate physical effort to sit and stand for prolonged periods
• Be exposed to variable weather conditions
• Be exposed to car exhaust fumes, dust, and wet conditions
• Occasionally demonstrate tasks to others
• Occasionally work alone
• Work from various locations
• Take training and update certification, as required.

Housing may be available.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - Obtain and maintain Reliability Status security clearance.

Maintenance of a valid class 5 Nova Scotia Driver’s License, or other provincial equivalency.

Required to wear a Parks Canada uniform.

Required to work irregular hours, overtime, weekends and/or statutory holidays and provincial/territorial holidays.

Required to work and/or travel in varied terrain, weather conditions, isolated locations and by various means of transportation.

Parks Canada prohibits smoking and vaping in the workplace.

Other information

Parks Canada is committed to the principles of diversity and employment equity under the Employment Equity Act, and strives to ensure that our workforce reflects the diverse nature of Canadian society. We encourage women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of a visible minority group to self-identify in their cover letter.

For tips to navigate the application process step by step, refer to the following site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GW7P3g9hhI.

The Parks Canada Agency is established as a separate employer in the Federal Public Service under the Financial Administration Act. Persons appointed to the Agency continue to be part of the Public Service. The Parks Canada Agency operates under its own human resources framework outside of the Public Service Employment Act and in line with values of fairness, competence and respect, and its operating principles.

In accordance with paragraph 8(2)(a) of the Privacy Act, information or material, whether provided directly by the candidate or otherwise obtained by the selection board, used during the selection process for the purpose of assessing a candidate may be used as part of the selection review and recourse processes. Such relevant information may be provided to third parties, such as other candidates or their representatives, who have a legitimate reason to be aware of that information.

Persons who have received pay in lieu of unfulfilled surplus period, a Transition Support Measure (TSM) or an Educational Allowance and are re-appointed to the Parks Canada Agency are required to reimburse an amount corresponding to the period from the effective date of such reappointment or hiring, to the end of the original period for which the TSM and education allowance was paid. Please contact Shivash Samaroo, Human Resources Manager, at Shivash.Samaroo@pc.gc.ca, if you are one of these individuals to find out how this applies to your particular situation.

Persons who are in receipt of a Canadian Government Public Service pension and are considering this employment opportunity with the Parks Canada Agency, should contact the PWGSC Public Service Pension Centre (1-800-561-7930) in order to determine the impact of an appointment on their pension benefit entitlements.

Please submit your completed application, including all of the above-mentioned documentation. Failure to do so may result in your application being rejected.

Applicants must scan proof of their education and/or occupational certification by e-mail to DotationUGICB-CBIFUstaffing@pc.gc.ca or fax to (902) 285-2866 no later than the closing date in order to be considered in this selection process. Faxes should include a cover page. Please indicate in your e-mail subject line or on the fax cover page: your name, process number, and position title for which you are submitting documents.

Communication for this process will be sent via email. Applicants MUST check their e-mail accounts frequently as there may be a deadline for responses. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). Please note that we will have to consider that you are no longer interested in participating in the selection process and that you have withdrawn your candidacy should you not provide us with an up-to-date email address or respond to our communications. If you need to communicate with us during any stage of this process, please indicate the selection process number in the subject field of your email.

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

Tips for applicants:
• Please provide complete and thorough details of your education and experience.
• Do not assume that the screening board has any previous knowledge of your background, qualifications, or work history. You must be specific and provide concrete examples/details for each Experience element, as applications will be screened only on the information provided.
• Failure to provide sufficient information may result in your application being screened out of the competition.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

Travel cost for individuals who are not Federal Public Servants will not be covered.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Contact information

Apply online