About the position
DutiesDetection Specialists are public-facing, service-oriented uniform personnel responsible for security screening of all access points to Parliamentary buildings. Requiring constant professionalism, vigilance and sound judgement, Detection Specialists perform screening of people, their belongings, and vehicles using security screening technology to maintain a safe Parliamentary precinct.
Shifts rotate 24/7, including nights, weekends, and statutory holidays.
Work environmentThe Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) plays a key part in ensuring physical security within the Parliamentary precinct. It delivers layered, intelligence-led protection in one of Canada’s most symbolic and complex environments. PPS is a trusted expert and leader in protective services, driven by purpose, agility and vigilance. With a united, engaged, and empowered workforce committed to the pursuit of excellence, our strength is in collaboration with partners through integrated and intelligence-led operations.
The PPS is a separate and distinct organization and is not subject to the Public Service Employment Act. The PPS has its own classification, compensation system and staffing regime. Persons appointed to the 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
• Employer provided uniform
• Health, dental, and vision care insurance plans
• Public Service Pension Plan
• 35-hour standard work week
• Minimum 4 weeks of paid vacation annually
• Free on-site fitness facilities
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Centrally located in downtown Ottawa
• Proximity to O-Train’s Parliament Station and most
main OC Transpo and STO bus lines
Intent of the process
The purpose of this recruitment and selection process is to establish a pool of qualified candidates for a term or indeterminate basis.
Positions to be filled
16
Important messages
Please visit PPS web site under Careers > Opportunities or at https://pps.parl.ca/ for guides that will help you prepare your application and for an interview.
We encourage veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces to self-identify when applying to our job opportunities.
We will only accept online applications received through the GC Employment website.
To submit your online application, you will first need to create an account on the GC Jobs website. Once your account is created, return to the job poster, and select the button "Apply Online" below.
Candidates who are unable to apply online must contact the person listed below prior to the closing date.
All communication (screening, assessments, invitations, results) with applicants will be done by e-mail. Ensure that the e-mail address provided is valid, always functional and accepts messages from unknown users.
It is your responsibility, as a candidate, to clearly demonstrate how you meet each qualification (education, experience, and assets) by answering the screening questions in the online application. You must provide concrete specific examples to illustrate how you meet each criterion identified in the questions. Your answers must include where and how you obtained the required experience, as well as the period(s) in which you performed the functions of the position(s).
Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or missing information.
Please note that all answers (or cover letters) submitted must be original work. Plagiarism of any kind, including responses generated by AI, is strictly prohibited, and may result in disqualification from the application process.
Candidates are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.
Various assessment tools may be used to evaluate candidates during the selection process.
Depending on the number of applicants, volume management strategies may be used for the purpose of managing applications.
Candidates must meet the essential qualifications, including the linguistic requirement to be appointed to a position.
Relocation and travel expenses incurred during the recruitment and selection process are the applicant's responsibility.
Conditions of employment
Reliability Status security clearance - For PPS Enhanced Reliability Status (ERS):
All candidates must obtain both a Site Access Clearance and a PPS Enhanced Reliability Status. 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 needed to complete the security screening assessment.
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.
Learn more about security screening process.
Operational Requirements
• Ability to work rotational shifts, including nights, weekends, and statutory holidays.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability and willingness to wear a uniform, including soft body armor.
• Successful completion of the PPS Recruit Program and required certifications.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance prior to employment start date.
• Ability to successfully complete medical, psychological, and physical assessments.
• Successful completion of all pre-requisite evaluations (including visual aptitude test, written exam, interview, and reference checks).
You need (essential for the job)
Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following
EDUCATION:
Post-secondary education or an acceptable combination of education, training, and relevant experience
*Be prepared to provide the original or a certified true copy of your educational credentials if applicable.
Learn more about degree equivalency.
ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCES:
E1: Experience providing client service, public-facing support, or working in a high-visibility environment.
Language requirements (essential for the job)
Applied / assessed at a later date
Bilingual - Imperative (BBB/BBB) - SECOND LANGUAGE SELF-ASSESSMENT:
In order 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: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/second-language-testing-public-service/self-assessment-tests.html
Learn more about language requirements.
You may need (asset qualifications)
May be applied / assessed at a later date
ASSET EXPERIENCES:
AE1: Experience providing client service or customer support in a high-visibility environment or to important clients.
AE2: Experience using detection or screening equipment.
AE3: Training in security, law enforcement, or a related field.
CORE COMPETENCIES:
• Attention to detail and vigilance
• Adaptability and resilience
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Judgment and decision-making
• Teamwork and reliability
• Integrity and professionalism
• Ability to interpret visual information from screening equipment
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Screen people, personal belongings, and vehicles using screening and detection technology.
• Interpret complex imagery to identify prohibited, restricted or suspicious items.
• Identify, report, and escalate security concerns and threats.
• Provides continuous guidance and instructions to visitors.
• Maintain situational awareness and streamline waiting line efficiency in high-volume environments.
• Work collaboratively as part of an integrated protective posture.
YOU ARE A STRONG CANDIDATE IF YOU:
• Remain calm, professional under pressure and adapt quickly in everchanging operational environment.
• Are committed to continuous learning and improvement.
• Are excited about the chance to devote a career protecting the institution and people who represent Canada’s democracy.
• Communicate clearly in both official language with diverse populations.
• Exercise sound judgment in sensitive situations.
• Work effectively as part of a team with diverse groups.
• Understand the work is fundamentally about people.