Training Officer

Who We Are

In Whitby, we are dedicated to our work, our community, and each other. We work hard, we have fun, and we celebrate our successes.

The Town of Whitby is a community in transformation that is located in the heart of Durham Region in the eastern Greater Toronto Area. Whitby is the second-largest municipality in the region and one of the fastest-growing communities in Canada. Located on Lake Ontario and only an hour east of Toronto, the population of Whitby is expected to grow from 140,000 to more than 200,000 by 2031. Whitby’s Official Plan has been updated to establish new directions for Whitby’s planned growth and development; the protection of our natural and built environments; urban design intensification; sustainability; community improvement; and, new employment within this time frame.

The Town of Whitby combines a small town atmosphere with the sophistication and amenities of a larger urban centre.  Whitby boasts two beautiful heritage downtowns, one of the finest recreational harbours with an award-winning marina, year round sports and recreation activities, parks, trails, and a robust arts and culture scene, all of which are part of the extraordinary amenities that Whitby residents enjoy every day.

Whitby has an exciting and aspiring future, with a community that is welcoming, growing and transforming. On our team, you can expect to make a difference through your work and have a direct impact on shaping our growing community. Creating an inclusive environment where employees experience job satisfaction and have rewarding careers is important to us. We live our values and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, respect and engagement where people enjoy coming to work.

We want to be the preferred employer for the most talented people who care about the Town of Whitby, and are excited and proud to serve our vibrant community.

Let’s grow together.

What You Will Get To Do

The successful candidate will have a positive impact on our corporate culture by demonstrating the Town’s CARE core values (Collaborative, Accountable, Respectful, Engaged) through daily interactions with individuals at all levels of the organization, external groups and elected officials.

By effectively building positive rapport and relationships both internally and externally, the successful candidate will help us achieve our mission that together we deliver services that make a difference in our community.

Reporting to the Chief Training Officer and under the guidance of the Deputy Fire Chief(s), the Training Officer is responsible and accountable for performing functions and duties related to the design, development, planning, maintenance, evaluation of internal and/or external education and training courses with an emphasis on health and safety of all participants.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• developing training plans, programs, guidelines and learning materials, including the Officer Training Program and Recruit Training Program; 
• promoting the strategic educational priorities of Whitby Fire & Emergency Services;
• delivery of fire service related training programs, managing the training environment and scheduling training activities amongst all platoons;
• examining and assessing education and/or training programs and courses to ensure compliance with legislated standards and/or applicable guidelines;
• thoroughly evaluate success of training programs via participant comprehension of training objectives;
• proactively analyze information to identify potential education and/or training needs necessary to counteract trends related to injuries, fire losses etc.;
• thoroughly understand and maintain qualifications in the operation and maintenance of all equipment related to training;
• staying informed on trends and/or best practices in the field of fire training and/or education including changing local conditions, technological changes etc.;
• responding to emergency incidents and fulfilling the role of Incident Safety Officer, Accountability Officer, as required;
• actively participate in departmental public relations activities;
• performing administrative duties relating to the Training Division to ensure maintenance of adequate training records; and,
• other duties as may be required.

Who You Are

Our Fire & Emergency Services team is looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated team player. Your excellent communication and interpersonal skills allow you to connect quickly with people in an outgoing and friendly manner. You are a tactful and empathetic self-starter who treats everyone with fairness and respect. You like helping people.

With strong organizational and time management skills, a high volume of work does not intimidate you. You adapt and cope in challenging and changing situations. You remain calm, maintain perspective and respond in a professional manner even when things are tough. You are knowledgeable about, and work in compliance with all workplace regulations, standards, and practices. You pay attention to the details and place an emphasis on health and safety. You foster a collaborative team environment among co-workers, and work to solve problems using relevant information to determine possible solutions.

What You Bring To Our Team

The successful candidate will possess:

• a minimum of three (3) years of directly related experience in the field of training and/or educating;
• a minimum rank of 1st Class Firefighter considered an asset;
• demonstrated instructional experience in various emergency response and/or technical rescue disciplines;
• strong mechanical aptitude with the ability to modify teaching techniques, as required;
• proven presentation and facilitation skills, with the ability to teach adult learners;
• thorough understanding of modern firefighting and prevention methods as well as all applicable Provincial and Federal Acts and/or Regulations;
• a working level knowledge of MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and database management software; and,
• possess or willing to obtain by start date, a valid Class “D” Ontario Driver’s License with “Z” Air Brake endorsement.

What We Offer You

• Salary: $128,372* per annum
  *as per current Collective Agreement (January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2023)
• A comprehensive benefits and pension program to ensure that your total compensation package addresses both your work and life needs.
• Flexible Work Arrangements currently available between 0700 to 1900 hours, Monday through Sunday.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

At the Town of Whitby, our values guide everything that we do. We celebrate our differences, which is why we are committed to building an inclusive and barrier-free environment for our team. If you need a specific accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know, and we will be happy to provide. Any information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

Acknowledgement will only be forwarded to those applicants who are invited to participate in the selection process.  As an applicant, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check your email regularly.

For those selected, our process may include additional assessments including, but not limited to, a presentation and panel interview to further determine a candidate’s knowledge and skills for the position.  Applicants who proceed in the selection process will be required to provide supporting documents to verify their certifications and education.

Personal information provided is collected under the authority of The Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

For your safety and the safety of others, if offered a role with the Town, you will be required to submit a completed Vaccination Declaration & Request for Accommodation form with proof of vaccination, if applicable, in accordance with the Town of Whitby’s COVID-19 Vaccine Policy.

Vaccination requirements are subject to bona fide medical and/or human rights exemptions, or individual preference exemption. Any request for an exemption will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, as per our COVID-19 Vaccine Policy, and would be subject to the Town’s accommodation process.

Union Affiliation: I.A.F.F. Local 2036

Hours: Flexible Work Arrangements are currently available for staff within the Professional Development & Training (PD&T) Division. The flexible hours for the PD&T Division run between 0700 to 1900 hours, Monday through Sunday, with individuals completing an average of a forty (40) hour work week over a two (2) week period.

Occasional evening and/or weekend hours may be required.

Vacancies: Two (2)