Public Health Officer (Practicum Student) (Multiple Locations)

Department: Environment and Climate Change

Location: Multiple Locations

Type of Employment: Co-op

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date: 21-Mar-25 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

Nova Scotia Environments role is to protect the environment, human health and animal health through regulatory excellence, conservation, partnership and promotion. To achieve this, we strive to develop legislation, regulations and policies, process notifications, applications, and approvals for regulated activities based on sound scientific knowledge and expertise.

Our goal is to educate, inspect and enforce to ensure compliance with legislation and regulations. We also proactively respond to environmental, conservation, animal, and human health risks and work to develop programs and deliver services to enhance protection in these areas.

To know more, visit our website: https://novascotia.ca/nse/

About Our Opportunity

Working to protect the public from hazards posed by natural or manmade environmental conditions our Public Health Officers In-Training have the opportunity to gain relevant experience in various public health areas as they work along side mentors in the field.

Primary Accountabilities

During this practicum, your responsibilities will include:

• Assisting Public Health Officers with organizing and conducting compliance inspections/audits, consultations and educational functions in a variety of food service establishments including daycares, long term care and summer camp facilities.
• Assisting with the development and maintenance of proper food handling practices and sanitary conditions within facilities
• Assisting Environmental Inspector Specialists in conducting compliance inspections and audits of regulated activities such as public drinking water supplies, wastewater and solid waste disposal
• Assisting Inspectors with outreach and educational functions
• Assisting in reporting and making recommendations to ensure protection of the public through investigation, approval and certificate applications

You will be provided with the opportunity to collaborate with multiple public health disciplines working in Nova Scotias public health system to gain experience in public health areas such as communicable disease case follow-up, communicable disease prevention and control, infection control practices and basic principles of communicable disease outbreak investigation, management and control.

Qualifications and Experience

As the successful candidate, you must be enrolled in a full time Public Health program accredited by the Board of Certification of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors. Preference will be given to Public Health students who are currently completing their 4th year (last year) of study. It will be considered an asset if graduating in 2025 and pursuing a certificate in Public Health Inspection (Canada). Applicants in their 3rd year of a 4-year program or 1st year of a 2-year program may also be considered. Please clearly advise what year of study you are in, when you are set to graduate and advise that you meet the requirements to be certified in Canada.

Experience in a client service-based industry, report writing and presenting technical information are considered assets.

As the successful candidate, you will demonstrate independent judgment and tact in dealing with people as well as demonstrate the ability to provide recommendations on complex issues impacting public health. This position also requires individuals to exhibit a high level of professionalism as you will be dealing with sensitive situations.

Candidates must have a valid NS drivers license, a reliable vehicle and the ability to travel throughout the province.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Additional Information

This competition is to fill three positions, 1 in each region: Bedford (Central Region), Yarmouth (Western Region) and Sydney (Eastern Region). The office location will be determined at time of hire.

This is a practicum position with an expected end date of August 29, 2025. The duration of the position will be 16 weeks, which may be subject to an extension.

Must have a valid drivers license and access to a reliable motor vehicle as travel is required.

Pay Grade: HOURLY

Salary Range: $20.09 - $29.69 Hourly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.