Job Description

Competition # : 45333Department: Health and WellnessLocation: HALIFAXType of Employment: StudentUnion Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPGClosing Date: 06-Mar-25 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)About UsThe Department of Health and Wellness offers opportunities to grow and advance in a dynamic sector that touches the lives of all Nova Scotians. Along with our partners, including the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK Health Centre, we are committed to continually improving our health care system. With a focus on continual improvements within the Health System, the department is thinking differently about how to plan, fund, legislate and monitor to improve access and service delivery. To do this, we need leaders at all levels of the organization who embrace a challenge and believe in their ability to make a difference.About Our OpportunityThis is an exciting opportunity for students who are looking to enhance their competencies in public health. The successful candidate will gain practical skills in public health surveillance as a student in the Public Health Branch on the Surveillance Team. You will work in a collaborative environment with other Public Health specialists at the local and provincial level to assess population health and monitor communicable and non-communicable diseases and the related risk factors and impacts of these diseases.Primary AccountabilitiesThe practicum student will contribute to Public Health Surveillance through opportunities that may include:

• Identifying and assessing data sources that could be leveraged for accurate and timely public health surveillance.
• Creating and implementing data analysis plans for public health surveillance
• Conducting statistical analyses for communicable and non-communicable diseases
• Monitoring regional, provincial, national and international trends in communicable and chronic disease activity
• Identifying key findings of surveillance data
• Describing population health status in terms of magnitude, person, place and time
• Critically appraising epidemiological findings and synthesizing literature to inform evidence-based policy
• Creating reports suitable for the Department, the health system and the public

Qualifications and ExperienceThe opportunity is open to students who are enrolled in a Masters level program in public health and epidemiology.Other requirements are:

• Bachelors degree in health sciences or social sciences discipline
• Experience using statistical software packages (e.g. SAS, R, Stata)
• Experience searching library databases and identifying research articles
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Ability to work in teams
• Problem solving and analytic thinking skills
• Ability to synthesize information into clear recommendations
• Proficiency in MS Office

Additional InformationThis is a CASUAL (Student) employment opportunity with anticipated start date of May 5, 2025 and end date of July 25, 2025.Pay Grade: HOURLYSalary Range: $15.42 - $29.11 HourlyEmployment 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.Current government employees may access this posting through the link below: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.

Government of Nova Scotia