Job Description

Competition # : 36828

Department: Environment and Climate Change

Location: KENTVILLE

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 10/24/2022 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change's role is to protect the environment, human health and farm animal welfare 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 proactively respond to environmental, conservation, farm animal welfare, and human health risks and work to develop programs and deliver services to enhance protection in these areas.

Websites:

About Our Opportunity

Working within a complex regulatory environment as an Inspector Specialist, you will ensure producers throughout Nova Scotia are operating in compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, policies, and guidelines. You will implement compliance-related activities to ensure the humane treatment of farm animals in private ownership or custody, on commercial farms and premises, including those intended for the food system, at the time of slaughter. This position also responds to and investigates farm animal welfare complaints from the public on private or commercial premises, collects evidence, issues orders, conducts follow-up inspections and/or implements any necessary enforcement actions. You also determine the need for technical assistance from veterinarians and, where necessary, act to relieve acute and serious animal suffering.

Primary Accountabilities

Primary Product Inspector

• Ensures provincially licenced abattoirs are following provincial design and construction criteria and that they are properly maintained, hygienic and operated in a manner consistent with applicable legislation, policy, and guidelines.
• Conducts pre-operational inspections, ante-mortem inspections, post-mortem inspections, risk-based audits, water supply reviews, and responds to complaints.
• Ensures meat products entering the in-province food supply chain are safe for human consumption.
• Ensures humane treatment of animals from the time of arrival at an abattoir up to and including slaughter of the animal, through observation and inspection of animals during delivery, unloading, handling, stunning and slaughter and use of appropriate regulatory tools.
• Helps to prevent the spread of reportable and other diseases which may endanger human or animal health.
• Uses compliance and enforcement tools.
• Reports workplace health and safety issues.
• Trains staff.
• Provides consultation and education on regulations, guidelines, acts and procedures.
• Conducts investigations and all powers granted under, but not limited to, the NS Meat Inspection Act and Regulations, Food Safety Regulations, Health Protection Act, and Smoke Free Places Act.

Farm Animal Welfare Inspector

• Responds to and investigates farm animal welfare complaints from the public.
• Provides education to the public on animal care, nutrition and the Department's regulations, policies and procedures.
• Collects evidence, issues Directives, conducts follow-up inspections and/or implements other enforcement actions including obtaining warrants, gathering evidence, and laying of charges.
• Determines the need for technical assistance from veterinarians or law enforcement agencies.
• Where required, act to relieve acute and serious animal suffering through referral to a veterinarian or other authorized person to seize or euthanize animals in serious distress.
• Supports public prosecutors and other court officials, in judicial processes and actions including preparation and provision of court documents, acting as a witness and/or providing expert testimony or evidence as required.
• Reports workplace health and safety issues.
• Trains staff.
• Conducts investigations and all powers granted under, but not limited to, the NS Animal Protection Act.

Qualifications and Experience

You have completed related trade or technical training in the area of specialty (such as a diploma in a related field) and have six years of related experience after the course completion; or an equivalent combination of training and experience may be acceptable.

To be successful within this role:

• You must be able to quickly identify and determine the severity of signs of disease, injury, or related issues in live farm animals as well as a strong understanding of farm animal husbandry, care, handling, feeding, and sheltering of farm animals.
• Proficient computer skills and report writing will also be essential within this position.
• You will demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to plan, organize, as well interpret, and explain legislation and technical matters. You will also be able to solve complex issues, make decisions, be self-motivated, versatile, work independently and manage difficult or confrontational situations with ease.

Training in any of the following would be considered an asset: Food Processing and Meat Inspection Procedures, Food Safety Professional Designation, Certification in Advanced Food Safety Programs, Certification in Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), Certification in Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S), Certification in First Aid and CPR.

You must have regular access to a reliable vehicle.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and Union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click to learn more about our various benefits offering and eligibility criteria.

Working Conditions

You will be required to work at least 35 hours per week, 4 days/week. Shifts will vary and may be up to 12 hours in length. Must be willing to work overtime, when needed. Occasional holiday work may be required.

Additional Information

This competition is to fill a Permanent position based in KENTVILLE.

There is the potential that primary product inspection will make up the majority of the work and farm animal welfare work will be minimal however, the division of work is subject to ongoing operational requirements.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Engaging workplace. Our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies.
• countless career paths.
• Department Specific Flexible working schedules.

Pay Grade: TE 24

Salary Range: $2,289.53 - $2,696.59 Bi-Weekly

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.