Job Description

Competition # : 38810

Department: Labour, Skills and Immigration

Location: SYDNEY

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: \xe2\x80\x8b5/9/2023\xe2\x80\x8b (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Occupational Health and Safety Division plays a key role in workplace safety in the province of Nova Scotia. Our goal is to help make Nova Scotia the safest place to work in Canada. The Internal Responsibility System (IRS) is the foundation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act), and it prescribes the legislated rights and responsibilities of the workplace parties regarding health and safety. The Division plays a supportive role in the IRS and is responsible for establishing and clarifying the responsibilities under the law. In addition, the Division promotes and enforces the Act and Regulations and will intervene appropriately when workplace parties do not carry out their respective responsibilities.

About Our Opportunity

As a Mining Engineer, you will work independently as an engineering expert and department specialist. You may be called upon to make critical decisions and recommendations that impact occupational health and safety, to establish standards associated with engineering required at workplaces throughout the province. You will work primarily within the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its relative regulations and will be required to make recommendations to the Executive Director as part of regulatory approval procedures.

Primary Accountabilities

You will review filings, submissions requiring approvals, and codes of practice submitted to the Department, related to underground mines in Nova Scotia, and in particular, the Donkin coal mine in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. You will also be responsible for assisting Occupational Health and Safety Officers in their inspections of surface and underground mines, liaising with and managing contracts for a range of professional consultants and advising on law development. You will be expected to travel and conduct underground on-site inspections at the Donkin coal mine, as well as other sites throughout the province, applying relevant laws and conditions of approvals in accordance with the enforcement policy of the Occupational Health and Safety Division. Appearances as a court expert witness may be required.

You will also be required to interpret relevant statutes, policies, and precedents, and be called upon to develop written interpretation guides for use by external and internal clients. You will work independently, with a minimum of supervision. You will also be involved from time to time in the technical review of other activities identified within the Blasting Safety regulations and relevant parts of other regulations that fall under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. (e.g. surface mining, trenching, stockpiling, mechanical safety, etc.)

As a Mining Engineer, you will work under the general direction of the Manager of Technical Services.

Qualifications and Experience

This may be the right opportunity for you if you have a Bachelor of Mining or Mineral Resources Engineering, or equivalent, plus 6 years of related experience. Related experience is considered to include at least seventy-five percent of the time as direct personal experience in underground coal and non-coal mines such as; mine filings to regulator bodies, explosives/blasting activity, mine rescue and emergency response, industrial hygiene, mine ventilation, ground control, mechanical equipment, hoisting equipment, electrical installations and equipment, diesel equipment, conveyor systems, health and safety incident investigations. You must have a current membership, or be eligible for membership, as a Professional Engineer with Engineers Nova Scotia.

Knowledge of emerging trends, particularly in the mining industry and impact of technology and equipment on workplace health and safety is required. You must have in-depth knowledge of the Act and regulations with demonstrated ability to apply and interpret legislation and policy. You have experience relaying and interpreting technical information and advice to industry stakeholders, senior officials, in government and/or the public in an effective manner.

This work requires strong consultation, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills with ability to interact effectively with clients, partners, other government departments and external agencies. To be successful in the role you must have the ability to establish and maintain effective stakeholder relationships. Considerable judgment, tact and diplomacy are required to provide solutions and recommendations as a result of independent analyses that can be relied upon to be sound, authoritative, technically accurate and feasible.

You possess exceptional communication skills (oral, written, electronic) to effectively convey information to wide audiences ranging from industrial sector experts, academic experts, and the general public. In addition, you have technical and presentation skills to deliver training modules to departmental staff, stakeholders and special interest groups. Being physically able to work in large industrial workplaces and be capable to walk long distances if required is needed.

You must possess a valid driver\xe2\x80\x99s licence and access to a reliable vehicle.

While not required, it is considered an asset if:

You have experience in underground coal mining;

• Mine Rescue experience;
• Technical standard committees;
• You possess a professional safety designation, including CRSP.

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.

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 offerings and eligibility criteria.

Additional Information

We have 2 permanent positions; one is located in Sydney and the other is located in Dartmouth or Sydney. These are a provincial based positions where travel outside the immediate work area is required. Hybrid will be available, as you will be required to work onsite in one of these locations on a regular basis.

You must possess a valid Nova Scotia\'s driver\xe2\x80\x99s license (or equivalent) and access to a reliable vehicle.

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: PR 18

Salary Range: $3,215.50 - $3,781.51 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.

Government of Nova Scotia