Job Description

Competition # : 37078

Department: Labour, Skills and Immigration

Location: DARTMOUTH

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 11/9/2022 (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 Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety 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. The Division aspires for continuous improvement through the setting requirements, promoting and verifying compliance and applying enforcement options when required.

About Our Opportunity

If you are searching for a rewarding career where you will have a positive impact on the lives of Nova Scotians, we have an exciting opportunity for you to explore as an Occupational Hygienist.

Under the general supervision of the Manager Technical Services, the Occupational Hygienist provides professional expertise, technical direction, and enforcement in relation to health and industrial hygiene issues to workplaces. This role requires direct and indirect contact with the private industry, government, and educational facilities, as well as physicians, medical professionals, and health & safety consultants. As the Occupational Hygienist your responsibilities will involve evaluating compliance, health and safety prevention, and supporting both internal and external stakeholders in occupational health, such as training of staff.

At times you may be required to provide expert witness testimony on regulatory issues in Provincial Court. The Occupational Hygienist participates in the technical development of provincial and national standards and codes of practice related to occupational health issues. You may conduct educational sessions for workplace parties and provide academic lectures for post-secondary institutions.

Furthermore, as the Occupational Hygienist you are designated as a Federal Inspector for the purposes of the Hazardous Products Act and the Hazardous Products Regulations administered by Health Canada.

Primary Accountabilities

• Conducting workplace inspections
• Responding to complaints, accidents, incidents, and allegations of discriminatory action in workplaces
• Promoting understanding and awareness through engagement at the workplaces and other opportunities with employers and employees
• Providing information and advice to employers, contractors, employees, unions, equipment suppliers, and professionals with respect to Occupational Health and Safety Act, its Regulations, and their application
• Enforcing compliance through appropriate actions
• Participating on committees both internal and external to the Department on matters related to occupational health and safety
• Providing policy advice

Qualifications and Experience

This may be the right opportunity for you if you have completed a Bachelors' Degree in physical sciences, engineering, biological sciences or related discipline plus 2 years related experience in occupational hygiene or you have a Masters Degree in Occupational Hygiene. Related experience is considered to include at least seventy-five percent of the time as direct personal experience in areas such as: assessing workplaces for occupational health and hygiene issues, conducting air sampling for chemical agents, assessing chemical, physical and biological agents in workplaces, evaluating ventilation systems, developing educational materials such as health and safety notices, providing educational and training in occupational health and hygiene, applying occupational exposure standards and providing advice to employers and employees on workplace health and hygiene related issues.

As the successful candidate you must be self-directed, work independently and as a member of a team, and values a diverse and inclusive workplace and exhibit collaborative behaviors. The ability to exercise professional discretion, manage competing interests, and maintain effective stakeholder relationships are critical. In addition, you will act with the greatest discretion and confidentiality, and communicate with sensitivity in all situations and having the ability to adhere to deadline while maintaining confidence from all stakeholders.

As the successful candidate you must be able to understand, interpret legislation and explain in plain language terms to clients. You posses exceptional communication skills both verbal and written and the ability to build productive relationships (both internally and externally). Proficiency in various computer programs (e.g. Microsoft 365 including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams) is required.

Assets for this position:

• Previous experience in effectively dealing with difficult clients is beneficial.
• Experience working in the regulatory context.

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.

Equivalency

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

Additional Information

Please note this competition will be used to fill 2 permanent positions.

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 for Nova Scotians.
• Department specific flexible working schedules.

Pay Grade: PR 13

Salary Range: $2,469.30 - $2,881.39 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.