Competition # : 44409
Department: Health and Wellness
Location: HALIFAX
Type of Employment: Temporary
Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG
Closing Date: 07-Nov-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)
The 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're 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.
As the Health Protection Consultant, you will be instrumental in informing and providing leadership to the strategic direction for the Health Protection programs (e.g. communicable disease prevention and control and immunization) for Nova Scotia. You will use current evidence and best practices to aid in program development, the development of policies, standards and guidelines and the monitoring thereof for quality and consistency.
Reporting to the Director, Health Protection, you play a key role in the assessment of risk to emerging/re-emerging communicable/infectious diseases and in the development of a coordinated response to that risk that may include outbreak management. In addition, you provide consultation and subject matter expertise to a variety of public health professionals, internal and external stakeholders and organizations on issues pertaining to vaccines and immunization programming and the prevention and control of communicable/infectious diseases, and other health protection initiatives.
You will represent the Public Health Branch and the Department of Health and Wellness in a leadership and subject matter expert capacity on provincial and national committees pertaining to health protection. You will work closely with the Public Health Divisions to ensure your work aligns with the overall strategic direction of the Public Health Branch. You serve as an interconnected liaison and partner to the Public Health Information System (Panorama) Program to ensure policies and best practices are incorporated into any revisions/upgrades to the information system.
Your role is also instrumental in the establishment of partnerships with provincial, federal departments/agencies, and other organizations in the integrated planning and development of Health Protection areas such as communicable disease prevention and control and immunization program related interventions.
You possess either a bachelor's degree in Nursing or Public Health Sciences plus six (6) years of experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Credentials as a Registered Nurse or Certified Public Health Inspector are required.
To be successful in this position, you have knowledge, skills and experience in public health sciences specifically related to areas of health protection such as communicable/infectious disease and immunization, assessment and analysis, policy and program development, implementation and evaluation and in outbreak management. You also have a strong working knowledge of the Health Protection Act. Your understanding of the social determinants of health and the need to address conditions that may prevent potential and/or ongoing risk of exposure to communicable/infectious diseases will be critical to this role.
You possess the ability to create strong partnerships and provide leadership throughout the Public Health Branch, the Nova Scotia Health Authority, and provincial and national committees pertaining to health protection such as communicable/infectious diseases and immunization. In addition, you have strong communication and risk communication skills (both written and verbal) as well as a high degree of organizational, analytical and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities. Committed to the code of ethics of your professional body and to the values, ethics and conduct for Nova Scotia Public Servants, you work well in an environment where flexibility, collaboration and commitment to team and teamwork is fundamental.
A working knowledge of a Public Health Information System would be a strong asset.
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.
An equivalent combination of training, education and experience will be considered. Related equivalencies may include, but are not limited to:
Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.
Most of your work is in a comfortable office environment. There is a need for you to balance competing priorities, attend multiple meetings, and meet strict deadlines. Provincial travel may be required.
This is a TEMPORARY employment opportunity with anticipated end date of February 24, 2025. The appointment status ('term', 'temporary' or 'casual') is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate.
Pay Grade: PR 17
Salary Range: $3,107.16 - $3,649.33 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.