Health Protection Consultant (Program Admin Officer 4)

About Us

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.

About Our Opportunity

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.

Primary Accountabilities

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 Branch 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, immunization program , and other health protection related interventions.

Qualifications and Experience

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.

Equivalency

An equivalent combination of training, education and experience will be considered. Related equivalencies may include, but are not limited to:

• A related master’s degree in Nursing and four (4) years of related experience

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 here to learn more about our various benefits offerings and eligibility criteria.

Working Conditions

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.

Additional Information

This is a TERM employment opportunity with anticipated start date of January 29, 2024 and end date of March 10, 2025. The appointment status (‘term’, ‘temporary’ or ‘casual’) is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate.

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.