Competition # : 49534
Department: Health and Wellness
Location: Multiple Locations
Type of Employment: Co-op
Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG
Closing Date: 03-Aug-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)
The Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness supports a vision for healthy Nova Scotians with a mission to lead a quality, equitable and sustainable health care system that inspires and promotes the health and well-being of all people in Nova Scotia. Working collaboratively with the Department of Agriculture and other partners, the department delivers public health regulatory inspection, compliance, and enforcement programs that protect Nova Scotians and maintain confidence in the province’s agri-food and public health system.
Working to protect the public from health hazards this position will provide a Public Health Inspector practicum to gain relevant experience in various public health areas, working alongside mentors in the field. This experience will be shared between the Departments of Health and Wellness and Agriculture along with other partner departments.
During this practicum, your responsibilities will include:
- Assisting Public Health Inspectors with organizing and conducting compliance inspections/audits, consultations and educational functions in a variety of settings including food service establishments, daycares, long term care homes, summer camps, safe body art facilities and the built environment.
- Assisting with the development and maintenance of proper food handling practices and sanitary conditions within facilities
- Assisting partner agencies in conducting compliance inspections and audits of regulated activities such as public drinking water supplies, wastewater and solid waste disposal.
- Assisting Inspectors with outreach and educational functions
- Assisting in reporting and making recommendations to ensure protection of the public through investigation, approval and certificate applications
You will be provided with the opportunity to collaborate with multiple public health disciplines working in Nova Scotia’s public health system to gain experience in public health areas such as communicable disease case follow-up, communicable disease
prevention and control, infection control practices and basic principles of communicable disease outbreak investigation, management and control.
This position requires candidates who are currently enrolled or who have recently been enrolled in a full time Public Health program accredited by the Board of Certification of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors. Preference will be given to Public Health students who have recently completed their last year of study. Applicants in their 3rd year of a 4-year program or 1st year of a 2-year program may also be considered. Please clearly specify your academic status in your application. Experience in a client service-based industry, report writing and presenting technical information are considered assets. As the successful candidate, you will demonstrate independent judgment, adaptability and tact in dealing with people as well as demonstrate the ability to assess health risks, provide recommendations on complex issues impacting public health. This position also requires individuals to exhibit a high level of professionalism in high-pressure situations, as you will be dealing with sensitive situations. We will assess the above qualifications and environmental public health technical competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.
Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable motor vehicle as travel is required. You must include a copy of your driver's license with your application and indicate if you have access to a vehicle to avoid being screened out of the selection process at the screening stage.
This competition is to fill two positions, 1 in each region: Bedford (Central Region), and Sydney (Eastern Region). The office location will be determined at time of hire.
This is a practicum position that will enable the successful applicant to obtain 16 weeks of experience beginning from the start date of the successful candidate. The anticipated start date will be late September of 2026.
As the position requires you to work with sensitive information and alongside vulnerable persons, a criminal record check or vulnerable section check may be required.
Pay Grade: HOURLY
Salary Range: $20.99 - $31.02 Hourly
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.
Accommodation Statement: We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected].
PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.
If you are receiving a pension from the Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP) or any related plans, you cannot receive pension payments while contributing to the same plan. If you accept a position that requires PSSP contributions, your pension payments must be stopped. Please contact the Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation for more 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 [email protected].
