IntelliStaff is recruiting an experienced Regional Environmental Health Officer to deliver environmental public health programs across Nunavut.
The successful candidate will identify, assess and correct environmental hazards; conduct inspections; investigate health concerns; support disease-control programs; and enforce applicable public health legislation.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct risk-based inspections of public facilities, institutions, rental housing and personal-service establishments
- Inspect food-service facilities and investigate suspected foodborne illnesses
- Collect and submit food, water and diagnostic samples for laboratory analysis
- Test drinking water and inspect community and private water systems
- Recommend, issue and rescind boil-water advisories when authorized
- Inspect sewage, waste-management and environmental sanitation systems
- Investigate mould, pests, spills, odours, garbage and housing sanitation concerns
- Support investigations involving communicable diseases, zoonotic illnesses and potential rabies exposure
- Respond to environmental health emergencies and disease outbreaks
- Monitor and enforce territorial tobacco-control requirements
- Provide emergency on-call coverage as assigned
- Travel to communities throughout the assigned region
Regulatory and Enforcement Responsibilities
- Interpret and enforce applicable public health legislation and standards
- Approve or reject applications to operate regulated premises
- Issue directions requiring corrective action
- Order closures, condemn unsafe premises or seize hazardous materials when necessary
- Prepare documentation for legal proceedings
- Work with legal counsel and appear as an expert witness when required
- Exercise enforcement authority impartially and professionally
Community Engagement and Administration
- Advise residents, businesses, health professionals and community organizations
- Explain environmental health risks and required corrective measures
- Deliver food-safety and environmental health education
- Develop culturally relevant public education materials
- Maintain inspection records, case files and water-quality data
- Prepare reports, enforcement documents and program statistics
- Maintain environmental testing equipment and supplies
Education and Experience
- Undergraduate degree from a recognized university in Environmental Health or a related field
- Certification through the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors
- Minimum two years of related environmental health experience
- Valid driver’s licence
- Experience conducting inspections, risk assessments and regulatory investigations
- Experience interpreting and enforcing public health legislation
- Experience working in remote, northern or cross-cultural environments is an asset
Knowledge and Skills
- Knowledge of food safety, drinking-water quality, wastewater management and communicable disease control
- Understanding of epidemiology, microbiology, chemistry and hydrology
- Strong investigation, risk-assessment and decision-making abilities
- Excellent documentation, report-writing and organizational skills
- Ability to operate environmental sampling and testing equipment
- Strong communication, diplomacy and conflict-resolution skills
- Cultural awareness and the ability to work respectfully within Inuit and multicultural communities
- Ability to communicate in more than one of Nunavut’s official languages is an asset
Top 5 Reasons to Work in Nunavut
- Make a visible difference: Your work directly supports safer water, food, housing and public facilities in northern communities.
- Gain exceptional professional experience: Handle a wider variety of environmental health responsibilities than you might encounter in a larger urban centre.
- Experience Inuit culture: Learn from welcoming communities with strong traditions, languages and connections to the land.
- Explore an unforgettable landscape: Experience Arctic wildlife, wide-open tundra, northern lights and outdoor adventures that are difficult to find anywhere else.
- Build meaningful relationships: Work closely with community leaders, health professionals and local organizations; in smaller communities, collaboration is not just corporate wallpaper.
Working Conditions
- Regular travel to remote communities
- Emergency and on-call work may be required
- Work in extreme weather and potentially hazardous environments
- Some inspections may involve confined spaces, heavy testing equipment and considerable walking
- Personal protective equipment must be worn when appropriate
- Enforcement duties may involve challenging situations
Qualified environmental public health professionals who enjoy fieldwork, community engagement and meaningful variety are encouraged to apply.
