Infant Feeding Specialist

**Req ID**:192663**
**Location**:Central** Zone, **Public Health Services - Burnside**
**Department**:PH EY Early Years CZ**
**Type of Employment**:Permanent** **Hourly FT** (**100%**) x **2**
**NSGEU** **Healthcare** Position**
**Posting Closing Date**:12-Dec-24**

Nova Scotia Health is the largest provider of health services in Nova Scotia, with some specialized services also offered to clients throughout Atlantic Canada. We’re on a mission to achieve excellence in health, healing, and learning through working together, which is reflected in the hospitals, health centres, and community-based programs we operate across the province. Our passionate team of professionals provides a variety of high-quality inpatient and outpatient services including academic, tertiary, and quaternary care, as well as continuing care, primary health care, public health, and mental health and addictions. Join a diverse team of innovators, collaborators, and creative thinkers today.

**About the Opportunity**:
Reporting to the Manager of Early Years, the Infant Feeding Specialist collaborates with the Early Years team in the Zone to promote, protect and support breastfeeding and healthy infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices to improve population health outcomes and reduce health inequities. The Infant Feeding Specialist acts as a specialist resource for families and front-line staff by providing timely and effective support through consultative services, education, orientation, and mentorship while working within a collaborative model of care. The Infant Feeding Specialist advocates for and promotes the development and maintenance of essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to provide high-quality, evidence-based and trauma and violence-informed IYCF support. The Infant Feeding Specialist engages with a broad range of local community and healthcare partners to build capacity and promote best practices related to IYCF in the prenatal and postnatal period.

This position requires work at multiple sites and travel between various community locations throughout the area.

**About You**:
We would love to hear from you if you have the following:

- Bachelor’s Degree in a healthcare related discipline (Dietitian, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, or Registered Nurse)
- International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant Certification or able to obtain within 3 years of employment
- Minimum one (1) year related experience required
- Experience providing direct breastfeeding/infant feeding support and education.
- Experience providing infant feeding support in public health or community settings an asset.
- Demonstrated experience supporting breastfeeding persons with complex lactation and feeding challenges
- Knowledge of the Baby-Friendly Initiative
- Critical thinking skills including judgement, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
- Demonstrated cultural humility, and respect for diversity, including the ability to support clients from various cultural, socioeconomic backgrounds, and differing values
- Valid NS Driver's License and access to a reliable vehicle
- Competencies in other languages an asset, French preferred

Please ensure your resume is up to date and includes all relevant education, experience, training, and certifications.

**Hours**:

- Permanent full-time position / 75 hours bi-weekly

**Compensation and Benefits**:
$32.32 - $40.61 Hourly

**Once You've Applied**

Thank you for your interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

This is a Healthcare bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Employees are encouraged to view their seniority hours and dates in their SuccessFactors online profile. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units, or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.