Environmental Health Officer

**FNHA Overview**:
The First Nations Health Authority is a diverse and transformational health organization of professional, innovative and dedicated team members and leaders.

The first of its kind in Canada, FNHA works as a health-and-wellness partner with BC First Nations to support self-determination and decision-making to improve health outcomes.

**JOIN OUR HISTORIC JOURNEY**
At FNHA, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to BC’s history. With a unique governing structure and mandate, our fluid work environment means you can play an active role in real change.
Our talented teams value respect and foster lateral kindness in their working relationships. Our holistic approach to wellness, based on First Nations teachings, is incorporated into all aspects of work culture. Where else will you get to create a personal wellness plan as part of your performance goals?

**Position Summary**:
Promotes and enhances the health and wellness of First Nations Communities through the implementation, assessment, and evaluation of environmental public health programs and services in communicable disease control, drinking water, health and housing, food safety, solid waste, public buildings, emergency preparedness and response, risk assessment, environmental contaminants research, wastewater disposal, and pest management.

**As a health and wellness organization, the First Nations Health Authority has aligned with the Provincial Public Health Order released on October 14, 2021. We have a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for all employees at First Nations Health Authority. This policy requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If selected for employment, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination by providing a copy of your BC Vaccination Card Passport with the QR code.**

**Responsibilities**:

- Implements environmental public health programs and services, and conducts environmental public health assessments. Evaluates data, technical and scientific information, and assesses current and future impacts on public health. Provides information in developing health advisories, and other recommendations. Identifies and recommends prevention control measures, prepares reports, and identifies studies and/or research to be conducted.
- Assesses compliance of environmental health programs and services with existing provincial and federal acts, regulations, codes, guidelines, and standards. Provides advice and recommends mitigation methods to ensure compliance with legislation, and to protect public health.
- Conducts routine and/or demand inspections of facilities, and provides advice, guidance, review, and recommendations for corrective action, including closure if required.
- Investigates suspected and confirmed communicable and non communicable disease, including outbreaks, in collaboration and cooperation with local, provincial, and federal health authorities as appropriate. Collects and analyzes information, provides advice, engages in follow-up activities, implements prevention and control measures, and prepares reports in collaboration with the Director, Health Protection, and other public health professionals.
- Utilizes and performs calibration on specialized testing equipment to sample and/or monitor air, including mould, asbestos, carbon monoxide, and drinking water quality during routine and demand inspection and/or investigations for inclusion in health risk assessments. Utilizes software and databases to catalogue inspection and/or investigation observations and activities. Prepares reports, organizes surveillance, demonstrates trends, and provides advice and recommendations to management, First Nations leadership, and other partners for the protection of First Nations individual and population health.
- Participates in the development of community specific emergency response plans to ensure environmental public health considerations are addressed, and emergency response plans are updated.
- Develops and delivers educational material, workshops, presentations, and formal training, including providing and directing training of Environmental Health Officer trainees in monitoring, sampling, data analysis, and interpretation of results. Acts as a resource person and provides community based public education training to First Nations individuals, chiefs, councils, and other technical health professionals in the core program areas.
- Identifies immediate and potential health hazards in collaboration and cooperation with local, provincial, and federal health authorities, and issues advisories as appropriate.
- Participates in the planning, development, and evaluation of programs through technical reviews, and surveillance and monitoring activities, and participates in the development and review of regulations, standards, policies, and guidelines.
- Liaises with First Nation, federal, provincial, and municipal authority, and private industry regarding environmental public health