Environmental Public Health Officer

**BATTLEFORDS AGENCY TRIBAL CHIEFS**

**Environmental Public Health Officer**

As an Environmental Public Health Officer, you will protect, promote, and enhance the health and wellness of First Nations Communities through 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.

**ACCOUNTABILITIES**
- Implement environmental public health programs and services. Conduct environmental public health assessments. Evaluate data, technical and scientific information and assess current and future impacts on public health, provide information to development, health advisories, and other recommendations, and ensure identified studies or follow-up actions and mitigation measures are conducted.
- Ensure compliance with existing provincial and federal acts, regulations, codes, guidelines, and standards. Provide expert advice and recommend mitigation methods to ensure compliance with legislation and to protect public health.
- Conduct routine/demand inspections and provide advice, guidance, review, and recommendations for corrective action. May be necessary to recommend the closure of facilities.
- Investigate suspected and confirmed communicable disease including outbreaks, in collaboration and cooperation with local, provincial, and federal health authorities as appropriate. Collect and analyze information, provide expert advice, engage in follow-up activities, implement prevention and control measures and prepare reports in collaboration manager.
- Use and perform calibration on, specialized testing equipment to sample/monitor air (mold, asbestos, carbon monoxide) and drinking water quality, during routine and demand inspection/investigations, for inclusion in health risk assessments. Use sophisticated software and databases to catalogue inspection/investigation observations and activities, prepare reports, organize surveillance, demonstrate trends, and provide advice and recommendations to management, First Nations leadership and the First Nations Health Authority for the protection of First Nations individual and population health.
- Participate in development of community specific emergency response plans. Ensure that environmental public health considerations are properly addressed, and Emergency response plans are updated.
- Develop and deliver educational material, workshops, presentations, and formal training. Provide and supervise training for Environmental Health Officers trainees in monitoring, sampling, data analysis and interpretation of results. Act as a resource person and provide community based public education training to First Nations individuals, Chiefs and Councils, and other technical health professionals in the core program areas.
- Identify immediate and potential health hazards in collaboration and cooperation with local, provincial, and federal health authorities using specialized knowledge, judgment, and discretion in issuing advisories.
- Participate in planning, development, and evaluation of programs through technical reviews, surveillance, and monitoring activities. Participate in development and review of regulations, standards, policy, and guidelines.
- Participate in ongoing professional development to keep abreast of literature to enhance knowledge in the area of specialization, and to provide the most current advice and guidance to First Nations leaders and community members.
- Liaise with First Nation, federal, provincial, and municipal authority, and private industry regarding environmental public health issues. Advocate on behalf of First Nation communities.
- Participate in community specific project management teams. Conduct and review environmental screening and/or assessments. Assist in preparation and development of research proposals, monitor ongoing progress of projects, and assist with research activities and analysis of data.
- Make presentation to other government departments/agencies private industry and First Nations leaders and membership regarding environmental public health programs, issues, and solutions.

**QUALIFICATIONS**

**Education**
- University Degree in Environmental or Public Health Science or successful completion relevant education plus specialized training

**Occupational Certification**
- Certificate in Public Health Inspection (Canada) CPHI©, from the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors
- Current Health and Safety Certification (CRSP, CIH, ROHT, OHST, ROH)

**Experience**
- Experience as an Environmental Health Officer
- Experience working with office productivity software (Microsoft Office suite of products - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project and Access)
- Experience working with First Nations clients’ groups is an asset

**Knowledge**
- Knowledge of current theories, concepts, techniques, and