Senior Environmental Health Officer, Travelling Public Program

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

In order to manage the volume of applicants, management will be assessing INTERNAL Public Health Agency candidates/employees FIRST. Should an insufficient number of these applicants apply or be found qualified, other candidates will be considered/assessed.

Screening questions have been built into the application process, when answering the screening questions you must provide concrete and detailed examples to clearly demonstrate how you meet the qualification. We can’t make any assumptions about your experience. Simply saying you have the required qualifications or listing your current duties is not enough. Instead, provide concrete and detailed examples that clearly explain where, when, and how you gained the experience. We’ll only use your résumé as a secondary source of information. The breadth and depth of experience may be considered during screening, assessment and/or selection of candidates. Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or missing information.

Intent of the process

This process will initially be used to staff two positions. One in Halifax, NS; the other in Toronto, ON.

Applicants should be aware that a pool of qualified candidates (fully assessed or partially assessed) may be established and may be used to staff similar positions at this group and level. In addition, this process may be used to staff position using various tenures (acting appointments, assignment, deployment, indeterminate, specified period, secondment), security requirements and conditions of employment within the Public Health Agency of Canada. As a result of the potential and possible use of the selection process and subsequent pool by hiring managers, we encourage all candidates seeking this type of opportunity to apply.

Should no local candidates qualify or should operational needs change, positions may be moved/relocated to another city where the agency maintains TPP operations - ie. St. John's (NFLD), Moncton (NB), Montreal (PQ), or Vancouver (BC).

Positions to be filled: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Education:
A secondary school diploma or employer-approved alternative.

Degree equivalency

Occupational Certification:
Currently holding a certification issued by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors - CPHI(C)

Experience:
- Significant* experience in providing technical and strategic environmental health related advice to Environmental Health Officers, stakeholders or senior managers.
- Experience interpreting and applying environmental or public health related provincial or federal acts, regulations, codes, guidelines or standards to ensure compliance.
- Experience conducting food safety, sanitation and potable water inspections.
- Experience conducting environmental health investigations related to potential foodborne, airborne or waterborne outbreaks.

*Significant experience is defined as the depth, breadth and complexity of experience normally associated with full-time performance of duties for a minimum period of three (3) years.

Note: When “and” used within the Essential or Asset Qualifications, please ensure you speak to and provide evidence of all component elements.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
- Knowledge of the theories and principles of environmental or public health sciences.
- Knowledge of current environmental or public health policy environments at the municipal, provincial, federal and international levels.
- Knowledge of the core functions and features of environmental or public health and their application in developing health programs and policy.
- Knowledge of PHAC’s mandate, role and responsibilities in Emergency Preparedness and Response.
- Knowledge of the theories and principles of Quality Assurance or Quality Control in the context of environmental or public health inspections.

Abilities:
- Ability to communicate effectively orally.
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
- Ability to lead and manage public health emergencies including investigating and implementing processes to control communicable disease outbreaks.
- Ability to develop and provide recommendations to senior management on regulations and guidelines.

Personal Suitability:
- Respectful of diversity
- Analytical Thinking
- Judgement
- Partnering
- Team Leadership

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Asset Qualification:
- Experience applying the principles of Quality Assurance or Quality Control in the context of environmental or public health.
- Experience in providing surge capacity support in public health emergency events.

Operational Requirements:
- Willingness and ability to work overtime on short notice or be on standby
- Willingness and ability to be mobilized or remain on standby during health emergency response activations.
- Willingness and ability to travel within the province, region and nationally.
- Telework is not available for these positions.
- Compressed or other flexible work arrangements are not available for these positions.
- Must be able to work a normal workday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. - to be determined by management and based on operational requirements.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

- A valid driver’s license in the province of the work location
- Medical Clearance

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

// Are you ready to apply? //

■ To apply for any position, you need to first create a profile in the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS), which should only take about 10 minutes. Then, after ensuring you meet the position requirements, scroll to the bottom of the poster and click on "Apply online."

■ Work your way through the list of requirements, completing each section and saving as you go. Before submitting your application, please ensure that there are green check marks on every single category before submitting your application.

■ If there are any red Xs on the categories, please click into that category and ensure that everything has been filled out. Screening questions have been built into the application process and occasionally an applicant may miss a field on the Screening Questions page. Please thoroughly review to ensure that you have responded to each question, including all the "Yes / No " questions.

■ PSRS will automatically disconnect candidates without warning after 60 minutes if there is no activity. You need to save or move to a new screen to maintain your connection. Typing information without saving does not prevent you from being disconnected. Applicants may find it helpful to first use a word processing software to complete their responses using concrete and detailed examples, then copy and paste the responses into PSRS afterwards.

■ If you have further questions on how to apply or experience technical difficulties with your application, please visit the following website: http://www.cfp-psc.gc.ca/contact-jobs/index-eng.php

■ We will only accept on-line applications received via the Public Service Jobs site. Persons with disabilities or residing in locations that prevent them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

// Screening //

■ Screening criteria is established to determine which candidates will qualify for further consideration and assessment. During the screening stage, the screening board will review your application to determine if you meet the essential education and essential experiences. However, some managers may opt to use asset education and asset experiences as well. This is why it is essential to provide concrete examples when answering the experience questionnaire section in your application.

■ If you are a candidate that has been “screened-in,” this means that you may undergo further assessment to determine if you meet the other essential and/or asset criteria (i.e. knowledge, abilities, competencies, etc.).

// Assessment //

■ Managers can use a combination of assessment methods they deem relevant. Some common assessment methods are written exams, interviews, and reference checks. However, managers have the flexibility to use role-play, simulations, and performance / talent management considerations as part of their assessment.

■ When candidates are invited to the assessment stage, they will be notified of the qualifications being assessed and the assessment method (interview, written take home test, etc.). To help you prepare for assessment, you should think about examples that will best highlight how you meet the qualifications being assessed. During the assessment, use the “STAR” method to best explain your example. STAR stands for the following:

▪ Situation: Think of a situation in which you are/were involved.
▪ Task: Describe the tasks involved in the situation.
▪ Action: Specify what actions you took to achieve your results.
▪ Results: What results followed due to your actions? List them and describe each one briefly.

■ In assessing candidates, assessment boards may use a variety of tools and methods including, but not limited to, reviews of past performance and accomplishments, written tests, interviews, simulations, PSC tests, reference checks, board member knowledge etc. In addition, all information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the candidates.

■ Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

■ Depending on the number of applicants, needs and/or plans, volume management strategies such as, but not limited to, top-down approach, cut-off scores, asset selection, random selection and/or assessment may be used for the purpose of managing applications/candidates and/or determining which candidates will continue in the staffing process. Should a volume management strategy be used, communication regarding the application of the strategy will be provided to those candidates who are impacted.

■ Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

■ Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed.
- Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience.
- Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.
- The organizational need of restructuring/budgetary constraints

■ Candidates from outside the federal public service may be required to pay for travel and relocation costs associated with this selection process.

■ Proof of education will be required. Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca.

// Important Notes //

▪ Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent.

▪ Candidates will be contacted by email and it is imperative that you provide a current email address that accepts e-mail from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). It is also the candidate's responsibility to ensure accurate information is provided and updated as required.

▪ Candidates are strongly encouraged to check their email on a regular basis. It is your entire responsibility to inform us at all times of any changes regarding your contact information.

▪ All information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the candidates.

▪ Proof of citizenship will be requested if you are considered for a position.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.