New Job Safety Advisor (Program Admin. Officer 4) In Nova Scotia

About Us

The Department of Labour, Skills & Immigration (LSI) works to provide fairness, safety, and prosperity for all Nova Scotians by helping them live, learn, and work to their highest potential.

We have a staff of more than 500 employees working from offices throughout Nova Scotia. Together we are responsible for safety, labour standards, apprenticeship, immigration and population growth, and many other facets of everyday life.

Safety makes a difference in everyone’s lives. The LSI Safety Branch is the lead for achieving compliance in health and safety in workplaces, and technical safety of regulated equipment in public places. We strive to help build understanding about what is required to achieve compliance by providing current and accurate information while also ensuring compliance is achieved.

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Director, Awareness & Outreach, the Safety Advisor will work with stakeholders including sectors councils, associations, and organizations or individual small, new businesses and newcomer entrepreneurs to help them understand, develop, and implement best practices with respect to safety programs and policies. As required, the Safety Advisor would also be responsible to inform stakeholders on specific new elements related to hazards that may emerge such as Covid-19. The Safety Advisor will bridge the gap between business owners, technical specialists, and compliance officers to ensure best practices, informational products and tools are developed and shared.

You will be responsible to deliver the Awareness and Outreach program to:

• Provide timely and effective information and guidance to clients
• Build, establish and maintain positive relations with internal and external stakeholders
• Develop and manage programs to support our clients and stakeholders

This is a non enforcement position, the individual would be tasked to work with Officers, Inspectors, Investigators, and Information Specialist to provide accurate guidance.

Primary Accountabilities

The Safety Advisor will be the key point of contact for new and small to medium size businesses with respect to the development and implementation of programs and policies as it relates to workplace safety.

This role provides leadership, innovation and consultative services to organizations that will promote and evaluate effective occupational health & safety (OH&S) activities and have a direct impact on the development and promotion of best practice models. Establishing positive relationships across all levels of an organization, this role will conduct organizational assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of health and safety programs, initiatives, and policies.

Through the delivery of high impact consulting, the Safety Advisor will coach workplaces to achieve realistic, measurable, and sustainable goals to implement and standardize safety policies and enhance safety culture in their organization.

The Safety Advisors will also apply a strategic lens when working with clients in small, new and diverse businesses to be sure their needs are represented in the Safety Branch strategic planning process and advocate for their needs to be met through Branch initiatives.

Types of decisions made in this job:

• Prioritize workload commitments and related activities.
• Timing for clear and concise communication of information
• Interpretation of legislation, regulations, and industry best practices.
• Approach and method used to undertake assignments.

Based on professional knowledge and research/needs assessment, the Safety Advisor decides on the approach and method to undertake assignments and key responsibilities. Decisions typically relate to policies and programs.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role you have completed a University degree in the sciences or business, preferably with experience in major course work in health and safety management and 6 years of related experience, a combination of knowledge/ skills and practical experience will be considered.

For this role you also have:

• A CRSP designation or working towards the designation
• Strong background in Health & Safety leadership
• Experience developing Safety programs and policies
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and superior oral/written communication skills are key components of this position.

You possess strong leadership skills and a proven ability to collaborate. You have excellent relationship building skills with both internal and external stakeholders. You are an exceptional communicator (written and verbal) with strong negotiation, presentation, critical thinking, analytical and facilitation skills.

Assets for this position include:

• Experience representing an organization and working with key stakeholder groups such as government, business, organized labour, and worker representatives
• Project Management experience
• Experience working in or with government (municipal, provincial, federal)
• Policy development
• Experience in IAP2 foundations

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using on or more of the following tools: oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and Union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as: Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click here to learn more about our various benefits offering and eligibility criteria.

Working Conditions

• Travel is a requirement of these positions -
• Must have a valid driver’s license and daily use of a dependable, safe vehicle.

Additional Information

On October 6, 2021 the Government of Nova Scotia announced full vaccination will be a condition of employment for new staff being hired. View the news release here.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Engaging workplace, where our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies.
• Countless Career Paths.
• Department specific Flexible working arrangements.