Safety Consultant, OHSW

Company : IWK Health 

Req ID: 194838 
Department/Program: OHS&W, Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness 
Location: Halifax   

Type of Employment: Temporary Hourly FT long-assignment (100% FTE) for 1 year x 1 position(s)
 Start Date: February 2025
Union Status: Non-union, Management/Non Union Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $35.2722 - $44.0903 /hour
Closing Date: January 14, 2025 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

This is not a designated position, however, preference will be given to qualified candidates who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, and/or 2SLGBTQIA+. Please self-identify on your application. 

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager, Occupational Health, Safety & Wellness (OHSW) the Safety Consultant guides the development of programs, tools and training that support the critical elements of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) - to ensure regulatory compliance with the Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act and applicable regulations, standards and best practices.  The Safety Consultant is also responsible for providing direction to all levels of management to effectively and efficiently implement the OHSMS. The Safety Consultant is responsible to continuously audit the OHSMS to ensure compliance with the act and applicable regulations. The Safety Consultant works collaboratively with the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees and the Workplace Safety Teams to ensure they are established and functioning as required in the act. As well they act as a resource to assist in investigating and identifying corrective actions regarding health and safety issues.  They are also responsible for providing expert safety services to all facilities/departments of the IWK.  The Safety Consultant acts as a liaison with the Department of Labour and Advanced Education.
Utilizing outstanding communication skills, the Safety Consultant supports a culture of safety by providing direction to all levels of the organization with respect to integrating safety into their operations. The Safety Consultant is responsible for providing timely, accurate and expert interpretation of the OH&S legislation as well as industry standards and best practices.   The Safety Consultant is also responsible for the Workers Compensation claims management process and return to work program.

Hours of Work

Monday to Friday; 8 am to 4 pm

Your Qualifications

• Minimum college or university Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (minimum number of course hours may be required)
• Minimum 3 years related experience in the area of Occupational Health and Safety
• Completion of Occupational Health and Safety Certificate or Certificate of Health Safety and Environmental Processes or equivalent
• Canadian Registered Safety Professional certification completed or eligible to write within 3 years of hire
• Membership in good standing with professional or industry association if applicable is an asset
• Occupational Hygiene experience an asset
• Additional training/certification in areas of safety is an asset
• Planning, organizational and prioritization skills with evidence of critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Client service oriented with good interpersonal, consultative, influencing and coaching skills required.
• Effective communication skills.
• Effective time management and the ability to handle multiple tasks and projects.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite programs.
• Knowledge of safety, health and wellness issues and trends in Health Care.
• Demonstrates good judgement and confidentiality.
• Be self-directed, innovative and solution and detail oriented.
• Adaptable and flexible to accommodate the demands of the position and in creating and suggesting alternative solutions.
• Competencies in other languages an asset

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Management/Non Union  bargaining  unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. 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.

An  offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.