Competition # : 44066
Department: Labour, Skills and Immigration
Location: DARTMOUTH
Type of Employment: Permanent
Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG
Closing Date: 09-Oct-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Occupational Health and Safety Division plays a key role in workplace safety in the province of Nova Scotia. Our goal is to help make Nova Scotia the safest place to work in Canada. The Internal Responsibility System (IRS) is the foundation of the Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act, and it prescribes the legislated rights and responsibilities of workplace parties regarding health and safety.
The Division plays a supportive role in the IRS and is responsible for establishing and clarifying the responsibilities under the law. The Division aspires to continuous improvement through setting requirements, promoting, and verifying compliance, and applying enforcement options when required.

About Our Opportunity

Under the general direction of the Manager of Engineering and Science, the Mechanical Engineer works independently as an engineering expert as well as the departmental specialist in mechanical safety, mechanical standards, and other technical or engineering issues, particularly related to mechanical equipment, mining, and quarries. They will be called upon to make critical decisions and recommendations that impact occupational health and safety at the workplace and establish standards associated with engineering required at workplaces throughout the province. They work primarily within the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Engineer will also be required to make recommendations to the Executive Director as part of regulatory approval procedures. The Engineer is a member of a professional team including other engineers involved in highly technical review and evaluation of activities regulated by the department, mostly related to mechanical engineering OHS priority areas and engineering related to underground mining as identified in regulations, to ensure the proposed activity meets regulations, minimum standards, policies, and guidelines of the department. They are also involved from time to time in the technical review of other activities identified within the OHS regulations such as but not limited to, mining operations, excavations, and other industrial workplaces.

Primary Accountabilities

As a Mechanical Engineer, you will work independently as an engineering expert and department specialist. You may be called upon to make critical decisions and recommendations that impact occupational health and safety, to establish standards associated with engineering required at workplaces throughout the province. You will work primarily within the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its relative regulations and will be required to make recommendations to the Executive Director as part of regulatory approval procedures.
Key responsibilities include:

• Provides reviews, assessments, and recommendations on specific mechanical engineering questions.
• Provides consultative and supervisory services as a subject matter expert on mechanical engineering for the department. This includes providing advice, direction, and interpretation of Acts, regulations, standards, guidelines, and policies on Safety and Health matters to departmental staff, other government departments, external professionals/consultants, and the public sector.
• Responsible as a program expert to lead departmental activity such that a continuous improvement cycle is used, ensuring ongoing program evaluation and improvements.
• Provides independent, specialized, engineering, and scientific fact-based and analytical options to assist and inform management in the review, planning, development, and implementation of regulations and enforceable standards.
• Provides leadership as a subject matter expert to enhance, develop, and implement a technical education and outreach program for worksites to ensure the health and safety of Nova Scotians.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role you must have a Bachelors' degree in Mechanical Engineering and extensive work-related engineer experience (minimum 6 years) including work with occupational health and safety practices and standards. You must have a current membership or be eligible to register as a Professional Engineer with Engineers Nova Scotia.
You know emerging trends, particularly in heavy industry, and the impact of technology and equipment on workplace health and safety are required. You also have detailed knowledge of the NS Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations with a demonstrated ability to apply and interpret legislation and policy. You have experience relaying and interpreting technical information and advice to industry stakeholders, senior officials, government, and/or the public in an effective manner.
This work requires strong consultation, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills with the ability to interact effectively with clients, partners, other government departments, and external agencies. You must have the ability to establish and maintain effective stakeholder relationships, and at times may be required to work independently, and in team environments applying the concepts of equity, diversity, and inclusion to all areas of your work and will support your colleagues to do the same. Considerable judgment, tact, and diplomacy are required in the role to provide solutions and recommendations because of independent analyses that can be relied upon to be sound, authoritative, technically accurate, and feasible.
You have excellent communication skills (oral, written, electronic) to effectively convey information to wide audiences ranging from industrial sector experts to academic experts, and the public. In addition, the incumbent must have technical and presentation skills to deliver training modules to departmental staff, stakeholders, and special interest groups.

Assets considered for this position:

• Experience reviewing mechanical design plans
• A professional safety designation, including CRSP

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

Some travel, both within the province and outside will be required.

Must have a valid driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle.

Additional Information

This is a permanent, full time employment opportunity based in Dartmouth. Candidates are invited to clearly illustrate in their cover letter how they meet the above qualifications.

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: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths
• Department specific flexible working schedules

Pay Grade: PR 18
Salary Range: $3,231.58 - $3,800.42 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to [email protected].