Specialist, Food Safety and Environmental Health, Environmental Health Services General - BC Centre for Disease Control

Specialist, Food Safety and Environmental Health, Environmental Health Services General

BC Centre for Disease Control

Vancouver BC

Are you ready to make a difference? The BC Centre for Disease Control, a dynamic Provincial Health Services Authority program, seeks passionate individuals to join us in providing provincial and national leadership in disease surveillance, detection, treatment, prevention, and consultation.

At our core, we aim to cultivate vibrant communities where everyone can achieve optimal health and well-being right where they live, work, learn, and play.

If you're driven by the desire to create positive change and contribute to healthier communities, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for! Apply now to join our innovative team and make a difference that matters.

What you’ll do

• Provide leadership and expertise in environmental health and / or food safety programs in BC by methods such as : providing advice and guidance to local health authorities and the public, partnering with other agencies, developing guidelines and information that are used as a basis for programs administered by the health authorities, evaluating and addressing provincial environmental health and / or food safety policy issues, and initiating changes to ensure that provincial programs meet current scientific standards.
• Provide specialist advice to the provincial government on food safety and / or environmental health related legislation & regulations, policy, standards and education needs.
• Support health authorities to conduct surveys of conditions to determine existing or potential public health hazards.
• Assess trends and provides recommendations to health authorities, Ministry of Health (MoH) and other health system partners on various types of food processing and food handling establishments, various types of business premises and buildings, plumbing, water and sewage disposal systems, swimming, spray & swirl pools, tobacco retailers, personal services establishments, child care and residential care facilities, proposed subdivisions and related installations.
• Assess results and provides recommendations to health authorities, MoH and other health system partners based on findings from health authority inspections of water quality including drinking, recreational and wastewater, and other environmental and pollution control matters.
• Work with health authority partners to enforce the Drinking Water Protection Act and Regulation and carries out joint inspections of water supply systems.

Issue licenses for provincial dairies and conduct food safety assessments of food processing systems throughout the Province by inspecting facilities, testing equipment, taking samples and analyzing results.

Ensure compliance with the Food Safety Act and enforce regulations by issuing orders of compliance, revocation of licenses, seizing of contaminated product, issuing violation tickets and initiating legal proceedings.

Initiate and coordinate food recalls of contaminated food products.

What you bring

Qualification

• Master of Science in Environmental Health, Food Safety or Microbiology Health degree, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Five (5) years’ recent and related experience.
• Certificate in Public Health Inspection (Canada) granted by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI(C)), Professional Agrologists (P.

Ag.), or a related licensing body.

This position involves travel within and outside the Vancouver area; a car and valid BC Driver’s license is required.

Skills & Knowledge

• Demonstrated ability conducting inspections and investigations using a risk-based approach.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the food industry, food safety and management systems such as HACCP.
• Ability to determine compliance or corrective action in the inspection of public facilities.
• Demonstrated ability to think critically, analyze, conceptualize and apply relevant knowledge to practice.
• Ability to analyze and interpret test and inspection results.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, including speaking in public and preparing reports.
• Demonstrated skills in resolving sensitive issues, and achieving objectives through partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Commitment to develop knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan : A First Nations Case Study and how they intersect across the health care system.
• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have : Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future.

That’s why we’re focused on your care too offering health, wellness, development programs to support you at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations offering vast opportunities for growth and development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Hours of Work : Monday-Friday; 0830-1630

Requisition # 168994E

What we do

The (BCCDC) is dedicated to preventing and controlling communicable diseases and promoting environmental health for the province of BC.

BCCDC is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

BCCDC is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

The Provincial Health Services Authority () plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province.

Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include : Respect people Be compassionate Dare to innovate Cultivate partnerships Serve with purpose.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs :

PHSA and BCCDC are committed to equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems.

PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and / or persistently marginalized groups identified under the Human Rights Code.

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level.

We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and / or contact the Sanya'kula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at .

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and marginalization faced by Indigenous peoples.

These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and self-determination of Indigenous communities.

PHSA must uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents such as including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan : A First Nations Case Study.