OHS Engineer (Engineer 4) at Government of Nova Scotia

Competition # : 47664

Department: Labour, Skills and Immigration

Location: DARTMOUTH

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 19-Jan-26 (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 Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act). The Act prescribes the legislated rights and responsibilities of workplace parties regarding health and safety. The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Division plays a supportive role in the IRS as it is responsible for establishing requirements, promoting, verifying and enforcing compliance with the workplace health and safety rules.

About Our Opportunity

The OHS Engineer plays a unique role that requires highly specialized skills to support the OHS Division Executive Director in making informed decisions on complex workplace health and safety issues. As an OHS Engineer, you will work within the framework of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its related regulations to make recommendations to the Executive Director as part of regulatory submission and approval procedures. The OHS Engineer is a member of a professional team including other engineers, occupational hygienists, and OHS inspectors who are involved in compliance, prevention, and support services.

Primary Accountabilities

The OHS Engineer will work both independently and as a member of a team to review technical issues, document filings, submissions for approval, deviation requests, and codes of practice that relate to workplace health and safety in Nova Scotia. You will gather and analyze technical information and form recommendations for the Executive Director of the OHS Division to consider. You will be responsible for providing engineering support on a broad range of workplace health and safety matters, and will work directly with departmental staff, other government departments, industry organizations, and external professionals/consultants.

You will be expected to travel throughout the province on occasion to conduct on-site inspections and attend meetings. Appearance as a court witness may be required. You will participate as a representative of the OHS Division on several committees, including CSA Standard technical committees. As an OHS Engineer, you will work under the general direction of the Manager of Engineering and Science.

Qualifications And Experience

This may be the right opportunity for you if you have a Bachelor of Engineering degree and at least 6 years of related experience. Knowledge and experience working in a regulatory environment is required. Related experience is considered to include at least seventy-five percent of the time as direct personal experience as a professional engineer. You must be registered as a Full Member with Engineers Nova Scotia, or eligible to register as a Full Member. You must understand the Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act and related regulations and have demonstrated the ability to apply and interpret legislation and policy. You must have experience interpreting technical information and providing advice to those in industry, senior officials, in government and the public in an effective manner. You must also have technical and presentation skills to facilitate training sessions for departmental staff and special interest groups.

You must possess strong communication skills (oral, written, electronic) to effectively convey information to a wide range of audiences, including industrial sector experts, colleagues, executive leaders, and members of the public. This work requires strong consultation, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills with ability to interact effectively with clients, partners, other government departments and external agencies. To be successful in the role you must have the ability to establish and maintain effective professional relationships. You must be able to apply the concepts of equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion to all areas of your work and to support your colleagues in doing the same. Considerable judgment, tact and diplomacy are required to provide solutions and recommendations because of independent analyses that can be relied upon to be sound, authoritative, technically accurate and feasible.

While not required, it is considered an asset if you have:

• Experience working in the mining industry;
• Experience working as a policy analyst;
• Experience working with a technical standard committee;
• Post-secondary education in law;
• Post-secondary education in public administration;
• A professional safety designation, including CRSP.
  
  

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

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.

Additional Information

• This position requires travel outside the primary work area, within Nova Scotia.
• You must possess a valid Nova Scotia's driver’s license (or equivalent) and access to a reliable vehicle.
• Must be eligible for Special Constable Status, which requires a criminal record check.
  
  

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: $3,477.51 - $4,089.63 Bi-Weekly

Note: The salary rates shown reflect the new Civil Service Agreement, effective April 1, 2025. Implementation in our HR system will occur on February 5, 2026. Until then, the current rates will apply. Employees hired during this period will receive retroactive pay adjustments in accordance with the new agreement and applicable policies.

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.

Accommodation Statement

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected].

This Is a Bargaining Unit Position Initially Restricted To Current Civil Service Employees Represented By The Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If Applying From Outside a Government Office, Employees Must Apply Correctly Via This Link



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].