ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

City of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Environmental Health Specialist to lead initiatives in public health and safety. This role involves advising on environmental health issues, conducting critical studies, and developing policies to enhance community health standards. The ideal candidate will possess a strong educational background in public health and significant experience in policy development. Join a dynamic team dedicated to improving health outcomes in the community while working in a supportive and inclusive environment. Your contributions will have a lasting impact on public health initiatives and community well-being.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Public Health or equivalent experience.
• Experience in developing policy documents and technical reports.
• Knowledge of Ontario Statutes related to health and safety.

Responsibilities

• Advises on environmental health issues and practices.
• Conducts studies and prepares evidence-based reports.
• Coordinates analysis and interprets laboratory results.

Skills

Project Management

Verbal Communication

Written Communication

Problem Solving

Interpersonal Skills

Critical Appraisal

Education

Master’s degree in Public Health

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health

Tools

Word Processing Software

Spreadsheet Applications

Databases

Job description

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• Division & Section: Public Health, Health Protection
• Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Temporary (approximately 17 months)Vacancies
• Hourly Rate and Wage Grade: $48.49 - $53.14
• Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
• Affiliation: L79 Full-time
• Number of Positions Open: 2
• Posting Period: 06-May-2025 to 21-May-2025

The Environmental Health Specialist reports to the Manager Healthy Environments, Health Protection. This position advises, consults and provides leadership on environmental health issues and practice to management, staff and external community stakeholders and agencies.

• Reviews, researches and prepares evidence-based reports, briefing materials, discussion papers and policy proposals on a variety of environmental health and food safety issues including:
• remediation plans, environmental reports for extensive renovations and building demolitions, risk management, communication plans and new environmental standards.
• Conducts and analyzes studies, surveys and site impacts to prepare reports outlining recommended changes.
• Advises and assists in preparing and drafting new by-laws, policies and procedures, contingency plans and best practice documents to reduce health hazards.
• Supports program development by: assisting with tracking and maintaining program data and knowledge repositories, attending / facilitating program committee meetings, responding to program enquiries, coordination of promotional campaigns and media events, preparing presentation and educational materials, updating program websites, securing permits and approvals and with preparing Requests for Proposals and Requests for Quotations.
• Coordinates collection and packaging of substances for laboratory analysis and interprets results.
• Maintains familiarity with related laboratory equipment, assessment tools and techniques. Consults and/or works collaboratively with external agencies including: other jurisdictions at the municipal, provincial and federal levels of government in order to identify changing community health needs and assist in program planning to meet those needs.
• Acts as a consultant to other divisions on areas of common concerns and city wide projects. Responds to public enquiries on environmental and occupational health issues including interpretation of legislative requirements and attaining or maintaining required standards. Represents TPH at public meetings with stakeholders on environmental issues impacting human health.
• Represents the Division and provides technical input/presentations to community groups, meetings with Councillors, staff, property owners, etc.
• Participates in the development and facilitation of in-service training, staff orientation and staff development programs.
• Participates in internal and external committees and workgroups.
• Carries out joint on-site visits involving complex environmental and occupational health issues and prepares and writes orders providing direction outlining the nature of violation and defining all actions to be undertaken.
• Provides input to responses to FOI requests, property purchases and other environmental health activities.
• Responds to environmental spills and emergencies in consultation with management and makes recommendations to prevent future recurrences.
• Engages in special assignments (e.g. coordinating adverse drinking water quality reports and boil water advisories, beach water monitoring, food safety promotions and campaigns).
• Participates in mentoring students, orienting groups or individuals such as medical students and other health professionals.
• Attends workshops, conferences, seminars, etc.

Key Qualifications:

Your application must describe your qualifications as they relate to:

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Environmental Health, or Health Sciences, or an equivalent combination of a baccalaureate degree and extensive experience relevant to the primary duties of the position.
• Considerable experience developing and drafting policy documents, including procedures, protocols, guidelines, technical reports and standards
• Considerable experience in critical appraisal and synthesis of environmental health literature and reports.
• Experience in investigating health hazards related to food safety, environmental health and/or occupational health, and water quality.

You must also have:

• Sound knowledge of Healthy Environments Services programs and services and familiarity with applicable Ontario Statutes and their application, including, the Health Protection and Promotion Act, Environmental Protection Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act and professional and regulatory standards (e.g. privacy, record management and documentation).
• Ability to manage projects including the ability to organize work and to exercise sound judgement and initiative.
• Ability to effectively manage and meet timelines for concurrent projects and/or diverse activities.
• Ability to work both independently and on a team.
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills; and ability to communicate and maintain good relations with a broad range of stakeholders from community representatives to senior management, technical experts and elected officials.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, conflict management, problem solving and consultation skills.
• Understanding of issue management concepts and risk mitigation.
• Proficiency in using word processing, spreadsheet applications and databases.
• Ability to work flexible hours - overtime, shift work including evenings and weekends may be required.
• Familiarity with Change Management and the ability to implement change effectively. A Certificate in Public Health Inspection (Canada) is considered an assess.

City of Toronto employees must apply to full-time or part-time employment opportunities posted on the City's Internal Job Posting Portal.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity .