Safety Specialist

Halifax Regional Municipality is inviting applications for the permanent, full-time position of Safety Specialist with the Employee Wellbeing division in Human Resources.

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is committed to reflecting the community it serves and recognizing Diversity and Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy and we welcome applications from African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workforce, Indigenous/Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ Persons. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify on their electronic application.

Under the direction of the Manager, Corporate Safety, the Safety Specialist provides leadership and technical support in the implementation and maintenance of the Municipality’s Occupational Health and Safety program. The Specialist provides expertise in assessing risks in the work environment, designing health and safety programs to eliminate or control hazards and to prevent illness and injury in the workplace. The Specialist enforces established workplace safety procedures and has authority to halt or suspend activities that pose unreasonable risk. The Specialist collaborates with the Human Resource Business Partner to identify client needs and to provide solutions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for development and implementation of corporate procedures and safe work practices (SWPs)
• Promotes leading safety strategies and practices by providing advice and guidance to all levels of management on the interpretation, implementation, and administration of health and safety legislation, policy, and other related standards and codes of practice
• Identifies actual and potential hazards in the workplace which could result in injury or loss of life and leads the implementation of best practice and standardization of programs to eliminate or control hazards in the workplace to consistently prevent injury across the organization
• Assumes responsibility as Corporate Lead Investigator for high risk/high exposure accidents in consultation with Corporate Safety Team Lead. Assist with other incident investigations as required.
• Investigates, reviews, evaluates, and recommends corrective action to be taken with respect to health and safety deficiencies, to ensure consistent application across the organization and compliance with legislative requirements
• Determines scope of the safety audit process in consultation with managers and business unit representatives to develop the appropriate format and process to be used
• Monitors the adoption, effectiveness, and compliance of safety program by coordinating and participating in safety assessments and audits
• Conducts industry research to provide business unit Managers and Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSCs) with current industry standard / best practices
• Consults with business unit managers and representatives to obtain operational input on the application of policies and/or proposed modifications, to identify areas of improvement of existing policies and procedures as well as the development of new initiatives which will have a direct impact on future operational strategies
• Functions as a liaison between Municipality and external government agencies such as the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration
• Analyzes statistical information on first aid, near miss incidents, critical accidents, and injuries to provide information on trends and develop strategies for corrective action and the elimination of potential hazards
• Analyzes trends and changes to health and safety legislation and standards, in order to anticipate their impact on the organization
• Monitors the operation of the organization’s JOHCs and provide guidance and direction to ensure their effectiveness and compliance with the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and function as a liaison between management and the committee to facilitate the resolution of issues and concerns; act as a resource to the JOHSCs in the investigation of safety complaints
• Conduct site assessments and needs analysis in relation to specific health and safety concerns; research, review, and evaluate training resources and options available from different suppliers and service delivery organizations
• Educates employees at all levels of the organization on new policies and delivers training, presentations and seminars on safety strategy and tools that will be useful in meeting each business unit’s safety needs
• Using the Environment, Health & Safety Management software, prepares reports; analyzes organizational trends; and keeps system information current to ensure accurate data
• Respond to emergency situations as a safety representative under the Emergency Management Organization chain of command

QUALIFICATIONS:
Education & Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of related health and safety experience with at least 3 years leading, developing, and integrating health & safety programs
• University degree, diploma or certificate in occupational health, safety, or a related field such as engineering, biology, or chemistry
• Canadian Registered Safety Professional designation is an asset

Technical / Job Specific Knowledge and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to understand and apply the Occupational Health and Safety Act, policies and other safe work practice requirements and recommendations
• Demonstrated experience working in a unionized organization
• Demonstrated ability in developing and preparing correspondence and reports
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office Applications and employee health and safety on-line systems and workplace testing equipment
• Demonstrated ability to communicate understandable safety instructions and concerns to employees
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a team environment maintaining productive working relationships

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must clearly demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Please note – Applicants are responsible to include all information that they wish to have taken into consideration in the review of their application, and applicants are required to provide full details of experience or training referenced in the posting. Applicants may be screened out of this competition at preliminary stages of review based on the insufficiency of the information provided, and the award of this position may be made solely on the basis of the information provided in the electronic submission without any requirement that the Employer contact the candidate for further elaboration on information referenced in the application.

Security Clearance Requirements: Applicants may be required to complete an employment security screening check.

Please note – Testing may be conducted as a component of the selection process to assess technical and job specific knowledge. Candidates who are selected for testing, may be tested in a group setting, scheduled at the employer’s discretion.

COMPETENCIES: Valuing Diversity, Analytical Thinking, Communications, Customer Service, Teamwork & Cooperation, Organizing & Planning, Organizational Awareness, Values & Ethics, Conflict Management, Risk Management

WORK STATUS: Permanent, Full-time

HOURS OF WORK: Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm, 35 hours per week. Flex options to work outside of these hours and hybrid may be available.

SALARY: Non-Union Level 8, $90,466 - $117,079. Salary will be determined based on relevant experience and qualifications related to the specified pay band and job. Placement above the midpoint of the pay band is typically reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the minimum qualifications, such as those with exceptional experience, specialized skills, or demonstrated achievements relevant to the role. This ensures fair and consistent compensation practices across the organization.

WORK LOCATION:8th floor, Purdy’s Wharf Tower II (1969 Upper Water Street, Halifax, NS, B3J 3R7)

CLOSING DATE: Applications will be received up to 11:59pm on November 12, 2026

Please note: We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for interview/testing will be contacted.

​​​​​​​To ensure a fair and equitable hiring process, candidates are expected to complete all parts of the recruitment process, including assessments, assignments, and interviews independently and without the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools or other forms of external assistance. The use of AI to complete any component of the hiring process is not permitted and may result in disqualification from consideration.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to provide proof of their qualifications, including, but not limited to, educational credentials, professional licenses, and relevant certifications.

During the recruitment process, applicants have the right to request an accommodation. Applicants invited to participate in an assessment process (such as interview or testing) and who require an accommodation, should discuss their needs with the recruiter when invited to the assessment process. For more information on our accommodation process please click on the link; Accommodations | Hiring | Employment | Halifax

(position # 78640446)