Mining Engineer (Engineer 4)

About Us

The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration works to provide fairness, safety and prosperity for all Nova Scotians by helping them live, learn and work to their highest potential.  We have a staff of more than 500 employees working from offices throughout Nova Scotia.  Together we are responsible for workplace safety, fire safety, pensions, apprenticeship, adult education, and many other facets of everyday life.

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), and it prescribes the legislated rights and responsibilities of the 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. In addition, the Division promotes and enforces the Act and Regulations and will intervene appropriately when workplace parties do not carry out their respective responsibilities.
 

About Our Opportunity

As a Mining 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, and 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.

Primary Accountabilities

You will review document filings, submissions for approvals, deviations, and codes of practice that are submitted to the Department related to surface mines, blasting, and underground mines in Nova Scotia. You will also be responsible for assisting Occupational Health and Safety Compliance Officers in their inspections of surface and underground mines and advising the Department on law development. You will be expected to travel and conduct and on-site inspections at underground and surface mines throughout the province. You will be required to apply relevant laws and conditions of approval in accordance with the enforcement policy of the Occupational Health and Safety Division. Appearance as a court witness may be required.

You will also be required to interpret relevant statutes, policies, and precedents, and be called upon to develop written interpretation guides for use by external and internal clients. You will work independently, with a minimum of supervision. You will also be involved from time to time in the technical review of other activities identified within the Blasting Safety Regulations and relevant parts of other regulations that fall under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (such as surface mining, trenching, stockpiling, and mechanical safety).

As a Mining 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. Related experience is considered to include at least seventy-five percent of the time as direct personal experience in underground mining performing any of the following activities: Filing plans and procedures with the occupational health and safety regulator, explosives/blasting activity, mine rescue and emergency response, industrial hygiene, mine ventilation, ground control, mechanical equipment, hoisting equipment, electrical installations and equipment, diesel equipment, conveyor systems, health and safety incident investigations. A degree in mining engineering or mineral resources engineering program is required unless equivalent education, skills and experience are clearly demonstrated. You must be registered as a Full Member with Engineers Nova Scotia, or eligible to register as a Full Member.

Knowledge of emerging trends, particularly in the mining industry and impact of technology and equipment on workplace health and safety is required. You must understand the Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Underground Mining Regulations, Part 15 Surface Mine Workings of the Occupational Safety General Regulations, the Blasting Safety Regulations, and other regulations that apply to occupational health and safety in Nova Scotia mines with demonstrated ability to apply and interpret legislation and policy. You have experience relaying and interpreting technical information and advice to those in industry, senior officials, in government and the public in an effective manner.

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. Considerable judgment, tact and diplomacy are required to provide solutions and recommendations as a result of independent analyses that can be relied upon to be sound, authoritative, technically accurate and feasible.

You possess strong communication skills (oral, written, electronic) to effectively convey information to wide audiences ranging from industrial sector experts, academic experts, and the public. In addition, you have technical and presentation skills to deliver training modules to departmental staff, and special interest groups. Being physically able to work in large industrial workplaces and capable of walking long distances is needed.

You must possess a valid driver’s licence and have access to a reliable vehicle.

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

• Have participated in a technical standard committee; or
• Possess 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 is a provincial based position where travel outside the immediate work area is required. Hybrid will be available.

You must possess a valid Nova Scotia's driver’s license (or equivalent) and access to a reliable vehicle.
 

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