Inspector (Specialist) 4 (Investigator)

About Us

The Department of Environment and Climate Change's role is to protect the environment and human health through regulatory excellence, conservation, partnership, and promotion. To achieve this, we strive to develop legislation, regulations and policies, process notifications, applications, and approvals for regulated activities based on sound scientific knowledge and expertise. 
 
Our goal is to educate, inspect and enforce to ensure compliance with legislation and regulations. We also proactively respond to environmental and human health risks and work to develop programs and deliver services to enhance protection in these areas. 

About Our Opportunity

As an Investigator with Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change, you will play a critical role in protecting Nova Scotia's environment and public health. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced enforcement professional to lead complex investigations, support legal proceedings, and contribute to meaningful compliance outcomes across the province.

In this role, you will work independently and collaboratively to investigate potential violations of environmental and public health legislation, gather and analyze evidence, interview witnesses, and support enforcement actions that help keep Nova Scotia's communities safe and sustainable. No two days are the same—you may be conducting field investigations, collaborating with law enforcement partners, preparing cases for court, or leveraging drone technology to gather critical evidence in support of enforcement activities.

Beyond investigations, you will have the opportunity to influence the future of compliance and enforcement by contributing to policy development, delivering training programs, supporting intelligence-led enforcement initiatives, and sharing your expertise with colleagues across the province. If you are passionate about public service, thrive in complex and challenging environments, and are committed to achieving fair and effective regulatory outcomes, we encourage you to apply. 

Primary Accountabilities

As an Investigator, you will: 

• Lead and conduct complex inspections, investigations, and enforcement activities related to environmental and public health legislation, ensuring consistent application of regulatory requirements across Nova Scotia.  
• Gather, analyze, and assess evidence; interview witnesses, and alleged offenders; and undertake complex investigations and laying charges in Provincial Court.
• Manage complex case files and legal proceedings, including preparing disclosure packages, executing warrants, serving court documents, supporting prosecutions, and providing testimony in court when required.  
• Utilize drone technology and other investigative tools to support evidence collection, site assessments, aerial inspections, and environmental monitoring while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and departmental standards.  
• Collaborate with internal partners, legal counsel, municipal police services, the RCMP, federal agencies, and other regulatory bodies to coordinate investigations and enforcement activities.  
• Support the development and delivery of compliance and enforcement training programs, helping to build investigative and enforcement capacity across the division.  
• Contribute to the development and review of legislation, policies, procedures, and enforcement practices by providing operational expertise and recommendations based on best practices and emerging trends.  
• Lead the collection, analysis, and dissemination of operational and strategic intelligence to identify emerging compliance risks and support provincial enforcement priorities. 

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, you have a combination of education, enforcement expertise, and investigative experience that enables you to confidently manage complex cases and make sound decisions in challenging situations. 

You bring: 

• High School completion + completion of a related trade or technical training in the area of speciality, plus 8 years related experience after the course completion; or equivalent combination of training and experience may be acceptable. 
• Significant experience conducting investigations, inspections, regulatory enforcement activities, or other complex investigation-related work. 
• Strong knowledge of investigative processes, evidence collection, interview techniques, case management principles, search warrants and court procedures. 
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply legislation, regulations, and policies while exercising sound judgment and discretion. 
• Experience preparing investigation reports, enforcement documentation, disclosure packages, and other legal or regulatory documents. 
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently in a dynamic environment. 
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with regulatory agencies, law enforcement partners, legal representatives, industry stakeholders, and members of the public. 
• Experience delivering training, coaching, or mentoring others is considered an asset. 
• Knowledge of intelligence-led enforcement practices, strategic intelligence development, or risk-based compliance approaches would be considered an asset. 
• Experience operating drones for inspection, investigation, or monitoring purposes and/or possession of a valid Transport Canada Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) certification would be considered an asset. 

Further, experience in an environmental regulatory field would also be considered an asset.

We will assess the above qualifications and experience using tools such as assessments, presentations, interviews, reference checks, etc.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Working Conditions

• Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day
• May be required to work overtime on occasion

Additional Information

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.
• A Dynamic, client-focused office environment where service excellence and teamwork are our focus