Public Health Advisor

Posted: October 05, 2020

Region: Canada

If you are wondering how you could contribute to the collective effort to support local communities across Canada during these uncertain times, look no more.

Because the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) is looking for Public Health experts to stay alert and be ready to travel on short notice across Canada for periods of several weeks in order to intervene in different domains (Epidemic Control, Public Health, IPC, Contact tracing, vaccination etc...). As a Public Health Advisor you would provide technical advice on Epidemic Prevention and Control (EPC) through infection, prevention and control measures and protocols, in order to provide a safe healthcare environment. 

Given the nature of epidemic context, the intensity and types of activities may vary by rotation (preparedness, containment, mitigation phases) and demanding working conditions should be expected (physically and psychologically, notably for field positions). You may alternate between active response periods requesting long hours of work and the ability to work in a high risk, stressful and evolving situation, with limited resources and basic living conditions and non-active response period, supporting global health unit in planning work, training and quality assurance tools. Under the direction of the Team Leader you will work in collaboration with other CRC Partners, Emergency responders, staff, volunteers and local health abiding by all CRC Procedures and Protocols. 

Who you are:    

  • Known to be a chameleon who can adapt to changing circumstances, you have resilience to evolve in a fast-paced setting
  • Consistently demonstrating professionalism, you show refined analytical, organizational and time management skills
  • Able to build effective working relationships and trust with authorities and health stakeholders at various level by being result oriented and accountable
  • Committed to promote inclusion, togetherness and respect within a diverse team, and to empower others through training and coaching
  • Preferably bilingual (English is required / French in Quebec) and able to communicate in an Indigenous language would be an asset (as would the knowledge of other languages)   

 

You will enjoy:

  • Culture:  an organization that is guided by our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality
  • Opportunity: to work with the best and brightest in the non-profit field, in an environment that promotes continuous learning, creativity and collaboration
  • Meaningful Work:  you will be "health gate keeper" that support emergencies and save lives

 

In role you will:      

  • Support the this Public Health / IPC assessment, design and implementation of CRC operations
  • Participate in an advance team to conduct an initial assessment to determine the need to and the design of CRC service
  • Conduct (on-site or virtual) EPC rapid assessment of facilities based on partner’s EPC needs.
  • Analyze information and processes and develop efficient EPC strategies for the site(s) or with the team(s) under your purview, while respecting CRC protocols
  • Support the overall strategy for the design of zones (red, yellow, green) and donning and doffing stations, from planning through implementation
  • Monitor/ reinforcement and compliance of IPC measures/ protocols and PPE
  • Share evidence-based epidemic/ pandemic resources to operations team and support operations to ensure overall health and safety of clients and staff, partners and community members, as required
  • Participate in Daily Case / Contact Tracing teams: provide all specified activities identified for daily case and/or contact tracing including, but not limited to, notifying close contacts of their potential exposure, referring close contacts to testing, monitoring close contacts for COVID-19 symptoms, and connecting contacts to resources to support self-quarantine
  • Represent the Public Health / EPC team, coordinate with internal (CRC operations) and external (Global Health Unit, Field Operations Team, Facility IPC technical team, local health authorities) stakeholders at various levels 
  • Ensure monitor and report Public Health / EPC staff technical needs and provide solutions, as requested, including increasing knowledge and skills or compliance of established policies and practices through reminders, online trainings, updates or sharing of policies or guidance documents, etc
  • Escalate technical issues to CRC Health technical line manager or health authorities for decision or follow-up
  • Conduct EPC Trainings-of-trainers and/ or prevention workshops to build local capacity and support technical training of Public Health / EPC team
  • Provide support to new Public Health / EPC team members and support operation in Public Health / EPC workforce plan and potentially take a coordination role, as required
  • Support and carry out timely, quality reporting to relevant stakeholders as required by operations and technical teams

We’re looking for

  • Bachelor’s degree in one of the following areas: medicine, nursing, public health, paramedic, biology, microbiology  or IPC is required (the region or country of license is not an issue as there is no clinical role)
  • Minimum 3 years of experience in public health, clinical health and/or epidemic pandemic management is required
  • Experience in health needs assessment and the design of health programming, particularly EPC, vaccinations, testing, contact tracing is an asset
  • Knowledge of IPC / PPE, particularly with regard to the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Experience living or working in a cultural context other than their own and/or in remote and isolated communities is an asset
  • Strong diplomacy and negotiation skills to work in a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary context
  • Equally strong computer and communication skills 
  • A valid provincial driver’s licence and a successful Canadian criminal record check with vulnerable sector screening is required
  • All Public Health Advisors must be screened by the Travel Health Team

The Canadian Red Cross is committed to gender equality and social inclusion in our workplace. All qualified applications will receive consideration without regard to sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin, color, religion, nationality, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We encourage all qualified persons to apply particularly Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, visible minorities, and others who share our values and contribute to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

Please notify us as soon as possible of any adaptive measures you might require at any stage of the recruitment process.

Please apply through this link