Public Health Specialist

Title:Public Health Specialist
Employee Working Location:In-person (Across Canada)
Employment status:Casual

The Canadian Red Cross (Red Cross) - an inspirational not for profit organization, helps people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supports them in strengthening their resilience. As a Canada's Best Employers 2026, we are committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment.

The Senior Public Health Specialist (Domestic Roster) is responsible to deploy to different emergency health settings across Canada to provide immediate public health / outbreak management support. They are responsible for leading health assessments, supporting the design and implementation of public health services, and training.They coordinate with on-site team leads to address issues raised by deployed personnel, ensure consistency with public health trends and guidelines, support new procedures, and observe health protocols.

While deployed to emergency operations and programs (within Canada), you will:

• Deliver public health emergencies services e.g. rapid public health assessments, outbreak management, health promotion interventions and develop public health related process and strategies for various communities/sites with relevant teams.

• Produce quality reporting and/or reviewing of produced reports.

• Collaborate with communities to understand their health needs, resources and assets, support filling any asset and resources gaps, and foster partnerships to address public health challenges.

• Collaborate across sectors to negotiate/balance public health scope within a greater operation by navigating opportunities, and flagging scope creep from other teams and advocating for importance of health.

• Liaise with partner agencies on public health issues, and stay current on regulatory changes.

• Coordinate with on-site team leads to address issues that impact operations.

• Ensure consistency with public health trends and guidelines, support the implementation of new procedures, and observe health authority and CRC protocols.

• Provide public health training, mentorship, and capacity-building support to diverse personnel across health and non-health disciplines.

What we are looking for:

• Qualifications include a minimum of 6-9 years experience and a 3-year college diploma or university degree in public health, medicine, health science, epidemiology or clinical field or a related field and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. May require a graduate diploma/degree in a related field and/or a professional degree, certification, or designation.
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency is French may be required in some settings. Bilingual candidates are preferred.

• Proficiency in standard computer applications (Microsoft Office Suite).

• Experience in health needs assessment and the design of public health programming/ interventions that enhances access to health services/ resources and outbreak prevention and control

• Ability to coordinate with authorities and foster effective working relationships with health stakeholders at various levels.

• Ability to identify complex problems, analyze interrelated factors, assess and mitigate risks, and develop solutions using specialized skills.

• Training, facilitation, coaching, and/or education skills.

• Able to travel on short notice to other destinations within and outside province of residence for periods of several weeks (2-6 weeks) is a requirement.

• Experience living or working in a cultural context other than their own, experience working in Indigenous Communities, and/or in remote and isolated communities.

• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances in a fast-paced environment.

• Communication and influence skills to gather perspectives, understand needs, and present information to reach consensus, often in somewhat sensitive situations.

Working Conditions:

• This role is a response and operational profile that requires scheduled travel, deployment and in community in-person presence.

• The role includes fieldwork, deployment to emergency operations, and office-based work during non-deployment periods.

• Domestic travel to generally safe locations; exposure to moderate adverse conditions requiring attention to personal safety.

• Work requires the ability to work to multiple, conflicting deadlines.

• Work requires interactions with clients who may be agitated, or are experiencing stressful situations.

• In a large-scale emergency, where staff numbers are compromised or additional resources are required, provide disaster relief and/or emergency field operational support.

• Will be required to work extended hours during peak periods on short notice.

• This role is a response and operational profile that requires scheduled travel, deployment and in community in-person presence.

• In addition to salary, personnel receive a daily per diem of $100-$170, depending on deployment location within Canada. Additional location-based and duration-related allowances may apply in recognition of the operational context, in accordance with Canadian Red Cross policy
• • As we work with and support people (managers, colleagues, beneficiaries/customers, volunteers, donors and external partners) and communities in Canada and around the world, applicants whose first language is not English may be required to perform the responsibilities of the role in English.
• • Eligibility to work in Canada: At this time , we welcome applications from candidates eligible to work in Canada. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, we encourage you to carefully review your visa to find out whether you are eligible to work in the job you are considering applying for. Refer to our FAQ for more information.
• • If you are selected for this role, you will be required to complete a successful pre-employment screening process which includes a satisfactory Enhanced Police Information Check (E-PIC).