Mining Engineer (Engineer 4)

Competition # : 49899

Department: Labour, Skills and Immigration

Location: DARTMOUTH

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 04-Oct-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

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 (OHS) Division plays a key role in workplace safety across Nova Scotia. Its goal is to help make Nova Scotia the safest place to work in Canada by setting, promoting, verifying, and enforcing workplace health and safety rules. Workplace parties share responsibility for creating safe and healthy workplaces within their authority and ability, as specified in the OHS Act. This shared responsibility, known as the internal responsibility system (IRS), is the foundation of the OHS Act.

As a Mining Engineer, you will work independently as an engineering expert and department specialist while collaborating with the OHS Division mining safety team on workplace inspections, policy review, presentations, and training activities. You may be called upon to make critical decisions and recommendations that affect workplace health and safety, particularly for mines, pits, and quarries. You will help establish engineering standards for workplaces throughout the province, be appointed as a Special Constable, and work primarily under the authority of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and associated regulations. You will also make recommendations to the Executive Director as part of regulatory approval procedures.

You will conduct workplace health and safety inspections of surface and underground mines, write inspection reports, advise the Department on policy development, and provide support for other Occupational Health and Safety Officers with their work duties related to blasting and mining safety. You will review document filings, approval submissions, deviation applications, and codes of practice submitted to the Department related to blasting safety, surface mines, and underground mines in Nova Scotia. You will be expected to travel and conduct inspections at workplaces throughout the province. You will promote, verify, and enforce compliance with laws and conditions of approval in accordance with Occupational Health and Safety Division inspection policies. Appearance as a court witness may be required.
You will also be required to apply workplace health and safety rules, policies, and precedents, and be called upon to develop written interpretation guides for use by external and internal clients. You will communicate regularly with workplace parties and others in Government to coordinate work, and complete tasks with minimum supervision. You will also be involved in the technical review of the Underground Mining Regulations, the Blasting Safety Regulations and other regulations that fall under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Participation in technical committees that are relevant work of the mining engineer may also be required. As a Mining Engineer, you will work under the general direction of the Manager of Engineering and Science.

This may be the right opportunity for you if you have a Bachelor of Engineering degree in mining engineering or mineral resources engineering, unless equivalent education, skills, and experience are clearly demonstrated. You must have at least six years of related experience. Related experience must include direct personal experience in underground mining for at least seventy-five percent of the time, performing any of the following activities: filing plans and procedures with the occupational health and safety regulator; explosives or 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; and health and safety incident investigations. You must be registered as a Full Member with Engineers Nova Scotia, or immediately eligible to register as a Full Member.
This work requires the following qualifications and experience:

• Detailed knowledge of the Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act, relevant regulations and standards, particularly the Underground Mining Regulations, Occupational Safety General Regulations, Workplace Health and Safety Regulations, and Blasting Safety Regulations;
• Ability to interpret and apply technical requirements to support workplace health and safety in the mining industry;
• Ability to gather information, review legal requirements, write technical reports, and succinctly offer sound, technically accurate and feasible recommendations in a clear and respectful manner;
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with colleagues, clients, partners, and external agencies;
• Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills;
• Strong oral, written, and electronic communication skills to effectively convey technical information to a wide range of audiences, including industrial sector experts, academic experts, executive leaders within government, and the public;
• Experience in delivering presentations and facilitating training modules;
• Knowledge of emerging trends in industry, and the impact of technology and equipment on workplace health and safety;
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team;
• Ability to adapt to new challenges and consider alternative perspectives;
• Experience applying equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion principles, and support for colleagues to do the same;
• Physical ability to work in large industrial workplaces and walk long distances; and
• A valid driver's licence and access to a reliable vehicle.
  

• Experience working as part of a national technical standard committee;
• Formal education in public administration;
• Experience enforcing legal requirements; or
• A professional safety designation, such as the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation.
  

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.

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.

This is a provincial based position where travel outside the immediate work area is required.
You must possess a valid Nova Scotia's driver's license (or equivalent) and access to a reliable vehicle.

• 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.
  

Pay Grade: PR 18

Salary Range: $3,547.06 - $4,171.42 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement: Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians, Persons of African Descent, Racialized Persons, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ Persons and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

Accommodation Statement: We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected].

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

If you are receiving a pension from the Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP) or any related plans, you cannot receive pension payments while contributing to the same plan. If you accept a position that requires PSSP contributions, your pension payments must be stopped. Please contact the Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation for more information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to [email protected].