Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To conduct comprehensive inspections that assess the management, operations and administration of analytical laboratories performing environmental testing (i.e., Brownfield testing) and regulated drinking water analysis. To provide technical expertise and advice on compliance. To enforce compliance using legal instruments.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Under the direct supervision of the section manager and supervisor, the position is responsible for undertaking comprehensive inspections of analytical laboratories performing analysis of environmental testing and drinking water testing under Ontario legislation, as well as ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation, regulations, policies and guidelines, by:

• collecting operational information and required data; interpreting results; determining if deficiencies exist or if plants, facilities or sites are in compliance with established technical standards;
• taking action to ensure compliance to current legal requirements either by issuing immediate verbal/written instructions to laboratory management on non-complex or straight forward matters or by issuing written instructions or Provincial Officer Orders or other appropriate instruments on non-complex non-straightforward matters;
• discussing ongoing operating matters with laboratory authorities, informing them of interpretations of test results against technical and quality standards; promoting enhanced compliance, and promoting plant for adverse water quality reporting
• scheduling follow-up inspections in accordance with Ministry policy of sources of non-compliance to ensure that corrective action has been taken
• preparing and submitting and distributing reports containing results, findings and recommendations

Performs a variety of related duties, such as:
• collecting, receiving, inputting, manipulating, sorting and transmitting a variety of analytical arid operational data using a wide variety of manual and electronic devices
• documenting findings/actions to support compliance proceedings; preparing and executing documents, testifying before the court or judicial boards
• preparing, issuing and defending orders
• preparing correspondence such as technical memoranda, letters, minutes of meetings, avid inspection reports
• Maintaining sufficient knowledge of all current Provincial Environmental legislation such as the Environmental Protection Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Ontario Water Resources Act, Brownfields Regulation, Pesticides Act and associated policies, procedures and administrative orders to provide prompt responses to outside inquiries
• liaising with laboratory authorities, Local Public Health Units (Medical Officers of Health), MOE offices and accreditation authorities such as SCC/CALA on results of inspections
• providing technical and scientific expertise and advice on compliance and approvals related to laboratory testing and operation
• consulting regularly with supervisor to confirm inspection priorities
• attending training courses and seminars
• complying with all Health and Safety Legislation, policies, procedures and reporting all unsafe equipment and conditions to supervisor as required
• ensuring the application of quality standards, principles, guidelines, directives and procedures in order to improve services and communications with clients
• other duties as assigned by management

Staffing and Licencing :

Job requires a valid class G Ontario drivers licence

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of legislation related to laboratory requirements (e.g. the Safe Drinking Water Act, Ontario Regulations 170/03, 252/05, 248/03, 242/05) in order to assess regulatory compliance and to develop enforcement options.

Job requires extensive knowledge and understanding of standard methods, laboratory operation in accordance with ISO/1EC17025 and other relevant analytical data quality principles such as assessment of appropriate instrumentation operation and application for the stated purpose, in order to assess compliance with all laws, regulations, policies and guidelines related to the provision of safe drinking water to promote best management practices.
Job requires extensive knowledge of the steps required to undertake complete and comprehensive inspections. Job requires knowledge of the application of theories, principles and practices of environmental sciences and health risks and understanding of applicable environment acts and regulations in order to assess potential risk and liabilities to the safety of drinking water, by carrying out inspections of laboratory operations and policies and by analysing environmental data to promote best management practices.

Skills :

Job required analytical and problem solving skills to identify cause and source of problems and develop a course of action to ensure compliance.

Job required analytical skills and experience conducting inspections in a complex and high profile environment.

Job requires analysis and evaluation of problems where causes are not immediately obvious, requiring search and analysis of indirect/multiple factors to determine best approaches for compliance and enforcement activities.

Job required analytical skills and judgment to interpret scientific and technical data, legislation, regulations, guidelines and policies where data is inconclusive, regulatory requirements and policies are not always clear and precedents may not exist in order to develop compliance strategies.

Job requires decisions to made on which compliance approaches and/or enforcement will be used which consider nature, extent, and seriousness of non-compliance and determining corrective action (e.g. issuing order, referring matter for prosecution, etc).

Job requires oral communication skills to make presentations to elected officials health officials, emergency response personnel and the public on environmental issues where policy, regulatory and technical information and terminology has to be communicated to non-technical personnel; explain interpretation of scientific and technical information and necessary corrective action to industry officials and the public; and devise methods to communicate and persuade people to take such corrective action.

Job requires oral communication skills to conduct interviews to gather evidence and to provide testimony in court proceedings on evidence collected and observation made during course of field/technical assessments and investigations.

Job requires written communication skills to prepare letters, Orders, and technical reports (such as Provincial Officer Reports) on inspections, findings (such as Incident Reports), conclusions, and recommendations; prepare briefing notes and letters for management.

Job requires interpersonal skills to facilitate discussion and resolve conflict between multi-stakeholders (such as complainants, municipalities, and laboratory officials) and explain findings/solutions to the general public and ministry management. Job requires extensive knowledge/experience with computer applications.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working within environmental legislation, regulations, policies, guidelines, procedures and work plan.

Job requires making issue/crisis management decisions. For example, determines whether to curtail operation in situations of non-compliance, determines which type of abatement approach is appropriate.
Job requires issuing Provincial Offences Act Notices and Provincial Officer Orders without consultation with supervisor.

Work is accepted as technically complete and accurate. Employee refers to supervisor/manager when: issues involve setting a legal or policy precedent; making recommendations for further field/technical assessment and investigations/prosecutions; where issues involve additional Branch workload, ongoing media or political attention, or when issues have known or likely impact on public health.

Supervisor also reviews progress on abatement programs and provides advice or direction on use of voluntary or mandatory compliance tools (e.g. provincial officer or court orders) where either public health is at risk or where contentious issues draw public or senior management attention.

When compliance/non-compliance is not clear due to regulatory uncertainty, or where Ministry policy is not clear, the supervisor may be consulted for direction (e.g. is the processing of the material regulated or not; can/should a field order be issued to required locks on company shipping doors or gates effectively shutting down a business; can/should a court order be obtained under the circumstances to break and enter for the purpose of carrying out an inspection.