Public Health Inspector

Job Number: 4261
Job Type: Temporary Full-Time
Vacancy Reason: Temporary
Temp Contract Length: 13 months (ending June 11, 2027)
Location: 99 Regina Street, Waterloo, ON
Number of Positions: 1
Department: Health Protection and Healthy Environments
Division: Public Health and Paramedic Services
Hours of Work: 35 hours per week
Work Schedule: Ability to work varying shifts including days, afternoons, evenings, and weekend hours and participate in an on-call rotation to provide coverage for public health demands outside of normal working hours. Occasionally required to alter working hours to conduct business or in emergency situations.
Union: CUPE 1883
Grade: CUPE 1883 Grade 015
Salary Range: $47.22 - $53.50 per hour
Posting Date: April 21, 2026
Closing Date: April 27, 2026

About Us!

The Region of Waterloo is a thriving, diverse community committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations. Waterloo Region is part of the Dish with One Spoon wampum, a treaty guiding our commitment to:

• Taking only what we need
• Leaving some for others
• Keeping the dish clean

This agreement underpins our vision, mission, and core value, and reinforces our dedication to meaningful reconciliation and equity.

Waterloo Region is home to over 674,000 residents and expected to grow to nearly one million by 2051. Guided by our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, “Growing with Care,” we prioritize homes for all, climate aligned growth, equitable services and opportunities and a resilient and future ready organization. Our mission is to provide essential services that enhance the quality of life for all residents, while our core value emphasizes caring for people and the land we share. Join us and be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful difference in our community.

The Role

Protects individual and community health through promotion, education, and enforcement of Provincial legislation/guidelines and Regional policies/bylaws. Recognizes and responds to potential health hazards. Program areas include: food safety, infection prevention and control, rabies prevention and control, safe water (drinking and recreational), health hazard prevention and management, emergency preparedness and management, vector borne disease, personal services.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Conducts onsite health hazard risk and compliance assessments, investigations, and inspections. Investigates complaints. Recommends/provides direction for appropriate actions to be taken.
• Documents inspections and provides information to clients. Determines and communicates timeframes for compliance. Conducts re-inspections to monitor adherence.
• Collects and submits samples for analysis. Interprets lab results, notifies stakeholders, and initiates actions as necessary.
• Updates databases and maintains appropriate notes and documentation.
• Acts as a Provincial Offences Officer. Exercises authority to issue Provincial Offence notices, Summons, directives, orders, business closures. Prepares information for laying charges. Prepares and files court documentation; liaises with Legal Services; and acts as a witness, as required. Serves summons to witnesses, as required.
• Investigates and assesses potential rabies cases. Issues orders and follows up to ensure compliance with protocols and legislation. Provides consultation/support to physicians and the public regarding post-exposure prophylaxis. Arranges delivery of vaccine to physicians, as needed.
• Conducts active/passive surveillance activities (e.g., mosquitos, ticks), as required.
• Conducts outbreak investigations (e.g., enteric, respiratory, food and water-borne).. Acts as a resource and provides guidance to facilities to reduce/prevent the impact of outbreaks. Executes food product recalls and condemnations.
• Advises on equipment and layout requirements in architectural drawings for existing/ proposed food premises, personal service settings, and other facilities.
• Participates in the development and implementation of education and health promotion program strategies.
  Develops/participates in the development of educational resources (e.g., newsletters, fact sheets). Prepares and delivers training and presentations to groups and the public.
• Acts as a resource to staff, the public, agencies, and other professionals, and participates on internal and external committees.
• Maintains and safely handles testing apparatus, presentation equipment, and vaccines.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of public health inspection and health promotion methods, problem solving, and investigative methods, acquired through a 4-year university degree (or equivalent such as a 2-year directly related degree plus a previous (possibly unrelated) university degree) plus 1 year of related experience (related work experience, student/practicum placements, or as an uncertified public health inspector, vector borne disease surveillance or beach monitoring experience).
• Must possess Certificate of Public Health Inspection (Canada) (as per HPPA 1993 Reg. 566) through the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors.
• Knowledge of and ability to work according to corporate policies and procedures; municipal by-laws; legislation (e.g., Health Protection and Promotion Act, Skin Cancer Prevention Act, Provincial Offences Act, Ontario Safe Water Act); and Provincial public health best practices and guidelines.
• Technical knowledge in program areas including: food safety, water quality, health hazard investigation and management, infection control, rabies prevention and control, communicable disease, and skin cancer prevention.
• Research and organizational skills to ensure factual, accurate information is provided to the public. Ability to maintain accurate and timely documentation and files.
• Computer skills with ability to use programs such as Microsoft Office; inspection software programs (e.g., Hedgehog); an electronic document management system (Docs); and internet-based searching.
• Communication and human relations skills using tact, persuasion, and diplomacy to provide information, advice, and support to stakeholders when issuing inspection/investigation reports, and taking enforcement actions; when making presentations to facilitate others’ understanding; and to enable participation as an effective team member.
• Ability to interpret complex technical information; write in-depth reports and summaries on inspections and investigations to various audiences including health professionals and the public.
  Ability to develop program resources and education materials.
• Ability to work varying shifts including day, afternoon, evening, and weekend hours.
• Ability to participate in an on-call rotation to provide coverage for public health demands outside of normal working hours.
• Is occasionally required to alter working hours to conduct business or in emergency situations.
  Ability to travel to various locations within and outside Waterloo Region.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.

Region of Waterloo is committed to building a workforce through fair, equitable, and accessible hiring practices that allow us to hire qualified staff who reflect the diversity of the community we serve and to promote a respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including, but not limited to:

• First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, and all other Indigenous peoples;
• members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin;
• persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities;
• persons who identify as women; and persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions

For questions or to request accommodations during your recruitment, onboarding or employment, please contact talentmanagement@regionofwaterloo.ca, or by calling our Service First Contact Centre at phone number (519) 575-4400.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Hiring Process: Region of Waterloo may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance efficiency during the recruitment process. However, applications will also be reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team to ensure a fair and thorough assessment. AI does not make final hiring decisions.

Please note: candidates will be provided an update on their application. Please check your spam or junk folder occasionally as some candidates have noticed our emails in those folders (Gmail and Hotmail in particular).