Nurse Consultant, Communicable Disease

Government of Alberta•Edmonton, AB

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services is focused on building a resilient and sustainable healthcare system for Albertans. This involves protecting public health, promoting wellness, coordinating health services, planning infrastructure, and regulating healthcare. The Department of Primary and Preventative Health Services sets the strategic direction for health in Alberta, advising on policy, legislation, and public health concerns, while also monitoring system performance and ensuring accountability. The Communicable Disease Control Branch is responsible for communicable disease control, immunization, and public health information systems. The CD Unit develops policies and guidelines for reporting and managing notifiable diseases in Alberta, in accordance with the Communicable Disease Regulation under the Public Health Act.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in nursing, plus a minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in public health/communicable diseases, with demonstrated involvement in research, policy development, and/or analysis is required.
Must be a regulated member of the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta.
Strong leadership capabilities, including the ability to guide work, influence decision making, and support collaborative outcomes.
Advanced problem solving skills, with demonstrated ability in negotiation, facilitation, and conflict resolution.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, applied in complex, multidisciplinary, and stakeholder driven environments.
Critical thinking and strategic planning skills, with experience applying evidence informed approaches to public health decision making.
Demonstrated computer proficiency, including good working knowledge of: Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams.

Nice To Haves

Project management experience.
Previous experience in notifiable disease case/outbreak investigation, communicable disease surveillance and/or experience with notifiable disease reporting.
Experience with public health policy and legislation.
Diploma related to the position assignment and six (6) years of related experience.
Master’s degree related to the position assignment and three (3) years of related experience.

Responsibilities

Lead the development, maintenance, and evaluation of provincial guidelines, policies, and surveillance reporting related to communicable diseases (CD) in Alberta.
Provide expert clinical advice and leadership in the development of communicable disease policies, ensuring alignment with best practices and current public health research.
Monitor emerging disease trends and make recommendations for the adaptation or creation of policies, procedures, and response strategies.
Lead communicable disease surveillance efforts, including reviewing data, conducting literature reviews, and evaluating research to support the development of public health disease management guidelines.
Ensure compliance with communicable disease reporting and surveillance requirements, supporting both internal and external stakeholders to improve monitoring practices.
Assist in the development of disease-specific surveillance frameworks to track the prevalence of notifiable diseases in Alberta and align with national/international standards.
Collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders, including the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (OCMOH), Alberta Health Services (AHS), Primary Care Alberta (PCA) Indigenous Services Canada, laboratories, infectious disease specialists, and federal/provincial/territorial colleagues.
Facilitate stakeholder consultations and working groups to advance communicable disease (CD) policy and response efforts.
Provide expert consultative advice and guidance to stakeholders regarding the implementation of communicable disease (CD) policies and strategies.
Support urgent public health responses, including outbreak management, emergency preparedness, and pandemic responses, by providing policy guidance and strategic advice.
Participate in cross-jurisdictional working groups and committees to coordinate public health responses to communicable disease threats, both provincially and nationally.
Assist in the development and evaluation of crisis communication and emergency response strategies related to communicable diseases.
Provide specialized clinical expertise to support communicable disease management, including advising on disease-specific interventions, protocols, and treatment recommendations.
Evaluate existing communicable disease (CD) programs and recommend improvements to enhance disease prevention, treatment, and control strategies.
Lead or contribute to the development of research-based recommendations for policy improvement or program enhancement.
Conduct in-depth research on current communicable diseases, emerging threats, and best practices in disease prevention and control.
Synthesize research findings to inform policy updates and provide recommendations for enhancing provincial communicable disease (CD) management strategies.
Write clear, concise reports, briefing notes, and policy recommendations for senior leadership, as well as other stakeholders and external audiences.
Manage and lead projects related to communicable disease policy development and public health response, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with strategic priorities.
Plan and execute projects aimed at improving disease surveillance, monitoring systems, and communicable disease control measures.
Utilize strong organizational skills to prioritize tasks, track project milestones, and ensure the completion of objectives in line with organizational goals.
Provide guidance and training to team members, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders on communicable disease policies, surveillance techniques, and best practices.