Water Coordinator

Location:

PHO Corporate Office & Toronto Laboratory, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, ON

Department:
Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Customer Service

This posting is to fill a current vacancy.

To coordinate and support the delivery of standardized, accurate, timely, and cost‑effective water testing services for Public Health Ontario (PHO), ensuring alignment with regulatory accreditation, quality and public health requirements. Liaises between PHO, Public Health Units (PHUs), the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), and other external stakeholders regarding drinking water testing services.

Candidates may be able to work from one of our PHO locations in Ontario.

• Organizes and coordinates water testing activities across PHO’s laboratory to support standardized, high‑quality, and cost‑effective service delivery.
• Acts as a key liaison between PHO, PHUs, the MOH, the Ministry of the Environment, MECP, and other external stakeholders regarding drinking water testing services.
• Engages with internal and external stakeholders to build and maintain effective working relationships, assess service needs, and gather feedback on the effectiveness of the water testing program, including supporting the development and review of customer service surveys, analyzing feedback, and recommending opportunities for service improvement.
• Provides expert consultation and guidance to PHO staff, PHUs, ministries, and private citizens on the appropriate use and limitations of water testing, including water testing methodologies, organism identification, and public health implications in collaborations with microbiologists.
• In collaboration with PHO subject matter experts, develops training materials and delivers training sessions for internal and external stakeholders (e.g. PHUs) on water testing practices, procedures, and emerging developments.
• Delivers advice, training, and clear explanations to internal and external stakeholders on key aspects of the PHO’s water testing program, contributes subject‑matter expertise to the development and review of policies and procedures related to water testing.
• Provides professional guidance, coaching, and subject‑matter advice to PHO staff on policies and procedures impacting the water testing program, the appropriate use of PHO’s water testing resources, and the application and interpretation of regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Supports drinking water quality assurance, licensing, and accreditation activities, including internal and external audits, proficiency testing, inter‑laboratory comparisons, customer feedback review, quality indicator monitoring, risk management and corrective and preventative actions, in collaboration with QRA and CS, microbiologists, and senior management.
• Monitors water testing quality assurance activities to identify trends, risks, and emerging issues, and provides evidence‑based recommendations to senior management to support continuous improvement of the water testing program.
• Supports regular review and updating of client guidance documents related to specimen collection and submission to ensure compliance with quality and regulatory/accreditation requirements.
• Monitors and analyzes testing volumes, turnaround times, positivity rates, and other key performance indicators across PHO laboratory locations, identifying trends and recommending opportunities for service improvements.
• Responds to requests for water testing‑related data and records requirements under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).
• Reviews and evaluates emerging scientific literature, standards, and best practices related to water testing and assesses potential impacts on PHO’s water testing programs, informing senior management and microbiologists as appropriate.
• Supports the development, review, and implementation of policies, procedures, and methods to improve the quality, effectiveness, and cost‑efficiency of water testing services, participating in internal and/or external committees as a subject matter expert.
• Develops and refines laboratory procedures based on accepted scientific…