OCEAN - Public Health Specialist
Publication date:
11 October 2024Workload:
100%Contract type:
Permanent position- Place of work:STAR
Viking was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused voyages on oceans, rivers and lakes around the world. Designed for experienced travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences for The Thinking Person®.
Viking has more than 250 awards to its name, including being rated #1 for Rivers, #1 for Oceans and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler and voted at the top of its categories by Travel + Leisure. No other cruise line has ever received these same honors by both publications at the same time.
A VIKING LEADERSHIP ROLE
As a Viking Shipboard Leader, you represent Viking’s values and leadership philosophy (Hávamál). You are a hospitality professional who demonstrates passion for excellence, who takes ownership for your areas of responsibility, and who believes in empowering your team with the skills, knowledge, and tools to succeed.
You are an exceptional role model for the Viking Family and have strong motivation to achieve the company’s goals and objectives.
You are flexible, stress resistant, focused, and a truly committed team member.
PURPOSE OF POSITION
- The Public Health Specialist ensures smooth, efficient, and compliant operations from all Public Health related aspects with Hotel, Medical and Deck & Engine Departments
- It is your responsibility to lead all Public Health related actions onboard, in cooperation with other departments on the vessel to maintain the highest Public Health Standards
- The Public Health Specialist has the primary function of leading, training, oversight, implementation, and verification of compliance and applications, in the process of maintaining Public Health and Safety Standards, Protocols and Procedures Onboard
- The purpose of this position is to provide competence elevation through agreed Trainings and acquired Onboard Experience, to the role of Public Health Officer, which include but not limited to a Public Health Leadership Training Course
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
General
- Drive shipboard compliance and commitment to the highest Public Health standards in the areas of Disease Surveillance, Prevention and Control of Infectious illnesses, Food Safety, Potable & Recreational Water Safety, and Integrated Pest Management through structured audits, training, and effective communication
- Oversee compliance with the ship’s COVID-19 Response Plan and report findings to the Captain onboard and Fleet Public Health Manager ashore
Onboard Infection Prevention Control System Committee Operations
- Responsible for professional and effective Cross-functional IPCS Committee operations, required meeting preparations, Minutes of the Meetings, reporting this duty directly to Captain onboard who is the Chair of the Onboard IPCS Committee
- Coordinate Drills/Tabletop exercises of the Company’s Infection Prevention and Response Plan to ensure that all crew are continuously trained, equipped, and prepared to effectively respond to outbreaks of any Communicable Diseases
- Participate as a key member of the shipboard IPCS Committee and coordinate the implementation and compliance with IPCS decisions for AGE, ILI and COVID-19 Management Response Levels and Triggers for defined thresholds
- Oversee, follow-up and log the Infection Prevention Protocols familiarization trainings for crew, electronic and on-the job trainings, to ensure that all crew receive required IPCS training to accurately execute their duties on board
- Responsible to summarize all infection related Risk assessments, to be reviewed by to IPCS Committee, before the operational work onboard commences
Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control
- Oversee the implementation and compliance with shipboard prevention and control activities at all response levels including COVID-19, AGE, ILI, and other communicable diseases, particularly in line with the updated Covid-19 Manual
- Encourage departmental partnerships by actively collaborating with the Medical Department to resolve potential health issues and requests from local Health Authorities for Public Health information, data, or investigations
- Monitor compliance with all Onboard Public Health and Infection Prevention and Control procedures including, hotel services for Isolated/Quarantined Guests/Crew, PPE use, and disinfection protocols
- Provide support to Hotel and Medical Teams with investigating illness cases and contact tracing, to identify exposure and transmission risks to individuals, areas, or events (Electronic Tracking Device)
- Provide regular reports to shipboard and shoreside leadership outlining illness status and operational preparedness and response, during Elevated illness response levels
- Identify and investigate health issues and hazards by researching innovative solutions for the implementation and rectification thereof
- Ensure that the Corporate Public Health Manager and Director are promptly notified and thoroughly briefed on all Public Health incidents
Onboard Operations Development related to Public Health
- Responsible for development of new processes and procedures together with Fleet Public Health Manager and implement them Onboard Viking vessels
- Manage and lead assigned Public Health related deployment projects onboard.
- Function as an asset by providing support to individual process owners, for all other areas of Public Health compliance
- Positively contribute to achieving/succeeding Hotel and Deck & Engine KPI goals (quality & financial) for the Hotel and Deck & Engine Department; have full knowledge about safety & security procedures and can operate in line with all Public Health, Environmental and Safety & Security Policies; participate in all onboard training, safety & security, fire prevention and evacuation exercises as required by the Company
General Responsibilities by Department:
Oversee:
- The cleaning schedule of each department and verify its functionality
- That crew always wears the appropriate and task specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required for their duties onboard
- The correct and safe management and storage, par levels, condition and use of all infection control related PPE, chemicals, disinfectants, hand sanitizers and related equipment
- Time and Temperature control system
- Monitor rarely use water outlet maintenance
- Review the Public Health Standards and Operating Procedures on Company approved shore excursions as part of Illness investigation, reported non-compliance by crew or guests, or upon request from Shoreside or Shipboard Management
Review all records to ensure compliance with Public Health standards:
- Escalate issues of non-compliance and/or Public Health breaches to Management both Onboard and Shoreside
- Follow-up to ensure items are closed and corrected and training given to respective parties, and appropriate actions taken as soon as possible to prevent non-conformity in the near futures
Galley Food and Beverage Operation:
- Review and oversee the cooling of potentially hazardous food; transportation and protection of food; cooking process; thawing; storage and arrangements; possible contamination with Allergens is minimized
Restaurant and Bars:
- Ensure the sanitation of Beer lines are in place and food protection measurements are adhered to
Housekeeping/Public Areas:
- Inspect in collaboration with assistant Housekeeper: Protein spills records; Cabin cleaning; Bedbug inspections; Steward Lockers/Pantries; Shower head disinfection; Restroom operational readiness and adequate solution levels in all dispensing units
Integrated Pest Management:
- Oversee the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program implementation and compliance onboard the vessel and ensure Departmental inspections are conducted and recorded appropriately
- Act as the main contact point in any IPM related matters with our selected IPM Partner
Spa, Medical and Onboard Laboratories:
- Assist Medical with close contact tracing; Communicable diseases (SeaCare) monitoring and questionnaires (AGE, ARI, ILI, CLI); crew hand checks
- Ensure accuracy of Food handlers reports (Late reporting) – Time and Attendance records and Disciplinary actions and training
- Oversee Medical, Spa and Laboratory related temperature and humidity controlling (sterilized packs and re-agent storage), Sterilization processes & cycles and compliance with waste management and sanitation
- Assure Gym sanitation protocol and processes are followed
- Assist and verify compliance of Respirator Fit Testing and Logs and accuracy of Sharp Containers Control Logs
Maintenance:
- Oversee together with the individual heads of departments all the facilities and equipment cleanliness & maintenance issues to ensure compliance with applicable Public Health standards: Galley, Food & Beverage, Restaurants and Bars, Housekeeping, Public areas, Medical Center and Onboard Laboratory
- Work with the Technical and Deck Departments onboard to identify and prioritize relevant repair and maintenance activities presented by HODs
Potable Water and Recreational Water Facilities:
- Measure and review chemical and microbiological parameters within Potable Water (PW) and Recreational Water Facilities (RWFs) daily by making sight test to ensure compliance with applicable
- Public Health standards
- Review and oversee Potable Water Facilities: Monthly water sampling; Potable Water Bunkering/Analysis; Quarterly Water Testing / Analysis via external providers; Water production procedures; Relevant Systems maintenance (Tanks/Pipes); Cross connection plans
- Review and Oversee Recreational Water Facilities: Biofilm removal; Chemistry Maintenance monitoring; System maintenance and disinfection (hair restrainer, filter inspection, drain covers); Super chlorination; Fecal Incident halogenation/discharge and Flow maintenance
- Accompany and facilitate third party Vendor Public Health services, including but not limited to water samplers and sampling events
- Work with both the Hotel and Technical Departments onboard to implement corrective actions and/or close the facilities when values are out of range
Air Treatment:
- Oversee the HVAC System maintenance and disinfection, filter exchanges and replacement sanitation procedures conducted
Provisions Operations:
- Periodically monitor and inspect all loading in coordination with the provision team from the pier to ship ensuring that all items are of the highest quality and at the correct temperature
- Oversee that all receiving parties onboard conduct their incoming shipment for pest inspections prior to boarding
Waste Management:
- Oversee the garbage segregation on the vessel under IMO, Annex V of MARPOL regulation and integrated as per Viking’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Ensure that managers and staff are trained accordingly, and complete records of waste discharge are kept as required
Public Health Trainings Onboard
- Work with the Fleet Public Health Manager/Trainer to improve and standardize Viking Public Health Academy concept and training contents
- Educate guests and crew on health issues to empower them in assisting with the prevention of s preading diseases
- In conjunction with all relevant Department Heads, continuously train onboard Public Health Supervisors, Sanitation Supervisors, Kitchen Stewards and Viking Crew on Sanitation and Public Health topics and retain all necessary training records
- Training which includes but is not limited to hands on training for Infection Prevention onboard, chemical usage/handling, equipment handling, cleaning techniques, time control plans and out log filing i.e., cooling logs, Recreational Water Facilities (RWFs) operation, safety, and maintenance
- Provide, training and guidance to all relevant crew and officers in relation to food safety procedures including HACCP concept and relating to VSP, Anvisa, ShipSan, CPH etc.; Time Management; Temperature Management; Potentially Hazardous Foods; Cross Contamination; Food Protection and Hygienic Practices.
- Conduct randomized assessments to monitor the implementation, knowledge, and records thereof
- Assist Fleet Public Health Manager/Trainer to identify onboard Public Health Crew across the Fleet to attend External trainings for competence elevations and certifications (VSP Trainings, Etc.)
- Responsible for in depth Cross Training of identified candidates for the position of Kitchen Steward, Sanitation Specialist and Public Health Specialist during their identified contract period
- Implement a variety of techniques to determine, evaluate and improve the efficiency of Public Health training and needs - trend and gap analyses
Inspections, Audits and Non-Conformity Handling
- Collaborate with ship Leadership and the Sanitation Specialist/Kitchen Steward onboard to ensure that preparations for USPH (US arrivals) are thoroughly executed to exceed expectations
- Prepare the vessel for all External Audits in cooperation with our Audit Partner(s), other Public Health related Partners as well as Viking internal functions and aid internal and external auditors during public health audits
- Conduct, plan and execute Public Health related Internal Audits and possible Corrective Actions documentation, follow-up, and implementation activities to verify compliance with applicable requirements
- Review all internal and external inspection reports to identify trends and avoid repeat deficiencies.
- Assess the effectiveness of risk reduction actions and interventions and deliver information on observations and results to shipboard management
- Conduct audits and inspections in all Departments and outlets onboard to ensure compliance with Company Policies, evaluate Public Health breaches and risks and communicate identified deficiencies to the process owner
- Conduct at least one unannounced Public Health inspection of an area per week
- Oversee the deployment, implementation, and compliance of all Departmental users, pertaining to the onboard iAuditor program and report to the iAuditor Super-User shoreside
- Conduct and interpret ATP results on Hygiena information platform, for each Department, identify trends and non-conformities, assist in establishing corrective actions and source relevant Public Health
- assistance and resources
Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures
- Assist Fleet Public Health Manager to centrally govern, manage changes and developments for the main Public Health related Manuals (COVID-19 Operations Manual & Response Plan, OPRP, Health and Sanitation Manual, General Water Safety Plan, etc.)
- Secure coordinated implementation of any new Public Health related protocols or processes Onboard, ensuring all Department Heads are well versed with their responsibilities and respective roles, as related to Public Health
- Be familiar with the Public Health regulations of the individual countries/regions that the vessel sails in and advise onboard Public Health Supervisors, Sanitation Supervisors, Kitchen Stewards as well relevant departments, accordingly
- As head of the Outbreak Response Team, assist, manage, control, and oversee the Implementation of the Company Outbreak Prevention and Response/Recovery Program (OPRP)
- In terms of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program ensure that: the program is in effect and functional for the vessel; a central point of record collection is maintained; conformity on active and passive monitoring are verified; certified pest control applicators are verified; the pesticide inventory is kept safe in the Public Health Specialist’s possession; infestations are documented; events are coordinated when the IPM contractor is onboard
- Effectively communicates with both Shipboard and Shoreside Management to facilitate the correct
- interpretation and application of Public Health Policies and Procedures
Service Provider Management
- Responsible for Operational Management of selected Public Health Service Provider Accounts Onboard, (Inventory levels of PPE, Sanitation Chemicals, PH responses Related Hardware, Water Testing, etc.)
- Ensure active Service Provider Management in coordination with Ocean Procurement department
This document describes the primary activities, duties, and responsibilities of this position. Your manager or supervisor may assign additional duties and responsibilities to you.
YOUR PROFILE:
Education
- A required minimum of 5 years of experience in Public Health, Infection Prevention and Control and Vessel sanitation as Public Health Specialist onboard a Cruise Vessel or in 5 Star Hospitality and/or Restaurant environment or an equivalent combination of experience in implementing, overseeing, or auditing Public Health Programs
- A Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Public Health, Environmental Health, Biological Sciences, or closely related field is required
- An advanced knowledge of Public Health Regulations and International Laws is required
Experience
- A strong background in all relevant Public Health areas is required. This includes Infection Prevention and Control, Waste Management, Sanitation, Food safety, Potable Water Safety, IPM, Recreational Water Safety, Microbiology, Manual and Mechanical ware washing, Housekeeping, Provision Operations and Onboard Outbreak Control Coordination
- Attendance of the USPH Vessel Sanitation Program seminar with certification, Infection Control Certification, SHIPSAN certification, Potable Water (PW), Recreational Water Facility (RWF) or IPM certification are preferred
- Shipboard experience is highly advantageous
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- An effective leader with passion and vision to optimize Public Health Principles onboard
- Hands-on, hardworking, and committed individual with the ability to adapt easily
- Thrive working in a fast-paced environment and stay calm and focused under pressure, with excellent attention to detail
- Strong multi-tasking, organizational planning, and problem-solving skills with collaboration crossfunctionally between departments, coordinate efforts around process improvement
- Flexible, stress resistant, committed team player with strong administration skills are preferred
- Strong verbal and written communication as well as interpersonal skills to develop trusting relationships
- Comfortable presenting to small and large groups
- Fluent in English - must have excellent English communication skills to clearly interpret and orate documents as well as effectively communicate with Corporate Management and onboard Crew. The ability to speak an additional language is advantageous
- Guest-focused, service-oriented, positive personality, professional appearance and impeccable hygiene standards are required, with exceptional work ethic, motivational skills, and coaching abilities
- Meet the minimum requirements to be able to participate in emergency life-saving drills and required training
Technical Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Tools: Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint etc
- Experience with Onboard Sea Care electronic healthcare record platform preferred
GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS
- Implement Standard Operating Procedures & STAR Service Standards within the department.
- Ensure appropriate appearance and clothing according to the updated Grooming Standards.
The company reserves the right to change/extend this job description, if necessary, at any point of time during her/his employment.
Position: Public Health Specialist
Onboard Supervisor: Captain
Shoreside Supervisor: Public Health Management
APPLICATION AND JOB RELEVANT INFORMATION
Our roles will be subject to our appearance standards (including in relation to visible tattoos) and employees
are expected to project a professional image at all times. Visible tattoos are not permitted. Tattoos concealed
with make-up, skin-colored sleeves or any covering other than the company uniform will still be considered
visible for the purposes of our appearance standards. Exemptions to this may be considered on a case-by-case
basis where appropriate. Tattoo removal may not result in successful employment and therefore is not
encouraged and is the candidate’s personal decision. Furthermore, any offer of employment is subject to you
passing all mandatory medical examinations as required by the company. After submitting your CV, we might
ask you to introduce yourself with a personal video recording. We always encourage our candidates to take this
step to add their personality to any written application. Please note, however, that this step is optional and not
a mandatory part of the recruiting process. For further information, please refer to our Recruitment Guidelines.
DISCLAIMER
As part of any recruitment process, Viking collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants. We
are committed to being transparent about how we collect and use that data and to meeting our data protection
obligations. If you would like to find out more about how your information will be used, please view the privacy
notice on our careers page.