Public Health Officer - onboard cruise ship

Responsibilities
This role focuses on maintaining high USPH standards through onboard training, internal audits, and operational oversight across multiple departments. It proactively identifies and addresses issues that could lead to CDC or USCG no-sail orders, such as outbreaks, water system failures, and equipment breakdowns. Responsibilities include monitoring water safety, pest control, outbreak prevention, and chemical evaluations to ensure food and water safety. The position also supports cost-saving initiatives, ensures timely reporting, and coordinates maintenance to uphold compliance during operations and renovations.

Essential Functions:
• USPH Compliance and Crew Training: Maintain high USPH scores by being onboard to train and educate leaders and crew. This includes hands-on guidance and reinforcement of public health standards to ensure consistent compliance across all departments.
• Internal Audits and Departmental Oversight: Conduct internal audits, training sessions, and verification of records in departments such as Housekeeping, Child Activity Centers, Medical, Engine, Bridge, Recreational Water Facilities, Food and Beverage Operations, and HVAC. This ensures operational integrity and readiness for inspections.
• Operational Gap Identification: Provide visibility into onboard issues by identifying gaps in operations and addressing critical findings before they escalate or are discovered during formal inspections.
• No-Sail Order Prevention: Actively work to prevent no-sail orders from the CDC and USCG by mitigating risks related to outbreaks, potable water system failures, drainage issues, warewash machine malfunctions, and refrigeration breakdowns that could compromise food safety.
• Water Sampling and Cost Efficiency: Perform internal water sampling to reduce costs, utilizing external laboratories only for result verification, ensuring both accuracy and budget-conscious practices.
• CDC Reporting and Corrective Actions: Confirm timely submission of weekly reports to the CDC. Analyze failures in critical control points and implement immediate corrective actions along with long-term, sustainable solutions.
• Support During Renovations: Monitor onboard operations while shoreside PHO supports yard periods and construction renovations, ensuring continued compliance and operational safety.
• Maintenance Tracking and Equipment Monitoring: Facilitate monthly status reports to coordinate equipment repairs and track compliance of warewash machines and refrigeration systems, ensuring all equipment meets USPH standards.
• Legionella Prevention and Water Safety: Prevent Legionella outbreaks by monitoring water safety compliance, including weekly deck flushing, temperature checks, chlorine injection monitoring, showerhead cleaning, and biofilm removal.
• Pest Management and Guest Complaint Follow-Up: Collaborate with the Pest Control Steward to implement preventative measures, follow up on guest complaints, and train housekeeping staff in bedbug prevention and management.
• Outbreak Prevention and Control: Lead training and monitoring efforts focused on outbreak prevention and control, ensuring crew readiness and adherence to health protocols.
• Chemical Safety Evaluations: Conduct chemical evaluations within hotel operations to ensure food and water safety standards are consistently maintained

Qualifications:
• A Master’s degree in Public Health or a closely related field is required.
Experience:
• Minimum of 3 years of shipboard experience in a traveling capacity, with demonstrated expertise in public health compliance and operational audits.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Strong knowledge of cruise ship public health compliance standards, particularly those governed by the USA, EU, and Canadian authorities. Familiarity with CDC Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) guidelines and inspection protocols is essential 

• Demonstrated understanding of food safety principles, including HACCP protocols. Experience with ISO 22000 standards is highly desirable. Ability to evaluate chemical usage and sanitation practices to ensure safe food and water conditions onboard.
• Proven ability to manage and respond to foodborne and waterborne disease outbreaks. Skilled in implementing prevention strategies, containment procedures, and corrective actions.
• Working knowledge of microbiological principles and laboratory testing protocols, including water sampling and analysis for verification and compliance.
• Familiarity with cruise ship technical systems such as potable water distribution, recreational water facilities, HVAC components, and medical reporting requirements related to public health.
• Strong ability to identify operational gaps, analyze failures in critical control points, and implement both immediate and long-term corrective actions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to train and educate crew members across departments. Capable of delivering clear guidance and fostering a culture of compliance and accountability.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills to manage audits, track maintenance, and ensure timely reporting to regulatory bodies such as the CDC

Language Requirements:
• Excellent command of English 
• Ability to speak additional languages such as Spanish or Italian preferred.