Public Health Officer

Public Health Officer
The Public Health Officer (PHO) leads the onboard public health program, ensuring compliance with US and international public health standards and internal SQM policies. The PHO provides expert guidance to shipboard personnel, conducts regular surveillance and training, identifies trends, and communicates findings to shoreside Public Health and the fleet. The PHO stays current with policy updates, supports outbreak investigations, and mentors crew to maintain a high standard of health and safety aboard the vessel.

Key Responsibilities

Provide expert onboard guidance to ensure ongoing regulatory readiness for USPH and international public health standards (e.g., USPH VSP, Public Health Canada, EU SHIPSAN, ANVISA) and internal SQM requirements; act as the shipboard subject matter expert and educational resource.

Conduct periodic public health surveys across guest, crew, and work areas (including Food & Beverage, Housekeeping, Spa, Child Activity Center, Medical Facility, Potable Water, Recreational Water Facilities, and IPM).

Review USPH inspection reports and corrective actions; coordinate with shoreside Public Health to expedite corrective actions and maintain uniform compliance.

Assist with investigation and mitigation of infectious disease outbreaks; build cross-departmental partnerships to ensure a safe environment for guests and crew.

Disseminate educational materials and provide guidance, education, and mentoring to onboard personnel; model professional leadership behavior.

Oversee Public Health Risk Assessments (twice yearly or as needed during ship movements or events); respond to outbreaks, repositioning, construction, weather changes, or other triggers.

Stay informed of public health policy changes and communicate updates promptly to the fleet; serve as a primary conduit between shoreside leadership and the ship.

Analyze public health data for continuous quality improvement; apply epidemiologic principles for data collection, investigation, and reporting; develop action plans as warranted.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Training

Bachelor’s degree or international equivalent in Public Health, Environmental Health, or a related field.

2+ years of experience in Public Health, Food & Beverage, Microbiology, or Environmental Health and Safety on board.

Demonstrated shipboard managerial and leadership experience.

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Forms); ability to multi-task and stay organized in a fast-paced environment.

Excellent written and spoken English; strong leadership and communication skills.

Required Knowledge & Skills:

Solid knowledge of USPH, SQM, and international public health standards; familiarity with regulatory agencies and guidelines.

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and presentation skills.

Ability to mentor and educate diverse onboard teams; effective collaboration across departments.

Language Requirements

Excellent English reading, writing, and verbal communication skills.

Ability to prepare clear reports, present information, and communicate with guests, crew, and shoreside stakeholders.

Additional languages are advantageous but not required.

Physical & Environmental Requirements

Physical: Regular standing and walking; ability to access various shipboard areas; capable of lifting light to moderate loads as needed; ability to travel as required.

Vision: Normal or corrected vision adequate for reading gauges, logs, and documents; ability to distinguish colors as needed for monitoring indicators.

Environmental: Work aboard a ship in diverse environmental conditions; exposure to maritime hazards, chemicals, and infectious agents; required to wear appropriate PPE; may involve irregular hours, shift work, and on-call duties; ability to respond quickly to health incidents and emergencies. Full use of arms, legs, vision, hearing, and communication abilities is required to perform duties effectively.