Program Director / Project Manager
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Reference #JL-17992

Nova Scotia Hospice and Palliative Care Association ("NSHPCA") is a mission-driven community-based organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by grief. As the provincial organization that leads community based Advanced Care Planning for Nova Scotia, and a key player in coordinating existing grief-related resources, NSHPCA is led by a dedicated and hard-working board of directors. It has historically relied on valuable volunteers and partners to achieve its mission and coordinate resources in the community. In January 2024, the Government of Nova Scotia announced that NSHPCA had been awarded a long-term contract to act as Community Hub Organization and will play a centralized coordination and supportive role for the new NS Grief Strategy.

On behalf of our client, we are currently recruiting for a Program Director / Project Manager to join their team of dedicated professionals in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Program Director / Project Manager role is an exciting program leadership opportunity for candidates with a special combination of program leadership, project management expertise, and passion for community engagement on topics related to mental health, emotional wellbeing, grief, bereavement, and loss.

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of deep project management expertise to assist in planning, budgeting, executing and engage communities in a range of important projects under the NS Grief Strategy.

The key responsibilities and expectations of this exciting role include:

Program Leadership:

• Lead, coordinate, and actively manage a suite of NSHPCA projects and programs, particularly those committed under the NS Grief Strategy in accordance with NSHPCA's role as Community Hub Organization.
• Deliver multiple projects on-time and on-budget; ensure quality of deliverables and meeting or exceeding expectations of outcomes, through effective coordination of external vendors and timely engagement of NS health system partners, communities, and individuals / families with lived experience.
• Support the continuous development of NSHPCA's programs, services, and products to meet or exceed expectations of its stakeholders and the communities it serves.

Project Management:

• Expand the integrated workplan (e.g. Excel) for the NSHPCA Community Hub project, to include additional NSHPCA activities (e.g. other programs, annual conference, etc.) to ensure seamless and efficient management of these activities.
• Support the Executive Director, Chair of the NSHPCA Hub Steering Committee of the Board, and the chairs of the five sub-committees as needed, to implement an integrated program plan, and sub-committee project workplans for the Community Hub and other projects as required.
• Anticipate, schedule and plan upcoming meetings, including drafting of agendas and development of appropriate content to assist the committee in making important decisions and guiding NSHPCA's activities;
• Track and support the implementation of decisions made during project meetings, in coordination with the chairs of the Steering Committee and its sub-committees.
• Draft project deliverables for discussion by the Hub Steering Committee and/or its sub-committees.
• Engage and actively manage external vendors from a contract, quality, and project schedule point of view.
• Monitor and evaluate project progress against established objectives, budgets and milestones.

Project Financial Management:

• Produce and report to the NSHPCA Hub Steering Committee on project financial status, including project resource draw-down and other expenses.
• Support the NSHPCA Hub Steering Committee in procuring external support for technology development, communications, management consulting, in accordance with NSHPCA's procurement policy.
• Track and maintain appropriate records of procurement activities, tenders awarded, as well as community grant allocation activities.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Develop strong relationships and liaise regularly with local community leaders, provincial health system contacts, and other community stakeholders, including those with lived experience of mental health and grief.
• Engage directly with clinical and non-clinical service providers to understand and better coordinate community supports.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

NSHCPA welcomes applicants from all backgrounds, perspectives, and members of diverse cultural groups. The successful applicant is likely to demonstrate most of the following characteristics and personal qualities:

• Demonstrated program leadership experience, preferably in a managerial or directorial role. Preference for candidates with proven experience in project management.
• Entrepreneurial approach, 'project management' mindset, and innovative in their approach to program implementation and community engagement.
• Strong experience in external vendor management, including scoping and managing work packages such as technology development, communications support, research activities.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Strong experience in financial reporting, project budget management, contract management, and financial forecasting.
• Familiarity with digital media and virtual collaboration.
• Passion for community engagement and community-based project work.
• Experience and knowledge in grief, loss, bereavement, and mental health an asset.

Education:

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; a Master's in Public Administration degree is an asset. PMP designation or equivalent experience preferred.

To express interest in this opportunity please apply online directly by clicking 'Apply Now' below.

If you have any questions, please contact Brittany Beale, Consultant, at [email protected] or Jeff Lanthier, Partner, at [email protected]. If you require accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.

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