Director of Advocacy & Policy

Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities

Halifax, NS

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Posted 9 days ago

Job Details:

Hybrid remote

$110,000 - $120,000 / year

Full-time

Experienced

Benefits:

Health Insurance

Paid Time Off

Flexible Work

Bonuses & Incentives

DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY & POLICY

Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) is seeking an experienced director-level professional to help manage and guide our advocacy work and policy files. This senior level position is responsible for developing and fostering relationships with members, other orders of government, and external organizations. This is a fast-paced position which demands an organized individual who thrives in an ever-changing environment. Experience managing multiple direct reports required. Are you a leader who can help NSFM deliver on its mission and mandate? If so, NSFM would like to hear from you.

Position: Full Time Employment Position

Available: Starts January 2026

Salary/Benefits:

$110,000-$120,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications
Comprehensive benefits package
Flexible work policies, including hybrid in-office/remote arrangements
Professional development opportunities

Scope: The Director Advocacy & Policy is part of, and works closely with, the Senior Management Team and collaborates with all levels of government to advance the advocacy and policy priorities of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM). The position is accountable for developing and supporting the implementation of the advocacy functions and formulating public policy initiatives which promote the interests of municipal government as well as the delivery of a number of policy support programs. The role identifies opportunities to secure investment and influence legislation and regulations that promote the mandate, mission, and vision of the organization.

Qualifications:

Post secondary degree in Political Science or Public Administration or a related field; a graduate degree is considered an asset. Equivalent experience may be considered
Minimum of ten years experience in a senior advocacy, communications, policy, or public affairs role, with demonstrated experience engaging and connecting with public officials and managing policy initiatives
Experience managing and directing a team of professionals and managing multiple policy files
Proven ability in stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and consensus building

Skills:

Demonstrated analytical skills to interpret data and communicate insights effectively, supporting evidence-based decision-making in advocacy initiatives
Demonstrated leadership skills, with the ability to manage and direct multiple reports, providing clear guidance, support, and feedback
Proven track record in policy analysis, strategic planning, and relationship management
Strong facilitation skills, including working with various stakeholders from municipal government, academia, and external organizations
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to distill complex issues into accessible formats
Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and experience with digital communications tools

Hours of Work:
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Monday-Friday
Some evening and weekend work required from time to time

A FULL LIST OF POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES CAN BE FOUND HERE: Director of Advocacy & Policy

To Apply: Submit a cover letter and resume, outlining how you are a good fit for this role, to:

Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities
1809 Barrington Street, Suite #1500
Halifax NS B3J 3K8
Att: Selection Committee
E-mail: [email protected]

Deadline: November 7, 2025

Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities values diversity and inclusiveness and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including Aboriginal/Indigenous persons, racially visible persons, persons with disabilities, and women. Any job applicant requiring accommodation in order to ensure equal access to employment, remuneration, promotion, and training is encouraged to make their accommodation needs known, to the extent that they are able. We thank all applicants, however only those invited for an interview will be contacted.

Competition Number: nsfm

Company Website: https://www.nsfm.ca/

#Communications jobs

#Management and Operations jobs

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About Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities

The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) is the collective voice of municipalities in the province. We are a non-profit organization that represents all 375 municipally elected officials and all 49 municipalities.
We are governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of elected municipal leaders and one administrator, appointed by the Association of Municipal Administrators of Nova Scotia (AMANS).
Formerly known as the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities (UNSM), NSFM was established on August 15, 1906, during the Convention of the Union of Canadian Municipalities in Halifax, Nova Scotia, when Mayor Black of Wolfville motioned that a Provincial Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities be formed.
After the benefits of a municipal union were discussed, the motion passed unanimously. Mayor R.T.MacIlreith of Halifax, and Halifax City Engineer F.W.W. Doane, were appointed President and Secretary, respectively. At the first meeting, a constitution similar to those adopted by other provincial associations, was read clause by clause, and then approved.
Fees were set in the following manner: Counties would pay $10; towns, $2 per thousand population (not less than $10 total); and cities, $2 per thousand population (not to exceed $50 total). After its first year in operation, the Union generated $180 in fees from its 12 members. By August 1908, membership grew to 18 with $210 generated from fees. A membership of 50 was achieved at the time of the Seventh Annual Convention in 1912.
The Union was established to protect the interests of municipal units in Nova Scotia. On August 28, 1907, at the Second Annual Convention, Mayor MacIlreith succinctly stated the raison d'etre of provincial unions of municipalities by noting that "organizations such as this (the UNSM) are charged with the particular duty of watching all legislation affecting the interests of municipalities." President A.E. McMahon noted at the UNSM Annual Convention on August 24, 1910, that the time will come when the government would rely more extensively on the Union's services and expertise.
McMahon's premonition proved accurate, and, with time, an interactive decision-making process developed between the Province and the Union. The NSFM increased its membership from 12 units to a high of 55 municipalities in the mid-1990s. Over time and through municipal amalgamation, the membership stands now at 49.
While, in its present role, the NSFM does not assign committees to examine municipal expenses incurred in the suppression of infectious diseases as was the case in 1907, its mandate has not diverged greatly from Mayor MacIlreith's era.
Although the visages of staff and elected officials have changed, the Federation's mandate is still, as much as ever, to protect the interests of Nova Scotia's municipalities.

LEGISLATION

The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, formerly the Union of Nova Scotia. Municipalities, was incorporated in 1981 under the Act to Incorporate the Union of Nova Scotia_Municipalities.

The Act was amended on May 22, 2003.

2019 REBRANDING

A request was made to the Province of Nova Scotia to amend the legislation to incorporate our new name, Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities. That request was granted by an Order In Council on September 3, 2019.