Competition # : 46734
Department: Opportunities and Social Development
Location: HALIFAX
Type of Employment: Permanent
Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG
Closing Date: 20-Aug-25 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

At the Department of Opportunities and Social Development (OSD), we are a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services including Child and Family Wellbeing (CFW), Employment Support Services (ESS), Income Assistance (IA), Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and Disability Support Program(DSP).

Through our services, we advocate and help vulnerable Nova Scotians be independent, self-reliant, and secure. We work collaboratively across the province with a strong dedicated network of supports and staff, to achieve desired and shared outcomes for all.

About Our Opportunity

We are hiring an innovative, inclusive, and highly collaborative Executive Director to lead our Service Delivery division and provide inspiring vision and strategic direction. As our Executive Director, the leadership you provide is far reaching; impacting the service delivery models that specifically address the unique requirements of social services in Nova Scotia.

You are ultimately accountable for decisions made across the full-service delivery spectrum at the client and staffing level. As the front-face of the department, you are also accountable to all our department Executive Directors, helping bring their visions to life and meeting the outcomes set for all program areas. You are a key member of the executive leadership team for the department, helping to set the priorities and innovative responses to enhancing the quality of life for Nova Scotians

Primary Accountabilities

As our Executive Director for Service Delivery, you provide vision and strategic direction to the full provincial service delivery division responsible for the front facing service delivery of all core social program areas. You will create a culture where idea generation and innovation are promoted, while still ensuring program compliance. Your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities will be leveraged to introduce, promote, and implement new ideas. You will achieve this by:

• Leading a large, collaborative team of senior level directors and approximately 1,400 front line delivery staff.
• Leading the continuous creation and implementation of an innovative multi-year service delivery strategy and strategic plan.
• Ensuring that service delivery is cost effective, client focused, and aligned. This involves creative approaches to delivery across the province and considering the changing complexities of client needs and program offerings.
• Providing strategic direction and linkages to all programs and corporate divisions, including program and policy development that is implementable and sustainable.
• Ensuring the consistency, effectiveness, overall integration, and delivery of the Department's programs and services.
• Providing advice and guidance to the Minister, Deputy Minister, Associate Deputy Minister and working collaboratively with other Executive Directors.

Qualifications and Experience

You are an inclusive leader and strategic thinker who is dedicated to enhancing the programs and services designed to help the most vulnerable people of Nova Scotia be independent, self-reliant, and secure. As our Executive Director, you have a university degree in social sciences, public administration, or management, combined with several years of successful leadership experience in the delivery of social programs.

Essential to your success in this role is your incredible people leadership skills. You create environments where teams are supported, inspired, and engaged across multiple locations and remotely. You understand the various programs and services our department offers which enhance your abilities to solve complex problems and forge strong relationships of trust and collaboration across diverse groups and communities. You must have an ability to quickly understand a wide range of information from all program and corporate divisions, other departments, external agencies, and partners.

Furthermore, you have:

• an appreciation and understanding of social programs, and the breadth and depth of factors in leading teams in creating social system change.
• an ability to lead change, work collaboratively, build rapport with senior leaders across all levels, and to inspire creativity and motivate people and teams.
• an understanding of leading staff teams within a unionized environment in a way that respects collective agreements and inspires employees to deliver excellent, client focused service on a daily basis.
• the ability to synthesize complex social issues and work within the executive leadership structure to create and implement solutions that impact the quality of life of the citizens we serve.

You are committed to diversity and anti-racism in the workplace and place a high value on ensuring that the people you lead come to work in an environment that is inclusive, equitable and allows them to bring their best self to work every day. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential as you collaborate with staff and leaders across all levels.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise. Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

Excellent people skills and personal resilience are essential to succeed in this highly collaborative, human centred environment. You must be able to balance the needs of both clients and your employees as priorities.

As you lead at a Provincial level, there will be regular travel to offices throughout the various regions. Your decisions have a significant impact on the safety and well-being of both clients and staff requiring your ability to balance conflicting views with multiple partners.

The demands of this position necessitate extremely flexible hours and require frequent attention outside regular business hours. The nature of service delivery is that client and staff service take priority and can interrupt a planned schedule. Many services operate 24 hours a day/7 days a week and the Executive Director is often called upon to deal with escalated issues after regular working hours, on weekends and during holidays.

Additional Information

Your worksite location is Flexible. The OSD has offices across the Province. The Head office is in Halifax. It is expected that the Executive Director will spend significant time in Halifax as well as time in regional offices. Your worksite location will be determined at the offer negotiation stage.

What We Offer

• Career possibilities: you will have access to multiple career paths, career guidance, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Rewarding and versatile work: daily, you will get to see the impact you have in and around your community.
• Engaging workplace: you are respected, supported, and valued. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies and incorporate your feedback to enhance our services.

Pay Grade: EC 17
Salary Range: $6,167.59 - $7,709.49 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

Accommodation Statement:

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected].

Current government employees may access this posting through the link below: http://hcm17.sapsf.com/sf/careers/jobsearch?company=novascotiaP

PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to [email protected].