Manager, Dispute Resolution (Designated)

Designation Status

This opportunity is designated to applicants that identify as an Indigenous Person, African/Black Nova Scotian and other Racialized Persons, Person with a Disability, Women in Occupations or Positions where they are Under-represented.

See the Nova Scotia Government’s Employment Equity Policy for more information, including additional details on the designated groups.

If you are a member, you must clearly identify in your cover letter and self-identify during the application process, to be considered.

About Us

About Our Opportunity

The Manager, Dispute Resolution leads the Commission’s efforts to remove barriers to social justice through inclusive practices and provides leadership, oversight, guidance, and management to the dispute resolution division of the Human Rights Commission. The Manager ensures dispute resolution services (intake, investigation, resolution, case management) reflect trauma-informed practice, cultural competency, restorative approaches, and accountability to the public. The Manager ensures the accurate, consistent, and efficient administration of the Human Rights Act in relation to all inquiries and complaints to the Human Rights Commission. The Manager provides strategic and organizational support to the CEO with respect to the development and implementation of new Commission programs and initiatives.

Reporting to the CEO, the Manager, Dispute Resolution serves as a member of the Commission management team, providing collective leadership and oversight to the overall functioning of the Human Rights Commission.

Primary Accountabilities

• Provides team leadership and management including setting, monitoring and evaluating performance goals and metrics; provides coaching, mentorship, development, support, and accountability measures to ensure a high standard of practice and client service excellence. The Manager deals with a variety of personnel issues, including resolving employee relations issues, hiring new employees and/or contractors, and ensuring compliance with policy.
• Overall management of the day-to-day functions of dispute resolution processes including: oversees and monitors intake, resolution, investigation, and case management processes and practices; works closely with colleagues to ensure the Dispute Resolution team is appropriately trained, developed, and supported to operationalize Commission processes; and to ensure workflow is responsive to service demands. Accountable to ensure intake, investigation, and resolution processes reflect human rights law including the Human Rights Act and relevant caselaw.
• Ensures accurate, consistent, efficient, and responsive service delivery with adherence to established processes and reflects trauma-informed practice, cultural competency, restorative approaches, and accountability to the public.
• Serving as a subject-matter expert in conflict resolution, restorative practice, human rights and equity; and conducting investigations, the manager provides oversight and guidance on practices related to facilitating resolution of complaints including use of mediation, shuttle diplomacy, resolution conferences, circles processes, and other restorative approaches, and drafting settlement agreements.
• The Manager also provides oversight and guidance on practices related to conducting investigations including gathering evidence and interviewing, assessing credibility, weighing evidence, making findings and recommendations, report writing, etc. Reviews the scope, accuracy and comprehensiveness of evidence from all sources and assesses the strength of evidentiary support for the resulting recommendation. In collaboration with colleagues, develops strategies for the identification, investigation and resolution of systemic discrimination issues.
• Works closely with colleagues to ensure the work of the Dispute Resolution team fosters cultural safety and respect for members of equity-seeking communities and reflects an understanding of the impacts of power, privilege and oppression, systemic discrimination, trauma, and bias.

Qualifications and Experience

A University Degree in a related discipline and several years of related experience including in areas such as leadership and management, human rights, conflict resolution, case management, investigations, legal practice, administrative decision making, etc.
 

An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.
 

Demonstrated ability to provide effective leadership and foster engagement of a professional team is essential. The successful candidate will have experience in interpreting, applying and analyzing legislation, regulations or policies and procedures; experience with investigation of complaints, interviewing, and facilitation; and experience managing employees, working under pressure, and meeting timelines. Knowledge of the Human Rights Act and related legislation, principles of human rights, and dynamics of systemic discrimination are key.

Assets include a law degree, conflict resolution credential, experience as a restorative facilitator, experience as an equity, diversity, and inclusion practitioner or a human rights officer.

Leadership competencies required at this level of work are: Decisiveness, Strategic Orientation, Developing Others, Team Leadership, Self-Awareness and Personal Impact, Effective Interactive Communication, Partnering and Relationship Building, and Intercultural and Diversity Proficiency.

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

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.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths
• Department specific flexible working schedules