Director Planning, Training & Exercising (Emergency Management)

About Us

The Department of Emergency Management is responsible for leading disaster and emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery activities on behalf of the Province of Nova Scotia.  The objective of the Department is to ensure that Nova Scotians are safe, prepared and resilient in the face of disasters and emergencies. The Department leads the coordination and co-operation of partners and resources during provincial-level critical incidents, supports municipal and other partners in regional-level and local events, administers the province’s 911 service, maintains critical communications infrastructure and supports operations of our regional emergency management centres.  The Department also works to ensure critical government services continue to function during and after critical events. 

The Incident Management and 911 Branch is dedicated to ensuring the safety and resilience of our Province by:

• Rapidly coordinating provincial response and critical infrastructure partner resources
• Setting standards in the provincial emergency management program for training and exercising
• Effectively managing incidents to minimize impact and restore normalcy as quickly as possible 
• Ensuring integrated emergency responses through the Provincial Coordination Centre
• Managing and modernizing the emergency 911 system, including the move to Next Generation 911 

About Our Opportunity

As the Director of Planning, Training, and Exercising, you’ll guide the development of Nova Scotia’s emergency management training, exercising, and public education. This is a role where your leadership truly shapes provincial readiness. Your work will help strengthen the province’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.

This is an opportunity to lead a motivated team and play a key role in advancing a modern, inclusive approach to training and exercising that connects people, technology, and innovation in meaningful ways.

Primary Accountabilities

In this leadership role, you will:

• Lead the design, delivery, and evaluation of a province-wide emergency management training and exercising system aligned with legislation, standards, and departmental priorities.
• Develop and implement innovative learning programs, certification frameworks, and public awareness strategies that strengthen emergency readiness across the province.
• Oversee the provincial training database, ensuring accurate tracking of qualifications, certifications, and training delivery.
• Guide the development of long-term training plans, including opportunities for interprovincial collaboration and an Atlantic regional training facility.
• Build and sustain partnerships across departments, municipalities, First Nations, NGOs, academic institutions, and emergency management professionals.
• Champion equity, accessibility, and cultural competence in all education and training initiatives.
• Lead the design and execution of provincial exercises and simulations, including full-scale and scenario-based formats, ensuring lessons learned translate into system-wide improvement.
• Manage human and financial resources effectively, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and teamwork.

Qualifications and Experience

As the ideal candidate, you have a degree in a related field (public safety, emergency management, education, or equivalent) and a strong strategic and operational leadership background. You have an understanding of how training systems can transform readiness and response.

Education or certification in adult education is highly desirable, along with a certificate in instructional design, training development, or learning innovation. In addition, you have:

• Experience developing and leading training, exercising, or education programs.
• Strong organizational and planning skills, with the ability to balance structure and flexibility to meet emerging priorities.
• A track record of developing innovative approaches to training delivery (such as online or blended learning platforms).
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills to foster collaboration across sectors.

• The ability to think both strategically and tactically, and are comfortable working autonomously.

While not required, it's considered an asset if you:

• Have experience in emergency services, public safety, or a comparable environment.
• Familiarity with the Incident Command System (ICS) and/or Emergency Management Act.

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 and union agreement, 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

Your normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day. Regular travel is required. This role involves high-pressure situations where priorities shift quickly, particularly during emergency response or training exercises. Work hours may extend beyond the standard schedule to meet operational needs.

In an emergency/disaster situation, you are obligated to work and will be called upon to return to work with little or no notice. These situations usually include stressful conditions (physical, emotional, and mental pressure) in the Provincial Coordination Centre (PCC) for unknown periods of time.  During emergencies, you will be required to be available to report to work 24/7/365.

Additional Information

A valid driver’s license and ability to travel regularly within Nova Scotia, is required.

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