Director of Health Equity Framework (Designated)

Designation Status

This opportunity is designated for applicants who identify as Mi’kmaq or other Indigenous peoples, African Nova Scotian, Black, other racialized persons, or persons with disabilities.

We also welcome and encourage applications from members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Diverse perspectives strengthen our organization, and we are committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace where people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions feel valued, respected, and supported to thrive.

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

About Us

The Department of Health and Wellness offers opportunities to grow and advance in a dynamic sector that touches the lives of all Nova Scotians. Along with our partners, including the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK Health Centre, we’re committed to continually improving our health care system. With a focus on collaborative primary health care, improved supports for mental health and addictions, digital health, capital infrastructure, and more, the department is thinking differently about how to plan, fund, legislate and monitor to improve access and service delivery. To do this, we need leaders at all levels of the organization who embrace a challenge and believe in their ability to make a difference.

About Our Opportunity

As the Director, Health Equity Framework, you will provide strategic leadership for the implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of a department-wide approach to advancing health equity across policy, programs, planning, and service delivery.

This is a new, system-influencing leadership role. You will help guide how the Department embeds health equity into decision making, accountability, and performance reporting, while working closely with health system partners, government departments, and communities. You will provide senior policy advice, lead implementation of the Health Equity Framework, support alignment across divisions and partners, and manage a small team of professional staff.

This is an opportunity to shape a practical and accountable approach to health equity in Nova Scotia’s health system. You will work with committed colleagues and partners to translate equity commitments into meaningful action, strengthen accountability, and support system change that improves access, experiences, and outcomes for communities across the province.

Primary Accountabilities

In this role, you will:

• Lead and coordinate implementation of the Health Equity Framework, including planning, oversight, progress monitoring, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Provide strategic policy advice to senior leaders on health equity, including emerging issues, system barriers, strategic risks, policy options, and opportunities for action.
• Support the integration of health equity into departmental policy development, program design, service planning, funding decisions, and accountability processes.
• Work with internal divisions, government departments, Nova Scotia Health, the IWK Health Centre, the Office of Addictions and Mental Health, and community partners to advance shared health equity priorities.
• Identify implementation challenges, alignment issues, and strategic risks, and bring forward practical recommendations for senior-level review and decision making.
• Lead or support the development of tools, standards, indicators, reporting approaches, and accountability mechanisms that embed equity into everyday practice.
• Use evidence, analysis, available data, and partner and community input to inform briefings, reports, presentations, performance discussions, and strategic decisions.
• Represent the Department on committees, working groups, and engagement tables related to health equity, implementation, and system change.
• Lead and support a small team by assigning work, setting priorities, supporting performance, and fostering an inclusive, respectful, and accountable team culture.
• Promote continuous improvement in how the Department develops policy, engages partners, uses data, and applies equity-informed approaches.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, you bring sound judgment, strategic leadership, and the ability to advance complex priorities where the path forward may still be emerging. You are skilled at bringing structure, alignment, and practical action to equity-related work, while recognizing that meaningful health equity requires both leadership and humility. You work respectfully with communities and partners, value lived and professional experience, and support approaches that reduce barriers and improve outcomes.

You have post-secondary education in health services, health administration, public administration, social sciences, policy, or a related discipline, along with several years of progressive leadership experience in policy, health systems, equity, community engagement, implementation, or organizational change. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered. You also demonstrate experience with:

• leading or supporting system change, framework implementation, and continuous improvement initiatives
• providing strategic advice, analysis, briefings, reports, and recommendations to senior leaders
• building and maintaining respectful relationships with partners, communities, senior leaders, and multidisciplinary teams
• leading, supervising, coordinating, or supporting staff, project teams, working groups, or partners, including setting priorities and monitoring progress

You bringknowledge of health equity, anti-racism, accessibility, inclusion, social determinants of health, and the ways policies, systems, and services can either create or reduce barriers.

The following experience and knowledge would be considered assets:

• Experience working in or with Nova Scotia’s health system, including Nova Scotia Health, the IWK Health Centre, the Office of Addictions and Mental Health, or other health system partners.
• Experience working respectfully with equity-deserving communities, partners, or organizations.
• Experience with equity impact assessment, disaggregated data, equity indicators, accountability frameworks, implementation monitoring, or public reporting.

The above qualifications and competencies may be assessed using one or more of the following: written examination, standardized testing, oral presentation, interview, and reference checks.

Equivalency

We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience and welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds, skills, and expertise. Applicants relying on equivalencies must clearly demonstrate them in their application. 

Benefits

Depending on employment status and the applicable union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers a wide range of benefits, including a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, health, dental and life insurance, general illness, short- and long-term disability, vacation, and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For more information, please visit Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

The typical work week is 35 hours, based on 7-hour workdays. Most work is performed in a comfortable office environment.

The role requires attention to detail, sound analysis of complex information, and the ability to manage multiple priorities. Some travel within Nova Scotia may be required for meetings, engagement activities, or site visits.

The work may involve sensitive topics related to racism, inequity, barriers to care, and community experiences with health and government systems. The successful candidate will be expected to approach this work with care, respect, accountability, and a strong commitment to equity-informed practice.

Additional Information

A valid driver’s licence is required, as some travel within Nova Scotia is expected.

What We Offer

• Career development through access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training at every stage of your career
• An engaging workplace where employees feel valued, respected, connected, and supported by forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths across the public service