Corporate Advisor, Planning and Corporate Advisory Services

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.  Our mission is to lead a quality, equitable and sustainable health care system that inspires and promotes the health and well-being of all people in Nova Scotia.  Along with our partners, including Nova Scotia Health and the IWK Health Centre, we are committed to continually improving our health care system. With a focus on collaborative primary health care, continuing 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 quality. To do this, we’re recruiting leaders at all levels of the organization who embrace a challenge and believe in their ability to make a difference.

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager, Planning and Corporate Advisory Services, the Corporate Advisor will directly impact and inform the strategic direction and decision making of the department with regards to its corporate functions, including interaction with the House of Assembly (HOA) as well as supporting senior leadership, including the Minister(s), Deputies and Associate Deputies. You will lead the creation of material for the minister and senior leadership to use for HOA committee appearances and HOA debate, including Budget Estimates and Question Period. You will also lead and support strategic corporate and program initiatives, including Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP), Office of the Auditor General (OAG) reporting, organizing and moderating intra-departmental forums and exchanges, conducting research, project management, and making material fit for purpose and client.

You will work closely with other divisions within the Department of Health and Wellness, the Office of Health Professional Recruitment (OHPR), the Office of Addictions and Mental Health (OAMH), Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care (SLTC), and key system partners (NSH, IWK etc.)  to ensure material and processes align with departmental objectives.

Primary Accountabilities

In this critical role, you have a number of key responsibilities including:

• Collaborating across the department and with OAMH, OHPR and SLTC to lead the development and implementation of robust processes to develop and review material for HOA.

• Leading the creation of material to support the minister and senior leadership with HOA committee appearances and HOA debate.

• Supporting the briefing of the minister and senior leadership regarding their responsibilities to the HOA, including committee preparations.

• Providing analysis and summaries of HOA debates and HOA committee appearances.

• Tracking, summarizing, and analyzing questions from Estimates and Question Period, and leading appropriate follow-up.

• Working with DHW, SLTC, OHPR and OAMH to respond to requests for information from HOA committees.

• Working with Correspondence to create a robust process to flag and summarize correspondence relevant to HOA debate and committee appearances.

• Providing advice and recommendations to the Manager of Planning and Corporate Advisory Services and the Director of Risk &

• Corporate Operations regarding project and divisional planning, and strategic narrative development.

• Conducting comprehensive research, analysis, measurement, and evaluation of complex policy issues to provide strategic advice to senior leadership and ensure material reflects up-to-date information and key issues.

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• Collaborating across the department and with OAMH and OHPR to respond professionally to urgent and evolving requests from the Minister’s Office or senior leadership.

• Working across DHW, SLTC, OHPR and OAMH to provide a suite of corporate services, such as moderating intra-departmental forums and exchanges, conducting research, project management advice, and ensuring material is fit for purpose and audience.

• Strengthening linkages and relationships within and between DHW, OAMH, SLTC and OHPR.

• Supporting the secretariat functions for Executive and leading the secretariat functions for Directors Forum.

• Coordinating scheduling of meetings and briefings as required.

• Supporting the intake and distribution of FOIPOP requests to the appropriate branches and offices, and helping to coordinate the gathering of records.

• Working with DHW, SLTC, OHPR and OAMH to report back on progress implementing OAG recommendations.

Qualifications and Experience

This role informs the department’s external communication of its strategic direction, mandate, priorities, and outcomes. As such, the incumbent will take initiative in establishing key relationships across the department, offices and with key health system partners, and developing a thorough knowledge and understanding of the department’s core programs. The position requires experience in receiving complex information, including data, with an eye to analyzing, drawing out, and presenting the main points in a succinct and professional manner. 

As the ideal candidate for this position, you will have a bachelor’s degree, plus several years of progressive and relevant experience. To be successful in this role, you possess:

• A positive and professional approach to leadership
• Strong relationship building skills
• Demonstrated experience managing engagement with internal and/or external stakeholders
• Demonstrated knowledge of the executive and/or legislative process of government
• Demonstrated experience drafting and/or coordinating briefing material.
• Excellent writing, organization, and planning skills 
• Highly organized, confident communicator and presenter
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to work under pressure
  
  

In addition to the above, you will also have excellent interpersonal skills along with respect for discretion and confidentially of information as required.  You must be proficient with Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook (or equivalent). A basic proficiency with AI tools, particularly Microsoft Co-Pilot is an asset.

You will ensure that an anti-racist and equity lens is applied to all aspects of your work.

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.

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

• Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day.
  
• May be required to work overtime on occasion.
  
  

Additional Information

This is a TERM employment opportunity with an anticipated end date of July 28, 2027. 

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
• A Dynamic, client-focused office environment where service excellence and teamwork are our focus.