Corporate Strategist

About Us

At the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration we work to provide fairness, safety and prosperity for all Nova Scotians by helping them live, learn and work to their highest potential.  We have a staff of more than 500 employees working from offices throughout Nova Scotia. Together we are responsible for workplace safety, fire safety, pensions, apprenticeship, adult education, and many other facets of everyday life.

At the Immigration and Population Growth (IPG) Branch, we are passionate about our work and mandate. We are a diverse and highly collaborative team, and we excel at supporting one another across divisional lines. 
 

About Our Opportunity

The Corporate Strategist is responsible for forward-thinking policy and program analysis; providing expert strategic advice to senior officials; and for supporting the effective delivery of immigration and population growth programs.

The Corporate Strategist works collaboratively to lead strategic planning and the development and/or coordination of policies, priorities and initiatives. This role plays an important and varied role in all facets of the corporate government policy development process, including, development, implementation, reporting and evaluation. Their work addresses opportunities and challenges related to immigration programs, population growth priorities, labour market gaps, and the attraction and retention of newcomers to Nova Scotia. 

The Corporate Strategist addresses complex policy issues and oversee multi-dimensional projects. This will be accomplished by leading or participating in ongoing engagement projects and processes across the department and government; other levels of government; stakeholder groups; third-party organizations; and the private sector. Their work ensures that government policy and programs respond to and support Nova Scotia’s population and economic growth. 
 

Primary Accountabilities

• Plans, creates, designs, interprets, evaluates and delivers government immigration and population growth programs and policy within the Strategic Policy division of the Immigration and Population Growth Branch
• Initiates, builds, and leads project teams at the divisional, departmental, inter-departmental and inter-provincial levels. 
• Promotes and models diversity and inclusion values in support of a healthy, respectful workplace. 
• Contributes to the development and implementation of policies, strategies and initiatives that advance sustainable economic growth throughout the province by using sound economic and employment industry analysis, project management skills, evaluation, and facilitation skills, 
• Leads and/or participates in multi-stakeholder partnerships. 
• Directs, motivates, and mentors highly professional, cross-functional teams with senior representation from both within and outside government, including the academic and private sectors and other workforce development organizations. Partners include Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), P/T Departments/Offices responsible for immigration, settlement service organizations, industry and business associations and others.
• Provides advice and guidance to the Manager and Director regarding immigration programs, immigrant retention and attraction, interprovincial migration, labour market information and other topics that guide thoughtful, sustainable population growth. 
   

Qualifications and Experience

You possess an undergraduate degree in public administration plus significant related experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

You wield exceptional interpersonal communication skills and are highly skilled at establishing and maintaining genuine and collaborative relationships with others, both inside and outside your organization. You are a demonstrated leader with well-developed skills and competencies in the areas of decision-making, team leadership, change management, and strategic/analytical thinking. You have successful experience leading and motivating teams and working groups. 

You have a deep awareness of equity, diversity and inclusion principles, and understand the effects of marginalization and systemic racism on the systems we support. A familiarity with national and regional labour markets and knowledge of the current immigration landscape are assets for this role. 

You are a team player and independent thinker – well-organized and flexible, and capable of prioritizing and delegating high-level work under tight timelines. You exercise sound judgement under pressure and have confidence in your professional judgement. You solve problems and resolve complex issues in a collaborative and responsive manner. 

You have experience providing advice and developing recommendations to senior leadership, including the preparation of briefing notes, project plans, data, reports and presentations.

The Government of Nova Scotia has adopted the LEADS Leadership Framework.  During the interview, candidates will be expected to express how they have demonstrated the key behaviours and capabilities required to effectively lead in a caring and inclusive environment. LEADS Domains includes Leads Self, Engage Others, Achieve Results, Develop Coalitions and Systems Transformation. Please follow LEADS (novascotia.ca) for more information.

We will assess the above qualifications and capabilities 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

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