Director, African Canadian Services (Designated)

Designation Status

This opportunity is designated for candidates who belong to the following employment equity group: African/Black Nova Scotian and other Racialized Persons.

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

About Us

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is leading the transformation of the early years and public education system in Nova Scotia. We are doing this by designing an innovative curriculum, facilitating excellence in teaching and learning, ensuring an inclusive education experience, and working closely with our partners in education. This will provide children, students, and families with a solid foundation for success. This department is a perfect fit for those that want to be part of the future of public education in the province by supporting student learning in a progressive and responsive policy environment.

The African Canadian Services Branch is located within the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is dedicated to collaborating across the Department to build a Nova Scotian educational system that is equitable, culturally responsive and a safe learning environment for African Nova Scotian/Black learners.  ACSB (African Canadian Services Branch) is dedicated to advancing the holistic development, well-being and scholarship of African Nova Scotian and African Canadian learners.

The African Canadian Division was established in February of 1996 to implement the Department’s response to the BLAC (Black Learners Advisory Committee) Report on Education, Redressing Inequity Empowering Black Learners.

ACSB’s mandate is located at the following link: https://www.ednet.ns.ca/acs/home

About Our Opportunity

As the Director, you are accountable for the effective planning, development, direction and implementation of programs and services to meet the educational needs of African Nova Scotian/Canadian learners and the African Nova Scotian community, and ensure that the programs reflect the history and culture of African people.  The Director ensures the Department is fulfilling its responsibility of providing African Nova Scotian/Canadian learners with the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes to become capable, lifelong learners and valued contributing members of society.

The Director provides leadership and guidance to other branches and divisions for the development, implementation and monitoring of the Department's anti-racism policy, guidelines for the evaluation of teaching and learning resources for race and cultural bias.  The Director ensures student assessments and testing practices do not discriminate based on race or culture, ensuring that all students and teachers have the benefits of cross-cultural and race relations training and information.

The Director ensures that the Regional Education Centres address the need to increase the number of Black teachers, administrators, and Student Support Workers in schools across the Province, while networking and making presentations to the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU), the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission and the Nova Scotia Education Common Services Bureau.

This position reports to the Executive Director, African Canadian Services Branch.

Primary Accountabilities

Ensuring the effective management of human and financial resources by setting and evaluating staff performance targets, promoting diversity and a healthy workplace, respecting corporate human resources practices, promoting teamwork and individual development, maintaining internal communication monitoring revenues and expenditures, adhering to procurement guidelines, acquiring goods and services in the most cost-effective manner, and accurately forecasting budget requirements for the fiscal year.

Strategically implement and ensure that projects and initiatives are actioned in accordance with projected timelines and budgetary allocations and provide support to staff in the fulfillment of operational plans and expectations.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role you possess a master's degree in education (or related field) with 5 years of educational experience in progressively responsible roles, including at least three years leading teams of professionals.  An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered. As a skilled negotiator, networker, and people manager you have successfully managed complex stakeholder relationships and demonstrated a capacity to build collaborative and high-performance teams. This must be clearly demonstrated in your cover letter.

Have you thought about a career in education that helps support Nova Scotia’s education mandate and working with African Nova Scotian/Canadian learners?

Here at the African Canadian Services Branch, we are looking for an individual that has a passion for education and inclusion while building trusting relationships. 

You will also possess a high degree of political acuity and judgment along with highly developed communication skills (verbal and written). You will have strong organizational and project planning skills, research and analytical skills and an open and creative approach to problem solving.

You are strategic, consultative, and possess effective influencing skills, and an ability to build and maintain relationships with various levels of government, community members, teachers, and students. You are proficient in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, Power Point). 

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 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 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.

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 service environment focused on teamwork and collaboration.