Director, Business Programs

About Us

At Service Nova Scotia, we impact every citizen, business and municipality and business in Nova Scotia. Our mandate is to design and deliver programs and services to meet the needs of our clients and the public good through a culture of excellence.  Service Nova Scotia's vision is to be a recognized leader in service and public protection that delivers trusted, accessible, modern programs, and contributes to Nova Scotia as a safe and desirable place to live, work and do business. 

About Our Opportunity

As the Director, you are responsible for ensuring the development of streamlined, modernized legislation and regulations related to Service Nova Scotia's Business Programs; to direct the financial and resource management of Business Programs; to develop, expand, manage and assess changing requirements of Business Programs using an innovative and client-centered approach; to ensure alignment of program objectives and efficient delivery of the various Business Programs; and to oversee the business registries to ensure the safety and interests of the citizens and businesses of Nova Scotia. This position is also a leadership position within the Registries division and a member of the division’s management team.

As the Registrar, Registry of Joint Stock Companies (RJSC) you will be responsible and accountable for the program, policy and legislative management of the RJSC. In this role, you will administer the registration provisions of the Companies Act, Corporations Registration Act, Limited Partnerships Act, Partnership and Business Names Registration Act, Societies Act, Cooperatives Act and related corporate legislation and regulations.

Primary Accountabilities

As the Director, you will have specific accountabilities and also as a lawyer and practicing member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society.

As a lawyer and practicing insured member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society, you must have a thorough understanding of common law principles, statutory interpretation and legal procedures, as well as competent legal research and legal analytical skills, with specific expertise in laws and regulations related to corporate and commercial law in Nova Scotia and beyond, in order to:

• Effectively communicate, orally and in writing, complex legal concepts in legal or lay terms, as required, to a client group predominantly composed of other practicing members of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society;
• Analyze and resolve complex, sensitive and multi-dimensional legal problems autonomously or in concert with Department of Justice legal counsel;
• Render decisions as an administrative law decision-maker, which decisions may be subject to judicial review;
• Ensure the business of the Registry of Joint Stock Companies, Registry of Lobbyists, Personal Property Registry and the Nova Scotia Business Registry (the “Business Programs”) are administered efficiently and delivered to citizens in accordance with the law
• Lead policy development and law reform related to corporate and commercial law and any other laws respecting Business Programs;
• In concert with Department of Justice lawyers, develop legislation and regulations related to Business Programs including amendments, and replacements of legislation under the ownership of the SNS-IS and the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies, Registrar of Lobbyists, Personal Property Registrar and the Administrator of the Nova Scotia Business Registry in particular;
• Contribute to the improvement of business processes within Business Programs’ and SNS-IS by drafting legal documents and designing processes that are understandable, commercially effective and efficient, informed by  client needs and in accordance with the law procedures;
• Responsible for the administration of the Registry of Lobbyists;
• Acting as the final step in the resolution of issues related to the requirements of the Registry of Joint Stock Companies and its associated acts, regulations, and policies

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this opportunity, you have a minimum of 5 years progressive management experience in a related field, or an equivalent combination of training and experience may be accepted. In addition, you are a lawyer and a practicing insured member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society.

As the successful candidate, you will have proven leadership and management abilities and demonstrate a high level of confidence and competence. You must be well known for outstanding relationship and partnership building skills, solid communication, interpersonal, and diplomatic skills, along with strong problem solving and analytical skills, diversity, inclusion, and demonstrated ability to effectively manage competing priorities and demands.  You bring experience in shaping a positive organizational climate and developing people and relationships to affect positive change is required. As the Director, you must be able to identify, assess, collaborate, innovate, build consensus and render appropriate decisions regarding complex customer process, business process, operational support and technology related issues in order to deliver completed initiatives. 

Working cooperatively with other jurisdictions and other stakeholders to harmonize policy and regulatory requirements.

Working cooperatively with the Nova Scotia Barristers Society, business clients and other stakeholders to ensure policies, legislation, regulations and procedures are client informed and ensure a viable economic climate without compromising the public good.

Equivalency

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.

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.