Director, Child Family Wellbeing

About Us

At the Department of Opportunities and Social Development (OSD), we are a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services including Child and Family Wellbeing (CFW), Employment Support Services (ESS), Income Assistance (IA), Supportive Housing and Homelessness, and the Disability Support Program (DSP).

Through our services, we advocate and help vulnerable Nova Scotians be independent, self-reliant, and secure.  We work collaboratively with community partners and across the province with a strong dedicated network of supports and staff across the province, to achieve desired and shared outcomes for all.

About Our Opportunity

As a Director, Child and Family Wellbeing, you will play a key leadership role in shaping the future of child and family wellbeing services in Nova Scotia. This is a role where you can make a real and lasting difference.

You will lead the development of policies, programs, and strategic initiatives that support children, youth, families and communities. This includes guiding system-wide improvements, supporting service delivery, and helping to create more preventative, equitable, innovative and community-focused approaches.

This is a unique opportunity to:

• Contribute to meaningful, province-wide transformation
• Influence policy, practice, and long-term outcomes
• Work collaboratively across government and with community partners
• Support and develop a team of skilled professionals

Your work will have a direct and lasting impact on children, youth, families, communities, and departmental staff across Nova Scotia.

Primary Accountabilities

In this role, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership for child and family wellbeing policy, programs, and practice.
• Lead the development and implementation of policies and guidelines that shape services across the province
• Support the ongoing development and enhancement of the delivery of services to promote child and family wellbeing.
• Guide system transformation initiatives, including shifts toward preventative and community-based approaches
• Provide advice and recommendations to senior leadership and government decision-makers
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with other government partners, communities, and service providers
• Lead, coach, and support a team, focusing on learning, growth, and strong performance
• Monitor trends, risks, opportunities and emerging needs to inform policy and program design, development and decisions.
• Model and support the implementation of the child and family wellbeing practice framework
  
  

Qualifications and Experience

You thrive as a leader who inspires and challenges others to be creative, innovative, and collaborative. You must have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Work and be eligible for registration with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers. In addition, you have several years of progressive leadership experience in the delivery or oversight of social services and programs, including:

• Leading people, teams, or programs
• Supporting others in their growth and development
• Leading through change and transformation

Excellent people skills and personal resilience are essential to succeed in this highly collaborative, human centred environment. In addition, you have demonstrated the ability to:

• Lead both people and system-level initiatives
• Build strong partnerships across organizations and communities
• Apply an equity and inclusion lens in decision-making and service design
• Think strategically and translate ideas into action
• Communicate effectively with a range of audiences

Desirable assets include experience in developing or implementing public policy, and working across multiple sectors (e.g., health, justice, education). Additional assets include in depth knowledge of Nova Scotia’s legislation, programs, and policies relevant to child and family wellbeing.

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

Your typical work week is 35 hours with 7-hour days. There will be regular travel to offices throughout the various regions.  Your decisions have a significant impact on the safety and well-being of both citizens receiving OSD services and staff, requiring your ability to balance conflicting views with multiple stakeholders.

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