Director, Correctional Services

About Us

The Correctional Services Division of the Department of Justice is responsible for the administration and operation of community and custody-based programs and services for adults and young persons. Within the Correctional Services core business area there are two programs: Community Corrections & correctional facilities. Each of these program areas is broken down into closely related activities that have a specific impact on the program’s target group.

Community Corrections has 23 offices across the province from Yarmouth to Sydney and is responsible for the supervision of both adults and young persons serving community-based sentences. Probation Officers also supervise those released from custody on conditional releases and prepare pre-sentence investigations to assist the Courts in the sentencing process. Evidence-based Program facilitation and supports to specialized courts in areas of domestic violence, mental health and wellness are also part of the role of a Probation Officer as well as Restorative Justice casework and collaboration with community justice agencies.

Five (5) adult correctional facilities (1 Female and 4 Male) and one (1) youth centre provide the safety and security of persons in custody while providing programs that address dynamic criminogenic factors to assist with their successful reintegration into the community.

Nova Scotia Correctional Services utilizes an evidence-based approach in both Community Corrections and custodial facilities. Core Correctional Practices (CCP) is the foundational practice that drives reintegration and rehabilitation practices deployed within Correctional Services. Utilizing CCP, Correctional Services staff can effectively interact, manage behavior, and help facilitate change within target populations.

For more information on the Department of Justice Correctional Services please visit our website: http://https://novascotia.ca/just/Corrections/

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Executive Director, Correctional Services, you will be one of three Directors accountable for providing vision, leadership and management of Correctional Services.

As the Director, Correctional Services, you will be responsible for overseeing all Community Corrections operations, Youth Integrated Services, and Youth Custody across the province. This includes direct oversight of a management team who provide oversight to approximately 200 staff in 23 Community Corrections offices and one youth custody facility, ensuring compliance with legislation and policies, and leading key programs such as supervision of court ordered community dispositions (adult and youth), restorative justice, bail supervision, electronic supervision, and the Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision (IRCS) Program.

The Director is also responsible for budget oversight, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and staff development, ensuring the effective delivery of correctional services that enhance public safety and rehabilitation outcomes. This role requires strong leadership, financial management, and policy expertise to navigate complex operational challenges and drive continuous improvement in correctional services.

In this role, you will represent the Division with Department partners, including other government departments- municipal, provincial and federal, also various community-based groups and will create meaningful partnerships with community agencies that support divisional goals.

Primary Accountabilities

• Ensure community supervision, programs and services are innovative, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of adults and youth under community supervision and youth in custody.
• Ensure cultural programs and services support Indigenous and African Nova Scotian persons to achieve the goal of rehabilitation, harm reduction, and successful reintegration into the community.
• Ensure effective management of human and fiscal resources, including procurement.
• Direct a safe and healthy work environment.
• Creating workplace culture with improved outcomes for all engaged.
• Succession management- develop talent at all levels with a focus on diversity.
• Change management.
• NS representative at FPT Heads of Corrections working group for custody.
• Key contact with respect to media inquiries and interviews.
• Ensure Nova Scotia remains on the leading edge of technology.
• Working in concert with other sectors of Correctional Services, i.e., adult custody, policy, women's services and case management/education/social work- to provide evidence-based services.

Qualifications and Experience

This may be the right opportunity for you if you have a university degree in a relevant discipline and progressive management/operations leadership experience. An acceptable equivalent of experience and training may be considered in lieu of a degree.

The following experience is required: Experience within a correctional environment, including custody and/or community corrections. Experience in process improvement reviews, compliance and incident investigations. Knowledge of the criminal justice system, correctional programs and current and emerging issues facing the Correctional Services.

As an ideal candidate, you are a progressive thinker who acts and directs resources independently towards organizational goals. You can think critically and make decisions, using a systems approach to strategically deliver services to target populations, including staff and inmates. You work well in a challenging work environment to create new and innovative practices that are consistent with current correctional evidence, with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Relationship building and fostering are key characteristics required for this role.

LEADS

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.

For more information, please visit LEADS Framework.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, 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

• The work site is located in the head office in Halifax. However, frequent travel to correctional facilities and offices across the province for program meetings, staff supervision, performance management, audits, etc., will be required.
• Potential for confrontation/violence directly or indirectly within all correctional environments.

Additional Information

In your cover letter, please outline your leadership and other relevant experience for this position.

The successful applicant will be required to receive an enhanced (secret) Security Clearance, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer.

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.