Director, Policy and Regulatory Excellence

About Us

The Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECC) has a mandate to support a clean and healthy environment, protect land, advance a clean economy, address the climate crisis, and guide the province towards a sustainable future where all Nova Scotians can thrive. We do this through our programs, legislation, regulation, enforcement, with a focus on client service, regulatory excellence, diversity, equity, inclusion, and partnership. To accomplish this mandate, we need leaders at all levels of the organization who embrace a challenge, are solution-oriented, and believe in their ability to make a difference.
 

About Our Opportunity

Are you a visionary leader who is passionate about driving impactful policies in a dynamic environment? As the Director of Policy and Regulatory Excellence, you’ll lead the Policy and Planning Team of the Department of Environment and Climate Change, providing strategic policy leadership and quality assurance on strategic initiatives that tackle climate change, enhance environmental protection, and ensure regulatory excellence. Reporting directly to the Executive Director of the Policy Division, you’ll lead your team of policy professionals to provide policy advice and support to all branches in the Department, to shape and refine policies, procedures, and regulations that bring clarity and certainty. 

In this pivotal role, you’ll oversee the department’s policy agenda and chair the Executive Policy Committee, comprised of the Department’s Executive Leadership Team, legal and communications, to support the committee’s strategic policy considerations. You will also play an important leadership role in the Department, working collaboratively with your colleagues at the Director’s Leadership Table to leverage collective resources to advance departmental priorities, address barriers and support client service and regulatory excellence. Your leadership will guide strategic and business planning, ensuring we meet our legislative goals. You’ll also spearhead initiatives that advance regulatory modernization excellence.

We’re looking for a solution-oriented leader who thrives on solving complex problems. You’ll be at the forefront of policy innovation, identifying challenges and crafting effective solutions that drive progress on government priorities. Your ability to think strategically and act decisively will be key to navigating the fast-paced, solution-oriented environment of our department.

Join us to make a lasting impact on Nova Scotia’s environmental policies and help shape a sustainable future!
 

Primary Accountabilities

Are you ready to lead and inspire a team dedicated to shaping impactful environmental policies? In this role, you’ll oversee the development, implementation, and review of key departmental policies and regulatory tools. Your strategic guidance will be crucial in providing high-level policy advice on a wide range of environmental and departmental issues to top leadership, including the Minister and Deputy Minister.

In this role, you’ll deploy policy resources to drive initiatives that advance government priorities in climate change, environmental protection, and regulatory excellence. You’ll foster a collaborative team environment to ensure high-quality deliverables that align with government objectives. Your leadership will also be pivotal in the departmental priority planning process, business planning, and accountability reporting.

You’ll maintain strong relationships with partner departments to facilitate effective communication and collaboration on shared mandates, including commitments under the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act. Additionally, you’ll ensure policy deliverables meet the highest standards and support decision-making with innovative tools and resources.
 

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this leadership opportunity, you hold a university degree in a related field with several years of progressive leadership experience in policy. You are a recognized leader, a strong and effective communicator and problem solver, and you possess experience in leading teams. You are committed to open communication, collaboration and consultation with staff, partners and stakeholders and are recognized for your personal and professional credibility, creative problem-solving ability, and in-depth experience leading cross-organizational programs and initiatives. 

An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered.

You must also demonstrate:

• Several years of progressive leadership and relevant work experience at a managerial or leadership level.
• Experience engaging and leading teams in fast-paced environments, balancing multiple, competing priorities and tight timelines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, an ability to handle and organize large workloads, and a proven ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• An aptitude to deal with complex issues, strong analytical skills, tact and diplomacy, capacity for decisive action, and the ability to influence.
• The ability to see beyond the details and focus on the larger vision and broader goals.
• Proven ability to advise and brief senior leadership is considered a strong asset.
• Understanding of environment and climate change policy context would be considered an asset.
   

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.

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.

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