Director, Public Health Surveillance

About Us

The Department of Health and Wellness offers opportunities to grow and advance in a dynamic sector that touches the lives of all Nova Scotians.  Along with our partners, including the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK Health Centre, we’re committed to continually improving our health care system. With a focus on collaborative primary health care, urgent and emergency care, acute care, community-based supports, digital health, capital infrastructure, and more, the department is thinking differently about how to plan, fund, legislate and monitor to improve access and service delivery. To do this, we need leaders at all levels of the organization who embrace a challenge and believe in their ability to make a difference.

About Our Opportunity

The Director, Public Health Surveillance leads a team of epidemiologists and other surveillance staff and provides leadership and direction for the development and delivery of multiple plans and strategies aligned to departmental and government priorities related to the surveillance of public health issues whose purpose is to understand the health of communities and population health determinants, and recognize and assess outbreaks and trends in chronic disease, communicable disease, and injury. The Director is responsible for approving plans and strategies and makes recommendations to senior leadership on whether a major initiative should proceed. The Director also contributes to the development of frameworks and policies by working with partners in other departments and identifies new innovative opportunities programs, markets, and initiatives to further develop and strengthen Nova Scotia.

Primary Accountabilities

• Designs, develops and delivers reporting and accountability mechanisms to ensure the requirements and expectations of the Department are met. Ensures that strategies and plans are aligned with overall Government strategy, branch strategic planning  and the Health Protection Act.
• Leads and monitors surveillance programs and population health assessments by analyzing reports and preparing summary and briefings to the Minister (interpreting policies and legislation).
• Champions the expansion and evolution of surveillance and population health assessment and leads the strategic direction and operations of the team and oversees the strategic growth of the public health surveillance mandate.
• Utilizes a broad knowledge of public health, population health assessment and surveillance to maintain effective and collaborative relationships with provincial, federal and international governments, partners and organizations. Represents the Department on government, inter-department and internal committees, project teams, and at conferences and meetings.
• Leads the development and/or operation of aspects of the internal and external communications system with broad direction from Senior Executive Director, Chief/ Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health, Associate Deputy Minister, and/or Deputy Minister.
• Ensures the effective management of human and financial resources by setting and evaluating staff performance targets, promoting diversity and a healthy workplace, demonstrating leadership competencies, respecting corporate human resources practices, promoting teamwork and individual development, maintaining internal communications, monitoring expenditures while adhering to procurement guidelines.

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this opportunity, you hold a bachelor’s degree and demonstrate professional experience in policy and program development, and implementation within provincial mandates. In addition, you have experience in leading transformational change through system thinking and shared governance.  A solid understanding of legislative processes, and regulatory processes as they relate to provincial programs, is required for this position. Experience with public health systems, population health assessment and public health surveillance and epidemiology is an asset. A graduate level degree (Master's) would also be an asset. 

Demonstrated success in project management, managing multiple priorities and leading teams within a complex system is required.  Expertise in developing and maintaining strategic partnerships is also required.  

Further, you hold the following skills/competencies: 

• The expertise to act as the departmental authority on program management plans.
• The ability to think conceptually and see the “big picture” but also be able to synthesize complex information and ideas into tangible recommendations.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills for regular contact with senior officials of the department, as well as management, supervisory and technical staff.
• Strong leadership skills to build a high performing team.
• Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills.
• Ability to bring innovative and creative insights and solutions.
• Strong strategic business skills.
• Effective decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated a commitment to equity and diversity in the public service and recognize the value of diverse voices when building strategic plans to meet the needs of Nova Scotians.

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. 

Additional Information

This is a permanent position based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

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 is our focus.