Director Emergency Health Services

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 continual improvements within the Health System, the department is thinking differently about how to plan, fund, legislate and monitor to improve access and service delivery.  

One of the Department of Health and Wellness’s (DHW) mandates is to ensure the delivery of collaborative health care to communities through Emergency Health Services (EHS), including medical communications, medical first response, ground and air ambulance, and other programs. DHW is responsible for setting standards, developing policies, funding, and regulatory oversight of the EHS system and the vendor contracted to operate the EHS system.  

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Executive Director, EHS, the Director, EHS is responsible for ensuring the availability of a quality, effective, responsive, and sustainable province-wide ambulance system by developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating regulations, contracts, policies and standards in all matters related to the operations and management of a contracted performance-based EHS system. 

Primary Accountabilities

A few of the key responsibilities of this role include: 

• Oversees strategic innovations, opportunities and solutions to manage the province's integrated EHS system and contributes to broader health system planning. 
• Leads and contributes to provincial policy governing operations of EHS service delivery provider, adjacent health services organizations, and the health human resources working within the EHS system. 
• Management of human and financial resources.  
• Leadership in the integration of the EHS ambulance system into the ongoing development of an effective and efficient health care system and other government-wide initiatives, mandates and priorities. 
• Serves as an active participant and representative for the Province and Department of Health and Wellness in provincial, regional, national and international programs and initiatives 
• Leads and contributes to negotiations providers for EHS services and participates in the development of partnerships, and agreements on behalf of EHS so as to ensure the reliable province-wide delivery of safe, standard-driven out-of-hospital and emergency care. 
• Ensures EHS system capacity to respond to major emergencies by developing and maintaining programs for effective Emergency Operations Center management, vehicles, equipment and supplies for mass casualty events, appropriate emergency plans, training and evaluation, liaison and integration with the provincial health system and DHA/IWK emergency plans/response. 

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this opportunity, you have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study, and a minimum of six years progressive management experience with emergency health systems or ambulance operations, or a master’s degree and three years experience.  

An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered, such as graduation from an accredited paramedicine training program and relevant progressive management experience. 

 
As the successful candidate you have: 
 

• Experience working in a leadership role in an emergency health system.   
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative working relationships with internal and external partners. 
• Experience managing, coaching and developing staff. 
• Competency in Microsoft Office products, including excel. 
• Superior organizational and time management skills with demonstrated decisiveness, ability to manage competing priorities with tight and conflicting deadlines. 
   

Current licensure as a paramedic will be considered an asset.   
 

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. 
 

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. 
 

Equivalency

 Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application. 

Benefits

The Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as  Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click here to learn more about our various benefits offerings and eligibility criteria.

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.

Department Specific Flexible working schedules.