Director of Policy and Corporate Services

About Us

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is government’s human resources organization supporting departments, agencies, and employees to deliver programs and services to Nova Scotians. We are committed to building a collaborative and inclusive public service grounded in respect, integrity, diversity, accountability, and the public good.

The PSC establishes human resource policies, programs, standards, and procedures, and provides direction, advice, and support to departments to ensure consistent, effective application across government.

We are focused on the current and future needs of the provincial workforce to ensure the public service is equipped to meet the demands of a growing and changing province.

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Executive Director, Corporate Services Division, the Director of Policy and Corporate Services, will provide senior leadership for integrated policy development, planning, legislative support, strategic planning and corporate services. You will serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and the Minister on complex policy, legislative, regulatory, and strategic matters.

This role requires a collaborative approach and the ability to work across teams, departments, partners, and other orders of government. You will help shape advice, decisions, and strategy that advance the PSC’s mandate, support government priorities, and respond to emerging issues. Success requires sound judgment, critical thinking, and the ability to provide clear, timely advice in a complex and evolving environment.

Primary Accountabilities

• Lead complex policy research, analysis, evaluation, and development to enable government priorities and the PSC’s mandate.
• Lead and support the preparation of high-quality briefing materials, Cabinet documents, legislative materials, and submissions to Executive Council.
• Provide strategic direction for HR legislation, regulations, policies by identifying emerging trends, risks and opportunities.
• As a member of the senior leadership team, contribute to priorities, policies, and decisions by assessing partner, employee, management, and public perspectives and recommending strategic actions.
• Leads the delivery of key corporate and operational supports, including finance, security, emergency preparedness, business continuity planning, and administrative functions.
• Represents the PSC on intergovernmental forums and oversees strategic support services, including French Language Services coordination and policy-related research activities.
• Provides leadership to the Policy and Corporate team, ensuring effective management of human, financial, and organizational resources while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing workplace.

Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate will have extensive experience leading complex policy and strategy initiatives, providing advice to senior decision-makers, and developing evidence-based solutions to challenging policy issues.

A strategic thinker and collaborator, the Director possesses extensive experience building relationships across departments and across government. The successful candidate demonstrates exceptional judgment and the ability to manage competing priorities while delivering results in an evolving environment. Experience in public policy development, strategy development, legislative processes and engagement will be considered strong assets.
 

In addition, you have:

• A university degree in a related field, in addition to substantial experience in strategic policy and planning. An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered.
• Exceptional communication (both written and verbal) and presentation/facilitation skills.
• The ability to find creative and innovative solutions within an environment of competing public priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with a diverse range of internal and external clients, fostering collaboration and achieving shared objectives.
• Experience overseeing corporate service functions such as finance, business continuity planning, emergency preparedness, security, or risk management.

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.

Working Conditions

Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day.

May be required to work overtime on occasion.

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.