Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives

About Us

The Department of Labour, Skills & Immigration (LSI) works to provide fairness, safety, and prosperity for all Nova Scotians by helping them live, learn and work to their highest potential. We have a staff of more than 500 employees working from offices throughout Nova Scotia. Together we are responsible for safety, labour standards, apprenticeship, immigration and population growth, and many other facets of everyday life.

The Immigration and Population Growth branch has a large mandate. We are responsible for attracting, integrating, and retaining immigrants to our province. The impact of our work is felt both on a macro level, as we help businesses succeed and help our population to grow, as well as on a micro level, as we make decisions every day that impact the lives of people choosing to make Nova Scotia home.

A passionate team, we are continually evolving to ensure that we meet the needs of the province.

About Our Opportunity

The Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives leads a team that is accountable for strategic, broad-based planning, policy research and information, federal/provincial relations and advocacy, and program evaluation to underpin strategic direction and decision-making for policies, programs and services related to attraction, recruiting, selection and settling newcomers in Nova Scotia. The Director leads cross government collaboration planning, strategy and policy development.

The Director is also responsible for leading Nova Scotia’s response to emerging migration trends. Mobilizing and coordinating departments and communities to respond to changes in migration, and creating the conditions for new populations to succeed.

The Director is responsible for creating and approving plans and strategies and makes recommendations to senior leadership, including Deputy Ministers and Ministers on whether major initiatives to fill our most critical labour needs should proceed. The Director identifies new innovative opportunities, programs, markets, and initiatives to further strengthen Nova Scotia’s labour force. The Director will lead branch business planning and accountability reporting, including reporting on advancing priorities of government.. The Director will also be responsible for managing daily communications and administrative functions of the office, including reception services and correspondence.

Primary Accountabilities

• Provide leadership and direction to the Policy and Strategic Initiatives team, IPG Branch, LSI and other departments on immigration and population growth strategic and operational planning, performance reporting, data collection and analysis to ensure that the strategic goals and objectives are met in the development of annual Business Plans, Operational Plans, Accountability Reports and regular updates.
• Lead response to emerging migration trends. Mobilizing and coordinating departments and communities to respond to changes in migration and creating the conditions for new populations to succeed.
• Inform and facilitate an integrated and coordinated approach to planning and issues management by providing evidence-based decision support for the Deputy Minister and the Minister and overseeing the development of briefing books, legislative planning and response during the Legislative Sessions of the House.
• Champions the further development and strengthening of opportunities for filling labour needs in Nova Scotia through cross-government collaboration, contributes to the development of inter-governmental frameworks that support the province's goals.
• Leads the administration of office management to ensure the branch is responsive to the public locally, nationally, and internationally. This includes development of and response to branch correspondence in a timely, accurate and efficient way and managing the reception program and resourcing.
• 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.
• Contribute to advancing labour market, economic and social objectives by developing and managing federal and provincial relationships, as well as relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders throughout the province.
  
  

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this leadership opportunity, you hold a university degree in a related field with substantial senior leadership experience in policy. You are a recognized leader, a strong and effective communicator, 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 successful leadership and relevant work experience at a managerial level;

• Experience in designing and implementing an effective consultative process;
  Proven ability to lead external negotiations with a range of partners, including other levels of government;
• 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 the big picture.

A strong working knowledge of immigration legislation, policies and stakeholders is desirable.

Would be considered an asset:

• Comprehensive knowledge and expertise in immigration programs and initiatives
• French-speaking

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 capabilities using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Benefits

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 full-time permanent position based in Halifax.

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.