Environmental Data & GIS Innovation Lead (Program Admin Officer 4)
Competition # : 49923
Department: Environment and Climate Change
Location: HALIFAX
Type of Employment: Permanent
Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG
Closing Date: 05-Oct-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)
About Us
The Department of Environment and Climate Change's role is to protect the environment and human health through regulatory excellence, conservation, partnership, and promotion. To achieve this, we strive to develop legislation, regulations and policies, process notifications, applications, and approvals for regulated activities based on sound scientific knowledge and expertise.
Our goal is to educate, inspect and enforce to ensure compliance with legislation and regulations. We also proactively respond to environmental and human health risks and work to develop programs and deliver services to enhance protection in these areas.
About Our Opportunity
Reporting to the Manager of Drinking Water and Water Resources, the Environmental Data and GIS Innovation Lead will play a pivotal role in driving data-driven environmental solutions, spearheading improvements in how we collect, manage, report, and analyze critical environmental data. They will harness a suite of tools to build integrated solutions that streamline every step of the data lifecycle, including systems for environmental data management, geospatial mapping and field data collection, workflow automation, and dynamic reporting.
The Environmental Data and GIS Innovation Lead will also evaluate and document data workflows, contribute to data governance best practices, and manage essential databases and user systems to ensure high-quality, accessible information. This leadership role blends technical expertise, system innovation, and collaboration, working closely with environmental scientists, GIS specialists, and other stakeholders to transform data into actionable insights that drive impactful environmental decisions.
The Environmental Data and GIS Innovation Lead is a senior technical–strategic role that modernizes how Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change collects, manages, and uses environmental and water resource data. Acting as a bridge between scientists, GIS specialists, and decision-makers, the role leads innovation in data systems, governance, and visualization—turning complex datasets into actionable insights that shape environmental policy and programs.
Primary Accountabilities
As the Environmental Data and GIS Innovation Lead, you will drive improvements in how environmental and water resources data are collected, managed, analyzed, and reported. You will develop tools, dashboards, and geospatial visualizations to support evidence-based decision-making while optimizing workflows using platforms such as WISKI, ArcGIS, and Microsoft Power Platform. This role also includes system administration, vendor coordination, and supporting change management through user engagement and testing. You will ensure data integrity through governance and QA/QC practices, provide training to users, and promote strategic collaboration across teams and departments. By fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, you’ll help advance the department’s data capabilities and GIS strategies to inform environmental policy and programs. You may also be required to perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Experience
A bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g. environmental science, water resources, geography, computer science) plus six (6) years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
You also possess the following:
Experience
- Experience working with environmental and water resources datasets.
- Proven experience improving data workflows and managing databases/systems (e.g., user access, performance, contracts/agreements).
- Experience acting as a liaison between business users and software vendors, including support for change management and user testing.
Knowledge
- Strong working knowledge of:
- Environmental data management systems
- ESRI ArcGIS platform (ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Experience Builder, Survey 123, etc.)
- Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams
- Knowledge of data governance principles and experience developing or implementing data governance frameworks.
- Understanding of quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) practices for environmental data.
Capabilities
- Skilled in designing tools, dashboards, and visualizations for data reporting and analysis.
- Strong analytical, independent learning and problem-solving skills, with a continuous improvement mindset and the ability to identify innovative solutions using existing tools.
- Effective communicator and facilitator with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Asset Qualifications
- Master’s degree in a relevant field.
- Experience with scripting or programming languages (e.g., Python, R, M, SQL, Arcade).
- Experience leading user engagement and supporting data strategies in technical settings.
- Familiarity with data science standards and practices at the national and international level.
- Experience working in a government or regulatory setting.
Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer or will result in termination of your employment.
We may assess the above qualifications using one or more of the following tools: written examination, presentations, interviews, and reference checks.
Equivalency
An equivalent combination of training, education and experience will be considered. 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.
Pay Grade: PR 17
Salary Range: $3,410.48 - $4,005.58 Bi-Weekly
Employment Equity Statement: Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians, Persons of African Descent, Racialized Persons, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ Persons and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.
Accommodation Statement: We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at competitions@novascotia.ca.
This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:
Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.
External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.
If you are receiving a pension from the Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP) or any related plans, you cannot receive pension payments while contributing to the same plan. If you accept a position that requires PSSP contributions, your pension payments must be stopped. Please contact the Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation for more information.
Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.
