Equity and Engagement Coordinator (Program Admin Officer 4)

Designation Status

This opportunity is designated to applicants that identify as Indigenous Person, African Nova Scotian or Other Racially Visible Person.

About Us

Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (ECC) has a mandate to protect the environment, and human health through regulatory excellence, conservation, partnership, and promotion. To achieve this, we strive to develop legislation, regulations, standards, policies, and guidance for regulated activities based on sound scientific knowledge and expertise. We also coordinate the delivery of provincial targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, transition to clean electricity and helping Nova Scotia prepare for the impacts of climate change.  We have more than 300 employees working from offices throughout Nova Scotia.

About Our Opportunity

The Equity and Engagement Coordinator works with a team of professionals to implement the climate change plan, coordinate future strategic climate action, and helps to implement other departmental priorities around equity, diversity and inclusion.  Reporting to the Manager of the Climate Plan and Strategic Action team, the Equity and Engagement Coordinator is responsible for supporting external partners, teams within ECC, and other provincial government departments in developing and implementing programs, policies and regulations that have been outlined in the climate change plan. You will take meaningful action on climate change which will involve collaborating and building partnerships to coordinate and strategically advance initiatives across diverse stakeholders and provincial government departments.  You will develop and grow relationships with many diverse communities and stakeholders while also collaborating at the provincial and national level and focusing on shared objectives while representing the province.

Primary Accountabilities

This position will support the implementation of the province’s climate change plan.  You will be responsible for working with marginalized and racialized communities across Nova Scotia to help them respond to their climate-related priorities. This includes the implementation and evaluation of programs, initiatives, and policies to support communities in acting on their climate priorities. This position will help advise the department on work related to socioeconomic issues such as environmental racism, systemic barriers to climate action, inequitable access to resources such as funding and government programming, and inclusive education and engagement under the climate change plan.  This position will also support annual evaluation and reporting on key progress indicators and outcomes related to the climate change plan.  This position will support engagement with marginalized and racialized communities.   

Within this ever-evolving field, you will lead through change and be willing to adjust quickly, as needed. This work requires innovative approaches to capacity building, consensus-building, community engagement, education and information sharing to ensure that engagement is inclusive, and that the information is trusted.

In this position, you will work creatively with community-based partners to effectively monitor and respond to climate change mitigation and adaptation trends and work to ensure that the climate plan continues to meet the needs of Nova Scotians. You will create an environment that promotes continuous learning and improvement by seeking feedback from your colleagues and being open to critiques that improve outcomes. You will coordinate climate action across external stakeholders and government departments and implement and report on the climate change goals that are outlined in the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act and mandate letter commitments.    

Qualifications and Experience

You have a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Business, Public Policy or another relevant post-secondary concentration plus 6 years of experience in environmental/climate policy, and experience working on complex, crosscutting issues.  A master’s degree in a relevant post-secondary concentration would be considered an asset.

Experience engaging with marginalized or racialized communities in Nova Scotia is required. Ideally, this includes having a pre-existing network within marginalized or racialized communities. Knowledge and experience in strategic planning, project management, stakeholder management, critical thinking, and consensus-building is required. Experience monitoring and evaluating program or policy impacts on social inequities will be considered an asset.

As the successful candidate, you have demonstrable experience understanding, interpreting, and/or responding to how federal, provincial, and international policies impact the people, communities, and businesses in racialized or marginalized communities in the province. Experience advising on equity-related policies and/or regulations for government or non-government organizations would be an asset. Experience engaging with communities on capacity-building projects would be considered an asset, as would a demonstrated understanding of the socioeconomic factors that influence climate change mitigation and adaptation programs.

The following competencies and experiences are also essential to the role:

• Demonstrated understanding of provincial climate change mitigation and adaptation priorities.
• Willingness and ability to share data, ideas and experiences with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to forge strong relationships of trust and collaboration across diverse groups and communities. 
• Resiliency and experience balancing multiple priority projects or initiatives.
• Commitment to diversity and anti-racism in the workplace.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and persuasion skills are required.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s)

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

Some travel maybe required, but most of the work can be done remotely.    

Additional Information

This is a Term employment opportunity with an anticipated end date of August 26, 2025. The appointment status (‘term’, ‘temporary’ or ‘casual’) is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate.

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.