Executive Director, Clean Energy

About Us

The Department of Energy serves the social, environmental, and economic interests of Nova Scotians by ensuring that energy resources are developed and used in an efficient and sustainable manner. The Department delivers programs and activities related to electricity, renewable energy, energy efficiency, geoscience, petroleum, and industry development.

About Our Opportunity

The Executive Director, Clean Energy is the Department’s senior executive lead for electricity, renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transportation and non-petroleum energy-sector matters. The role leads a team of senior professionals responsible for advancing policy, regulatory, program and implementation work that supports a reliable, affordable and lower-carbon energy system for Nova Scotians. 

As Executive Director, you lead the clean energy component of provincial energy strategy and direct the integration of electricity, renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable transportation priorities into government-wide planning and decision-making.

You lead the development and delivery of clean energy strategies and initiatives, including electricity policy and planning, renewable energy development, efficiency and demand-side management, sustainable transportation, electricity market design and utility-related regulatory matters. In addition, you contribute sector expertise to integrated provincial energy planning, and support whole-of-department alignment on major priorities. Lastly, you are accountable for setting direction, aligning Branch resources, and supporting the team to deliver clean energy priorities effectively. 

Primary Accountabilities

• Provide senior executive leadership for clean energy policy, planning, regulation, programs and implementation across electricity, renewables, efficiency, demand-side management, sustainable transportation and related non-petroleum energy matters. 

• Retain lead accountability for clean energy sector substance, including electricity, renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable transportation policy development, regulatory approaches, stakeholder relationships, sector-specific strategies and implementation. 

• Lead development and implementation of major clean energy strategies, plans, legislation, regulatory frameworks and funding initiatives, ensuring they support affordability, reliability, sustainability, economic development and public confidence. 

• Lead the department’s position on complex utility-sector, regulatory and electricity market matters, including regulatory proceedings, electricity market design, governance issues, utility accountability and legislative or regulatory approaches that affect Nova Scotia’s electricity system. 

• Lead renewable energy and energy efficiency policy and delivery, ensuring sector-specific strategies are aligned with the Department’s integrated provincial energy strategy. 

• Provide expert, timely advice to the Deputy Minister, Minister, Cabinet and central agencies on clean energy issues, risks, trade-offs, legislative proposals, regulatory approaches and implementation considerations. 

• Build and maintain constructive relationships with utilities, regulators, Independent Power Producers, industry, other governments, Indigenous peoples, municipalities, communities, non-government organizations, researchers and other partners. 

• Act as lead Executive Director or Project Sponsor for assigned major clean energy initiatives, clarifying objectives, milestones, engagement requirements, decision points, risks and barriers. 

• Provide strategic management of Branch resources, including human and financial resource oversight, performance management, procurement, budget forecasting, workforce leadership, diversity, healthy workplace practices and team development. 

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this opportunity, you have a bachelor’s degree in a related field (such as science, energy systems, engineering, or business and administration) and substantial (10+ years) senior level strategic related experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience may also be considered. A graduate (Master's) degree would be an asset. 

You have experience leading multidisciplinary teams, as well as experience working with industry, utilities, communities, municipalities, regulators and other governments. Further you have strong understanding in areas such as renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, climate change and greenhouse-gas reduction, as well as government decision-making. 

The role requires innovation in identifying emerging clean energy opportunities and risks, applying sector expertise to policy and regulatory challenges, and developing practical approaches that support responsible clean energy development and implementation within the department’s broader direction. As a forward-thinking leader, you anticipate changes in clean energy markets, electricity systems, regulatory models, technology trends, and public expectations. Further, you have significant decision-making authority and accountability for advancing the clean energy priorities within the branch’s mandate. Lastly, you have excellent leadership, communication (verbal and written), interpersonal, presentation and consultation skills. You work well independently and engage effectively with senior decision makers.

Leadership competencies required at this level of work are: Decisiveness, Strategic Orientation, Developing Others, Team Leadership, Self-Awareness and Personal Impact, Effective Interactive Communication, Partnering and Relationship Building, and Intercultural and Diversity Proficiency.

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.

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 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.
• Mostly office-based work with occasional requirements to travel and attend meetings, within Nova Scotia and to other provinces.
• Considerable and sustained pressure from deadlines, conflicting demands and stakeholder opinion, continuous change, and ambiguity.

Additional Information

This is a permanent, full-time position based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

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.