Executive Director Culture and Heritage

About Us

The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage (CCTH) supports communities across the province to be welcoming, inclusive and accessible, providing a great quality of life for Nova Scotians.  We value the collective diversity of our heritage and our people and believe in the transformative nature of culture to help create healthy, active, growing communities.  
 

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 and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities 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.

About Our Opportunity

A unique and crucial leadership role in the development of arts, culture and heritage, and live events in Nova Scotia, the Executive Director of the Culture and Heritage Development Division will work with various partners across the province, and lead a team dedicated to championing and supporting culture in our province.
 

Reporting directly to the Associate Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister, and working with the Chairs of the Nova Scotia Creative Leadership Council, Arts Nova Scotia, and the Nova Scotia Heritage Advisory Council, you are a member of the department's Executive Leadership Team working to foster long-term, sustainable economic and social growth.
 

Collaborating with cross divisional and departmental teams, along with other levels of government, and stakeholders, you'll oversee strategic planning, program implementation, grant delivery, policy, legislation, and evaluation. You'll develop a broad network through partnerships and relationships across many communities and organizations within Nova Scotia's culture and heritage sectors.
 

You will advise the Minister, Deputy Minister, Associate Deputy Minister, Premier's Office, and engage with MLAs, sector leaders, organizations, and individuals on a daily basis.
 

This is a real opportunity to shape the fabric of our province and help the development of the culture and heritage sectors.  You will lead the development of the creative industries sector (Film & television, music, craft, publishing, performing arts, visual arts), build the live events sector, and work with passionate artists, musicians, advocates, community developers, and business leaders across the province.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have an undergraduate degree, such as arts or business with related experience in sector development and non-profits, plus several years of management level experience, working in the area of arts, culture or business development. A master's degree is considered an asset.
 

You have a proven track record as an innovative leader, someone who can bring together partners around a common goal, leverage assets or funding and take advantage of opportunities that will have a broad community impact.  You appreciate the arts and culture sector and understand its challenges and opportunities. 
 

You have demonstrable experience in culture and community development, establishing partnerships and strategy development and implementation. You have effectively managed public funds, have highly developed communications skills, and can use tact and diplomacy to communicate effectively with any individual. 
 

You have demonstrated experience working with and in diverse communities, particularly racialized communities including Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, newcomer, and racialized communities.  You value equity, diversity, access, and inclusion, and demonstrate the ability to effectively build and develop strong relationships and maintain collaborative relationships with key partners (internal and external). You are collaborative, creative and forward thinking, challenge the status quo and provide ideas for future directions. You have the ability to apply an equity, diversity and inclusion lens to policies, programs or services.  
 

You are well organized and capable of prioritizing and delegating high volumes of work under tight timelines, as well as exercising sound judgement under pressure.

The following are considered assets:

•  
• Established relationships working with artists from diverse cultural and racial backgrounds, specifically Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, newcomers, and other racialized groups. 
• Established relationships including persons with disabilities.
• Broad understanding of corporate and government issues and priorities and demonstratable personal achievement of the Nova Scotia public service leadership competencies.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

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

Benefits

Based on the employment status and Union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click here to learn more about our various benefits offering and eligibility criteria. 

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