Program Admin Officer 4 (Funding Navigator)

About Us

Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change’s role is to protect the environment, human health and animal health through regulatory excellence, conservation, partnership and promotion. The department also coordinates provincial action on climate change and supports the advancement of the clean economy. 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, conservation, animal, and human health risks and work to develop programs and deliver services to enhance protection in these areas.

About Our Opportunity

The Funding Navigator works with a team of professionals who are working collaboratively to implement the climate change plan and coordinate future strategic climate action. Reporting to the Manager of the Climate Plan and Strategic Action team, the Funding Navigator is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of programs and policies that have been outlined in the climate change plan, with a primary focus on access to funding for climate-related projects.

In this role, you will take meaningful action on climate change, which will involve collaborating and building partnerships to coordinate and advance initiatives with external partners and other provincial government departments. You will develop and grow relationships with many diverse communities and stakeholders while also collaborating at the provincial, national, and international level with a focus on co-benefits and shared objectives.

Primary Accountabilities

This position will support the implementation of the province’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth. In this role, you will promote continuous learning and program improvement by seeking feedback from your colleagues, partners, and stakeholders, as well as being open to critiques that improve program outcomes. Within this ever-evolving field, you will be expected to lead through change and must be able to adjust quickly, as needed. This work requires innovative approaches to capacity building, community engagement, education and information sharing to ensure that engagement is inclusive, and that the information is trusted. You will work creatively with partners to effectively monitor and respond to climate change mitigation and adaptation trends and work to ensure that the climate change plan continues to meet the needs of Nova Scotians.

Specifically, as the Funding Navigator, you will:

• Create enabling conditions for cross-departmental implementation of the climate change plan through access to funding
• Provide user-centric, culturally responsive service to individuals, organizations, and businesses to connect them to funding opportunities and resources that facilitate implementation of their project priorities
• Lead the implementation planning (and direct implementation, where possible) of a portfolio of resources that help connect Nova Scotians to climate-related funding opportunities in support of their priority projects
• Advise the department on where provincial funding programs could be developed or strengthened to support progress on provincial climate change goals
• Consolidate complex content into recommendations via briefing notes and presentations delivered to executive leadership
• Provide regular program updates to report on key progress indicators and outcomes related to the relevant action(s) in the climate change plan,
• Support with quarterly data analysis and annual report writing in alignment with the legislated annual reporting requirement for the climate change plan 

This position may perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

You have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant post-secondary concentration (such as, but not limited to social sciences, economics, climate change, public policy, environmental studies/sciences) plus 6 years of experience in implementing projects and programs related to climate adaptation, mitigation, or clean economy. The ideal candidate has experience participating in the management, administration, design and/or evaluation of climate-related funding programs.

The following experiences and competencies are required for the role and will be evaluated based on the information you provide in your application.

• Demonstrated understanding of provincial climate change priorities, as well as knowledge of current national, and international climate change policies, programs and plans that impact Nova Scotia, along with a strong understanding of the intersectionality of this work and how climate initiatives impact people, communities, and businesses in Nova Scotia
• Demonstrated understanding of funding programs related to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and the clean economy
• Knowledge and experience in research, planning, project management, critical thinking, and analysis
• Experience in negotiation and/or conflict management, along with excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Committed to diversity and anti-racism in the workplace; you are able to show how you have forged strong relationships of trust and collaboration across diverse groups and communities, and how you have applied an equity lens to your climate work

The following experiences and competencies are assets for the role and may be evaluated:

• Master’s degree plus 6 years of experience
• Experience in the development of application packages for funding programs and/or leading consultative processes on funding programs
• Experience with capacity building, engagement, and public participation
• Having a pre-existing network within organizations that either deliver or regularly apply for climate-related funding in Nova Scotia
• Experience with funding programs that support underrepresented and underserved communities.
• Ability to apply theory and best practice to identify creative, practical, and defensible approaches to overcoming challenges
• Ability to recognize and articulate appropriate approaches to policy issues
• Ability to share data, ideas and experiences with colleagues to support policy planning and/or partnership building

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

An acceptable combination of training and education may include:
 

• A completed related master’s degree and four (4) years of experience
• A completed related diploma and eight (8) years of experience
• Ten (10) years of related experience without post-secondary education
   

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.

Additional Information

This is a term opportunity with an anticipated end date of January 2, 2026. However, the position 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