Program Manager

About Us

The Justice Supports and Services Division of the Department of Justice is responsible for providing support to victims of crime, including their families and children, including assistance with benefits owed to them through a maintenance support order and ensuring that there is improved access to these critical programs for vulnerable groups who need them.

We offer a range of services to help victims of crime, promote victims’ rights and interests and advise government on issues relating to victims of crime; and work with justice partners and the community to develop policies and programs that address the needs of crime victims. We can help provide the victim, spouse, or relative with information, support and assistance as their case moves through the criminal justice system. When criminal charges are laid, victims and family members can contact us directly for help. We provide the following programs: Provincial Victim Services Program, Child Victim/Witness Program, Criminal Injuries Counselling Program, Victim Impact Statement Program, Restitution Program, and the Sexual Offense Legal Representation Program.

For more information on the Department of Justice Victim Services please visit our website.

About Our Opportunity

As the Program Manager, you will report to Director, Victim Services and will be responsible for providing advanced specialized program administrative or management work for one or more programs that impacts province wide.

You will be involved in overall program administration and coordination of programs offered directly by a department or indirectly through various organizations throughout the province. You will identify and design programs to assist with evaluation and planning for future direction of programs and policies and will act as a consultant to provincial and national organizations through the development of training programs, developing, reviewing, and evaluating proposals requiring government support.

You will manage professional and/or support positions in execution of program delivery.

Primary Accountabilities

As the Program Manager, you will:

• Manage and deliver required outcomes for one or more programs
• Administer Act(s) and/or its regulations in the province
• Administer cost shared grants and assistance programs with municipalities
• Identify and design programs to assist with the evaluation and planning for future direction of programs and policies for municipal and provincial organizations
• Preparation of briefing notes, reports, and recommendations
• Drafting correspondence in response to inquiries and concerns from key stakeholders and the public
• Supporting contract and or agreement management
• Assets: supervision of employees, experience with absence and performance management, program facilitation
• Act as a consultant within government and with provincial and national organizations through the development of training programs and developing, reviewing, and evaluating proposals requiring government support
• Develop and/or deliver a plan for significant aspects of internal and external communications
• Identify shortcomings and suggest improvements to existing processes, systems, and procedures
• Deliver a prescribed budget for the program and conduct complex analyses on budget progress while working within established procedures
• Deliver on the established outcomes by managing day-to-day relationships with clients, contract service providers, and team
• Ensure the effective management of human and financial resources
• Oversee the orientation and training for Victim Services staff
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this opportunity, you have a post-secondary degree in a related discipline (e.g., Sociology, Criminology, Social Work) with demonstrated related management experience; an acceptable equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.

In addition, you have strong analytical, problem solving and negotiation skills which will assist you to address operational deficiencies and manage operational and policy issues.  You are effective at managing, organizing, and prioritizing your work while meeting deadlines. Furthermore, you possess strong communication and interpersonal skills which will allow you to build strong relationships with stakeholders. Your expertise will allow you to play a pivotal role in ensuring compliance with program standards, policy and procedures.

Must have demonstrated experience in policy analysis, operational planning, legislation development, and preparing reports and briefing materials. Experience and/or education in the field of Criminal Justice is required. The successful candidate will be a demonstrated leader, team player, well organized, capable of prioritizing and delegating high level work under tight timelines, and able to exercise sound judgement under pressure.  Requires demonstrated experience successfully communicating at various levels within an organization (both verbal and written).

The following would be considered assets: Prior knowledge of the programs and services provided by Victim Services, prior experience in staff training and development; experience in working with Victims of crime and in the field of domestic violence.
Supervisory experience; Case management experience such as JEIN; Experience in developing best practice documents, experience in using software such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

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

Equivalency

An acceptable equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.

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

Majority of time spent in a comfortable position with frequent opportunity to move.

Additional Information

This is a permanent employment opportunity, located in Halifax, NS.

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