Senior Executive Director, Skills and Learning

Valuing Diversity

At Labour, Skills and Immigration we don’t just accept difference – we celebrate a supportive culture of diversity, inclusion and belonging.

We work hard to create an environment where different perspectives and experiences are welcome and valued.

We are committed to helping diverse talent thrive.  We encourage applications from those that equally value diversity.

About Us

The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration is a dynamic and innovative department that is focused on strategies, policies and programs that help people live, learn and work to their highest potential in vibrant businesses and organizations throughout the province.

The mandate of the Skills and Learning Branch within the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration is to support the growth and strengthening of Nova Scotia’s workforce through the delivery of a labour market programming. The branch is responsible for:

• Setting the strategic direction and providing leadership across the labour market portfolio;
• Ensuring the delivery of a modernized, future-focused workforce development system that underpins economic growth;
• Ensuring continuity and strategic use of multi-year federal funding agreements; and
• Providing evidence-based advice on labour market risks and opportunities to senior levels of government.

The branch’s Skills and Learning programs:

• Support workforce development in Nova Scotia in support of economic growth;
• Help businesses, sectors and employees to become more productive through skills training, strategic human resource services, and industry/sector partnerships;
• Help unemployed Nova Scotians prepare for, and secure work, through skills training, employment assistance, and work experience opportunities and local employment supports through the NS Works system;
• Support career advancement and upskilling of Nova Scotia’s workforce;
• Support career-oriented work experiences for post-secondary students and employment for recent graduates and other youth; and
• Provide adult learners with the foundational education needed to enable further education or jobs through the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning, and recognition of skills and credentials.
  
  

About Our Opportunity

The Senior Executive Director of the Skills and Learning Branch provides executive-level leadership to a 175-person team organized under multiple divisions that deliver multi-faceted labour market development programs and services for the province of Nova Scotia. The offerings of the Branch include responsibility for adult education, employment services and programs, workplace initiatives, youth initiatives and internal support teams that support branch strategy, innovation, and finance and accountability mechanisms. The Senior Executive Director develops, implements, and directs comprehensive labour market strategies for the province, leads the development of overarching policy objectives informed by government priorities and emerging needs, and oversees the integrated planning and development of public programs and services across the Branch. They ensure the Branch's responsibilities and activities occur within the mission of the Department and in accordance with government priorities, including those of the Canada-Nova Scotia Labour Market Transfer Agreements.

This work is undertaken within an executive leadership team of the Department and in conjunction with significant and regular horizontal collaboration within the provincial government, and with the federal government. The strategies of labour market development policy, programs, and initiatives focus on both individuals and employers through key partners such as industry/sector organizations, training institutions, community-based service providers and multiple government departments and agencies with varying degrees of direct and indirect involvement in the development of labour market in Nova Scotia.  

Primary Accountabilities

The Senior Executive Director is responsible for the following key accountabilities: 

1. Leads the development of the Skills and Learning strategic framework including establishing key labour market priorities, translation into actionable plans, with ongoing monitoring. Ensures there are equitable strategies in place that develop a labour market that is representative of all Nova Scotians.
2. Strengthens skills and employment initiatives, programs and services by ensuring efficient integration across all program delivery areas, eliminating duplication of efforts among other departments and ensuring effective policy, standards and quality management and accountability processes are current and firmly in place to continually support Nova Scotia's labour market needs, workforce productivity and social and economic inclusion.
3. Delivers comprehensive, strategic advice on the current and desired state of the provincial labour market to senior levels of government.
4. Negotiates federal/provincial labour market agreements for significant funding in provincial programs and services.  Ensures effective investment of the federal-provincial and provincial funding to maximize labour market outcomes and accountability.
5. Ensures the effective management of human and financial resources by setting and evaluating senior staff performance targets, promoting diversity and a healthy, respectful workplace, demonstrating the leadership capabilities, respecting corporate human resources practices, promoting teamwork and individual development, maintaining internal communication, monitoring revenues and expenditures, adhering to procurement guidelines, acquiring goods and services in the most cost effective manner, and accurately forecasting budget requirements for the fiscal year.
6. Is a member of the senior executive leadership team of the Department and actively contributes to achieving departmental priorities through business planning, budget preparation, talent management, equity, diversity and belonging, and other corporate goals. 
   
   

Qualifications and Experience

As the ideal candidate, you have experience leading and developing complex and diverse teams. You have demonstrated a high level of integrity through progressive leadership experience. Your outstanding leadership abilities are showcased through your commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. You have demonstrated an ability to shape a positive and collaborative organizational environment that develops people and relationships that affect positive change.

As the senior lead for the Skills and Learning Branch, you are known as a strategic thinker and have demonstrated this skill while effectively deploying available financial, human, and material resources.  You are a skilled negotiator who has liaised and negotiated with various levels of government, and have demonstrated an understanding of government processes, policy development and legislation.

Throughout your career, you have handled increasingly strategic, complex, sensitive, and sometimes contentious issues. You have learned the value of strong communication skills and collaborative working relationships in managing challenges and developing responsive solutions in an environment with multiple and competing priorities.  You are experienced at public communication with citizens, community partners and media.

We ask that you apply for this position with a cover letter and résumé that demonstrate:

• Post-secondary studies (University, College, Professional Designation)
• Five (5) years of progressive experience that includes senior leadership, managing large teams and budgets  
• A demonstrated commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Experience working with federal and/or provincial government partners
• Experience in leading community organizations and/or regional and/or province-wide work teams

Additional Assets for this role include:

• While not required, bilingualism (French/English) is an asset
• Community / volunteer activities with a leadership role
  
  

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 capabilities 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.

Additional Information

This is a TERM employment opportunity.  

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.