Senior Policy Analyst

About Us

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is leading the transformation of the early years and public education system in Nova Scotia. We are doing this by designing an innovative curriculum, facilitating excellence in teaching and learning, ensuring an inclusive education experience, and working closely with our partners in education. This will provide children, students, and families with a strong foundation for success. This department is a perfect fit for those that want to be part of the future of public education in the province by supporting student learning in a progressive and responsive policy environment.

The department is thinking differently about how to plan, fund, legislate, and govern service delivery. To do this, we need leaders at all levels of the organization who embrace a challenge and believe in their ability to make a difference.

About Our Opportunity

The Senior Policy Analyst will play a central role in leading and shaping major system wide policy and program changes within the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) sector. The position provides confidential, strategic advice to the Director, Executive Director, Senior Executive Director, Deputy Minister, and Minister on highly sensitive and complex issues, including funding models, federal provincial agreements, legislative and regulatory amendments, and long term sector planning. 

In addition, the incumbent will provide policy development, implementation, and evaluation/monitoring of the effectiveness of policy. Further, the incumbent will make effective recommendations with a focus on strategic decision-making. The incumbent will also develop legislative, regulatory, policy, and process initiatives that are strategically aligned with our government priorities. 

Primary Accountabilities

• Conducts comprehensive research, analysis, measurement and evaluation of complex policy issues to provide strategic advice to senior leadership.
• Develops, formulates, and administers departmental policy, including recommendations for policies, legislative and regulatory changes, consultations, and compliance.
• Prepares the more complex and/or oversees submissions to Executive Council and Finance and Treasury Board (e.g. memorandums to Executive Council, reports and
• recommendations to Executive Council, requests for Legislation, presentations to Issues Committee).
• Initiates, plans, develops, and manages a wide range of policy projects/initiatives for the departments in broader legislative, regulatory, and program frameworks.
• Provides leadership in the developmental of long-term strategic plans to address critical issues and contributes to the planning of the department's legislative agenda.
• Provides policy advice and prepares, coordinates, and assures quality control for divisional briefing materials and Briefing Binders for the Minister, Deputy and Premier.
  
  

Qualifications and Experience

As the Senior Policy Analyst, you hold a bachelor's degree in addition to substantial and progressive experience in the design and development of policies and/or programs.

Experience in developing and analyzing policy with the ability to interpret data in a meaningful way is required for this position. Strong research with the ability to evaluate complex policies are essential skills for this role.

You have an excellent grasp of policy and planning methodology, systems and processes of decision-making in a government environment. You apply this knowledge to complex and broadly connected regulatory and/or social policy issues.

In addition to the above, you are a highly organized individual who is focused on continuously improving quality and has a solution-focused approach. You are responsive and able to prioritize a high volume of competing and sometimes rapid requests.

You are an excellent relationship builder, self-starter with the ability to initiate tasks with little supervision and possess great organization skills.

As a skilled communicator, you possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.

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.

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 full-time permanent position based in Halifax.

Should you have applied to the Future Opportunities Pool in 2025 (Competition #45850), your application will be considered and there is no need to reapply to this competition. If you are interested in updating your resume or resubmitting your application, you are also welcome to do so by applying to this competition. 

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.