Senior Strategist, Mi'kmaq and Indigenous Health (Designated)

Designation Status

This opportunity is designated for applicants that are Indigenous. 

See the Nova Scotia Government’s Employment Equity Policy for more information, including additional details on the designated groups.

About Us

The Department of Health and Wellness offers opportunities to grow and advance in a dynamic sector that touches the lives of all Nova Scotians. Along with our partners, including the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK Health Centre, we’re committed to continually improving our health care system. With a focus on collaborative primary health care, continuing care, improved supports for mental health and addictions, digital health, capital infrastructure, and more, the department is thinking differently about how to plan, fund, legislate and monitor to improve access and 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

We are seeking a Mi’kmaw or other Indigenous individual with a deep understanding of the guiding principle of Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing) to join the Equity and Engagement team at the Department of Health and Wellness.

Reporting to the Director, Strategic Health Partnerships, the Senior Strategist is a key member of the Equity and Engagement team with responsibility for developing, fostering, and maintaining productive working relationships with Mi’kmaw and other Indigenous partners, health system leadership, and government partners at all levels.

Using Etuaptmumk as a guiding principle, this position will lead work to reduce or eliminate preventable disparities in health outcomes and improve safety for Mi’kmaw or other Indigenous people within Nova Scotia’s health system – including patients and families, staff, and physicians.

Primary Accountabilities

• Leads teams to implement Health Equity Framework initiatives that impact Mi’kmaw or other Indigenous patients, communities, health system staff, and physicians. This work will include a focus on respectful engagement, overall project management, and accountability related to the Health Equity Framework and health system change initiatives overall. 
• Works closely with DHW’s Intergovernmental Relations division to develop and foster Nation-to-Nation relationships between DHW/health system staff and Mi’kmaw communities, organizations, and leadership. 
• Leads DHW/health system colleagues on working in partnership with Mi’kmaw or other Indigenous partners, including leadership of health system initiatives focused on developing cultural understanding and competency, capacity for respectful engagement, and the incorporation of the guiding principle of Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing) into health system practices. 
• Provides functional direction and strategic advice to staff in various working groups, both within the branch and collaboratively with staff from other branches, departments, other levels of government, health system partners, and community members. 
• Leads the planning and development of briefing materials, cabinet submissions, corporate documents, and presentations through the preparation of thoughtful research, analysis, and recommendations focused on Mi’kmaw/Indigenous health. 
• Leads and engages partners to develop Indigenous training, culture, and knowledge sharing for DHW staff and leadership.
• Serves as the Equity and Engagement division’s primary point of contact for Mi’kmaw/ Indigenous health.
• Leadership on actioning, monitoring, and reporting on Indigenous-related reports relating to health such as TRC, MMIWG, UNDRIP, etc..
• May perform other related duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications and Experience

This may be the right opportunity for you if you have, at minimum, a bachelors’ degree or a professional designation in a related discipline with extensive experience and knowledge of Mi’kmaw/Indigenous health. Equivalencies such as a combination of course work and/or volunteer experience related to education, community engagement and/or policy and program development will also be considered.

You should be able to demonstrate experience in building strong partnerships, leadership, strategic planning, and project management. An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered.

In addition, you:

• Hold a deep commitment to developing relationships and collaborating effectively with a wide array of partners across community-based sectors, departments, and institutions to successfully achieve collective goals and objectives. 
• Demonstrate outstanding communication skills, adept at fostering engagement with staff and partners through articulate dialogue, compelling writing, and impactful presentations. 
• Apply robust project management principles to lead and oversee community-based projects from inception to completion. 
• Exhibit a robust commitment to creativity, innovation, and strategic foresight in leading complex system-change projects. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to equity, inclusion, and proactive engagement, understanding their crucial role in advancing the department’s vision and goals. 
• Required competencies for this position include Decisiveness, Strategic Orientation, Developing Others, Team Leadership, Self-Awareness & Personal Impact, Effective Interactive Communication, Partnering & Relationship Building, Intercultural & Diversity Proficiency. 
  
  

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.

Working Conditions

• Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day
• May be required to work overtime on occasion
• Will involve in-Province travel
  
  

Additional Information

Location: Flexible in Nova Scotia (with remote work options from Mi’kmaw communities)

Remote Work Flexibility: Given the nature of the role, which involves significant travel and community engagement across the province, we offer the flexibility for the successful candidate to work from their home community.

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.