Senior Strategist, Mi'kmaq/Indigenous Relations (Designated)

Designation Status

This opportunity is designated to applicants that identify as Indigenous Person.

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

Reporting to the Director, Intergovernmental Relations (IGR), the Senior Strategist, Mi’kmaq / Indigenous Relations is a key member of the department’s IGR team. The Strategist will hold responsibility for developing and maintaining productive working relationships with Mi’kmaq and Indigenous partners, health system leadership, and government partners at all levels. 

This position will lead policy work to develop, promote, and advance, the department’s formal governmental relationship with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia within the provincial health system. 
 

Primary Accountabilities

Key responsibilities include:

• Leads teams to implement provincial commitments to the ‘Memorandum of Understanding: Shared Commitments to Action on Health Transformation for the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia”. This work will include a focus on respectful collaboration, project management, and accountability related to the MOU and health system change initiatives. 
• Develops and fosters nation-to-nation relationships between the DHW/health system staff and Mi’kmaw communities, organizations, and leadership. 
• Leads Department of Health and Wellness (DHW)/health system colleagues in partnership with Mi’kmaq and Indigenous partners, to inform strategies to strengthen the relationship between the province and Indigenous health leaders. 
• Develops, cultivates, and promotes an understanding of Mi’kmaw health issues, worldview/values, and the needs of community, with an awareness and consideration for other Indigenous people and groups living in Nova Scotia. 
• Leads policy development of all Mi’kmaw and Indigenous agreements and formal government to government relation files. Providing key analysis and advice for DHW staff and leadership regarding ongoing Mi’kmaq and Indigenous files and initiatives. 
• Serves as IGR’s primary point of contact for Mi’kmaq and Indigenous intergovernmental relations. Performs a liaison function across federal, provincial, and territorial governments, and Nova Scotia government, including Office of L’nu Affairs and other departments with Mi’kmaw and Indigenous functions on all health-related work. 
• Provides leadership in advancing the departments bilateral and trilateral relationships as they pertain to Mi’kmaq and Indigenous health. This includes providing guidance and analysis regarding DHW’s involvement and commitments with Mi’kmaw health organizations, Tripartite, federal, provincial, and territorial Indigenous health files and other Indigenous-related health initiatives. 
• Conducts ongoing analysis to ensure that Mi’kmaq and Indigenous-related work is in line with system changes and current guidance on Indigenous health such as TRC Calls to Action, MMIWG Calls to Justice, and United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP). 
• Works closely with DHW’s Equity and Engagement division to advance Mi’kmaq/Indigenous work under the Health Equity Framework and support departmental coordination on key files. 
   

Qualifications and Experience

You hold a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline with several years of progressive and demonstrated experience in building strong partnerships, leadership, strategy, 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 sectors, departments, and institutions to successfully achieve collective goals and objectives. 
• Demonstrate outstanding communication skills, adept at fostering engagement with senior management, partners and other stakeholders through articulate dialogue, compelling writing, and impactful presentations. 
• Apply robust project management principles to lead and oversee government projects from inception to completion.
• Knowledge of systems and processes of decision-making in a government environment. 
• Exhibit a 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.
• Government experience and experience with intergovernmental relations will be considered an asset. 

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, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.
 

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.
 

Benefits

Based on the employment status, 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: Nova Scotia 

 

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.