Senior Strategist (Designated)

Designation Status

This opportunity is designated to applicants that identify as Indigenous Person, and/or African/Black Nova Scotian and other Racialized Persons.

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.

More specifically, the Physician Services Branch is responsible for the development and maintenance of physician related insured medical service programs and physician recruitment incentives by providing broad strategic leadership and developing guidelines and procedures for fee-for-service and alternatively paid physicians. The Physician Services Branch is also involved in negotiations with Doctors Nova Scotia.
 

About Our Opportunity

As a member of the Physician Services team, you will provide expert research, analysis and strategic advice to the Directors and senior management (including the Minister, Deputy Minister and Senior Executive Director, when required) of the Department to promote effective operations, planning, policy development, and strategic planning.

You will lead projects, develop and leverage strategic partnerships, and participate in multi-disciplinary, interdepartmental and intergovernmental teams of senior staff in the identification and analysis of policy and research options and recommendations to foster a physician workforce to meet the healthcare needs of all Nova Scotians.

This position is also consistently called upon to lead from start to finish a variety of complex projects as well as contribute to legislative and regulatory initiatives and develop policy and operational process initiatives that are strategically aligned with departmental and government priorities and negotiated physician agreements.

The Senior Strategist will play an important role in fulfilling operational requirements of a funding programs portfolio. Specifically, they will be required to review operational requests from our health partners (NHSA, IWK), identify trends and mitigations for operational deficiencies, apply a provincial, systems-focused lens to problem-solving with our partners, chair/participate in various working groups and leverage relationships with our stakeholders for operational policy/program development. As a senior member of the Alternative Funding team, you will mentor and coach operational and policy staff.
 

Primary Accountabilities

More specifically, in this position you will:

• Provide leadership to staff and act as an advisor in the development of system strategy, standards, key performance indicators, and policy through review of relevant research, statistical reports, literature, jurisdictional scans and stakeholder consultation.
• Manage a broad range of Branch research and policy initiatives that are at a high level of complexity.
• Demonstrate strategic and analytical thinking and exercise discretion in balancing priorities and dealing with sensitive issues, including issues related to the Clinical/Academic Funding Plan and Physician Agreement Negotiations with Doctors Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Health (NSH), IWK and/or the Department of Medicine.
• Monitor the planning and delivery of Physician Services’ initiatives and funding programs to ensure our partners, including but not limited to the NSHA/IWK/Department of Medicine, plan and deliver in accordance with the approved plans, outcome frameworks, strategic plans, business plans and policy guidelines where they exist. 
• Lead teams and provide functional direction and strategic advice to staff in various working groups, both within the Branch and collaboratively with staff from other branches, departments and/or external stakeholders.
• In concert with the Branch’s senior leadership team, review and provide input, including recommendations for approval and/or revisions of plans and strategies related to Physician Services provided by the NSHA and the IWK. 
• Collaborate with peers within/outside the Branch on health system initiatives, business cases, new funding requests, negotiations planning, operational processes, et cetera.
• Collaborate with peer Program Managers to provide operational support and guidance to administrative staff in delivering a program/services portfolio on behalf of the Government, in accordance with federal/provincial acts and/or regulations. 
• Set and evaluate performance targets, promote diversity and a healthy workplace, demonstrate leadership competencies, and respect corporate human resources practices.
• Work in a confidential capacity.
   

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this position, you hold a bachelor's degree in a related field (such as social science, public administration, business administration) as well as several years of progressive experience in strategy and policy development, reporting, stakeholder relations, financial management, operations and/or program evaluation. The ideal candidate will have such experience in a health services’ capacity.

You demonstrate experience in evidence-based decision making and have a sound knowledge and understanding of government processes.

You have a strategic orientation and project management experience in leading large corporate horizontal initiatives that align with broader government strategy and objectives.

You are adept at synthesizing information from a variety of sources and taking into consideration competing interests when providing analysis and recommendations.

You must possess exceptional verbal and written communication skills and the ability to establish productive relationships with representatives of non-governmental and governmental organizations (both interdepartmentally and inter-jurisdictionally).

This is a fast pace, high profile Branch. The team works under tight time constraints and competing priorities, therefore the ability to maintain a strategic focus while managing operational demands will be key to your success. The ability to work well under pressure, to lead teams, and enlist the enthusiastic involvement of team members in problem solving, undertaking innovative strategies and approaches to arrive at quality, sustainable solutions is essential to this position.

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

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

For example, but not limited to, we will consider a Masters degree in a related field.

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

Typically located in a comfortable office environment. Some travel may be required – federal/provincial/territorial, as well as facility and agency meetings.
 

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.