Student Services Consultant (Education Officer 3)
Competition # : 44696
Department: Education & Early Childhood Development
Location: HALIFAX
Type of Employment: Permanent
Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG
Closing Date: 16-Dec-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)
About Us
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) 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 give children, students, and families a strong foundation for success. This Department is a perfect fit for those who 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 Student Service and Equity Branch is dedicated to collaborating across the Department to build a Nova Scotia educational system that is inclusive, equitable, culturally responsive, and a safe learning environment for all learners.
For more information about EECD, please visit Here
About Our Opportunity
We seek to hire a Provincial Student Services Consultant (SSC) to join our innovative and dynamic team. The Student Services Consultant will assist in implementing, monitoring, and evaluating EECD policies and programs that support the well-being and achievement of students with complex needs and chronic health care.
As the Student Services Consultant, you will work directly with EECD staff, Regional Centres for Education (RCEs) and Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) and with partners such as other government departments, authorities, agencies, post-secondary institutions, professional associations and nongovernment organizations to ensure EECD commitment to inclusive education for all student is met. You will provide leadership to initiatives such as the School Health Partnership and program planning for students with disabilities.
Additional responsibilities include project management tasks, including research, data management, and evaluation, drafting correspondence, leading and managing professional learning and educational initiatives and other duties as assigned.
As the Student Services Consultant, reporting to the Director of Student Services, you will provide leadership, training, and appropriate staff development to support educational equity and accessibility for all learners in the public -school system.
We are looking for a proven educational leader passionate about making a difference. You will need to demonstrate a strong understanding of strengths-based practices that support a positive school climate! This position is located within the Student Services and Equity Branch.
Primary Accountabilities
- Lead and manage key projects/initiatives.
- Provide leadership in identifying and promoting programs of prevention and intervention to support and promote student well-being and achievement (programs that support relational approaches and social and emotional literacy)
- Research and evaluate new developments and best practices in the development of safe, inclusive and equitable school cultures.
- Work collaboratively across government and outside agencies in relation to initiatives and programs that support student well-being and safety.
- Consult with colleagues within/outside the province regarding current trends and promising practices.
- Collect, review, research, and compile reports and prepare correspondence as requested
- Provide strategic support and insight for EECD and RCEs/CSAP staff in addressing issues arising in schools.
- Provide strategic support and insight to partners such as the IWK, Nova Scotia Health through the School Health Partnership in addressing issues arising in schools.
- Ensure the simultaneous release of documents in both French and English and will perform other related responsibilities as may be required.
Qualifications and Experience
As the successful candidate, you will have:
-A Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on Inclusive Education or Administration and Policy
-A minimum of eight (8) years of successful and recent school-based experience, including experience in developing and carrying out professional development, programs, services, and initiatives in equity education in Nova Scotia public schools.
-A Bachelor of Education Degree or eligibility to be certified through the Nova Scotia Office of Teacher Certification
-Education leadership experience (coach/mentor, consultant, coordinator, school administration, or equivalent) is required.
Experience working with school-based staff and RCEs/CSAP promoting safe and inclusive schools, cultural responsiveness, and the development of guidelines, strategies, and policies required to support learners with complex needs and chronic health care. You work well independently, and in team environments, you apply the concepts of equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusive practice to all areas of your work. You will support your colleagues in doing the same. You have extensive knowledge of research principles for inclusive education. You can build productive relationships with non-governmental and governmental members (both internally and externally). You exercise tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment when dealing with colleagues.
You are proficient in using Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint). You have strong interpersonal, communication (written and verbal), project management, and organizational skills. You pay attention to detail and accuracy while balancing priorities.
Additional asset (s) considered for this position include:
-Knowledge of the intersection of Nova Scotia’s Inclusive Education Policy with other social policy department strategies focused on child and youth development
-Excellence in program design and evaluation skills
-Demonstrated work with equity-deserving groups, resulting in effective outcomes
-Bilingualism (fluent in French and English)
Equivalency
Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.
Benefits
Based on the employment status and union agreement, 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.
- Travel is required to attend meetings and offer services.
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
- Department specific flexible working schedules
Pay Grade: PR 20
Salary Range: $3,507.08 - $4,129.29 Bi-Weekly
Employment Equity Statement:
Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.
This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:
Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.
External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.
Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.