Watershed Program Officer (Program Admin Officer 4)

About Us

Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change’s role is to protect the environment and human health through regulatory excellence, conservation, partnership, and promotion. The department works to support a clean and healthy environment in Nova Scotia, advance a clean economy, addressing the climate crisis and guide the province towards a sustainable and clean future where all Nova Scotians can thrive.

To know more, please visit our website https://www.novascotia.ca/nse/ 

About Our Opportunity

This is an ideal opportunity to work out of the Halifax Head office in the Sustainability and Applied Science Division for a senior watershed protection and planning professional to lead the work of how drinking water sources are protected in Nova Scotia.

Reporting to the Manager of Environmental Health and Food Safety, the Program Administration Officer (Senior Watershed Program Officer) is responsible for providing advanced specialized program administrative and management of the program. They will work in a team to apply the principles of science, resource protection and public policy analysis to support source water protection, watershed planning and drinking water management for the Department. This position requires extensive contact with municipal water utilities, watershed protection committees, and involves regular contact and collaboration with other professional water management staff, including drinking water specialists, water quality specialists and planners. The role requires interaction with senior officials at provincial and municipal levels of government with an ability to provide direction and leadership to municipalities and water utilities across the province.

Primary Accountabilities

As a Senior Watershed Program Officer you will work within the Sustainability and Applied Science Division as part of a team to: 

• Lead the development of standards, guidelines, and guidance and best management practices for various watershed management activities to assist municipal water utilities in managing risks to watersheds for water quality protection. 
• Lead the program management and administration of the Department’s Source Water Protection program, including the Protected Water Area designations and regulation process, while supporting change initiatives, analysis and implementation for program improvements. 
• Oversee the administration of the program and provide senior planning support to facilitate and coordinate the development and implementation of multi-stakeholder, consensus-based watershed management plans throughout the Province. 
• Provide professional and technical assistance to senior officials in the Department and support for watershed planners working with municipalities and watershed groups in developing source water protection plans for both surface and groundwater. 
• Lead development of internal and external communication with Department management, through reporting and document development for senior officials.
• Utilize technology (working with tools such as GIS) to identify risks to drinking and ambient water quality and priority areas for watershed management strategies. 
• Work as a member of a cross-department team, supporting the Departments goals and priorities for source water protection and drinking water.  
• May perform other related duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications and Experience

A bachelor’s degree in environmental science or related area of concentration (water resource management or natural sciences) plus six (6) years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

You also possess the following:
Experience/Knowledge

• Strong leadership, facilitation and communication skills are essential to ensure successful collaboration with colleagues, other departments, municipalities and other stakeholders.
• Superior written and verbal communication, project management and partnership building skills given the extensive contact with varied internal and external stakeholders. 
• Experience with source water protection, water quality analysis, and multi barrier approaches to water quality protection for drinking water
• Working independently and/or as part of team in a fast-paced environment with quick turn around times or deadlines.
• Excellent working knowledge of computer applications (e.g. Microsoft Office suite, Word, Teams, Power Point, etc.) 
  Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a continuous improvement mindset and the ability to identify innovative solutions using existing tools.
• Effective communicator with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Assets

• Master’s degree in a relevant water resource or drinking water field.
• Knowledge and experience with GIS and data spatial analysis. 
• Knowledge of provincial and federal legislation, regulations policies and programs relevant to source water management in Nova Scotia.
• Experience working in a government or regulatory setting.

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 or will result in termination of your employment.

We may assess the above qualifications using one or more of the following tools: written examination, presentations, interviews, and reference checks.

Equivalency

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

• Frequent travel is required to consult with stakeholders and, therefore a valid driver’s license and access to a motor vehicle for work travel is required. 
• Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day 
• May be required to work overtime on occasion 
  
  

Additional Information

This is a PERMANENT employment opportunity. 

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