Manager, Wildlife & Integrated Resource Planning

About Us

Nova Scotia is rich in natural resources - including biodiversity, forests, geological resources, provincial parks and the land we manage. The Department of Natural Resources and Renewables is responsible for the development, management, conversation and protection of forest, mineral, parks and wildlife resources and the administration of the province's crown land. Together, we are working with Nova Scotians to build a better future through sustainable natural resource management as we all benefit from the natural health and wealth of the province. 

About Our Opportunity

The Manager of Wildlife and Integrated Resource Planning provides operational and technical leadership to a multidisciplinary team responsible for delivering expert analysis and clear, practical, and applied guidance to support evidence-based decisions on Crown land use within approved land use planning frameworks and strategic direction established by the Director.

The role provides leadership to specialists in biodiversity, species at risk, wildlife management and ecosystems, ensuring that environmental values are integrated into broader land use planning, policy development, and risk assessment processes. The Manager plays a key role in helping the province meet its legislated obligations and related national and international commitments by ensuring that land use decisions are informed, actionable, transparent, and aligned with government priorities.

Primary Accountabilities

• Provide clear and practical direction in biodiversity, species at risk, wildlife management and ecosystems to support evidence‑based Crown land use planning and decision‑making.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of provincial goals, policies, and strategies related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, ensuring scientific and technical considerations are translated into practical program direction and implementation approaches aligned with the department’s mandate.
• Represent the province on interprovincial, national, and international working groups related to biodiversity, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems, ensuring alignment with provincial land use goals.
• Oversee species, habitat, and migratory wildlife assessment programs, including implementation of the Endangered Species Act, cooperative surveys, population assessments, and habitat identification, to ensure reliable, decision-ready information is available to support land use planning and operational decision making.
• Provide leadership to a team of experts who deliver practical guidance and solutions across provincial and federal environmental planning and decision-making processes, including environmental assessments, conservation planning, ecosystem management, best management practices, and private land stewardship, to ensure all resource values are fully integrated into land use decisions at local and landscape scales.
• Ensure the effective management of human and financial resources by setting and evaluating staff performance targets, promoting diversity and a healthy, respectful workplace, demonstrating the leadership competencies, respecting corporate human resources practices, promoting teamwork and individual development, maintaining internal communication, monitoring revenues and expenditures, adhering to procurement guidelines, acquiring goods and services in the most effective manner, and accurately forecasting budget requirement for the fiscal year.

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this opportunity, you will possess a bachelor's degree in a related field, plus several years of progressive management experience.

Your expertise will allow you to be the lead contact for biodiversity and species at risk issues, providing clear and practical advice to senior management, integrating applied scientific, technical and program priorities.

You have strong relationship building skills which will foster your networking with government and non-government conservation organizations, scientists, universities, industry, local community groups, and other partners. 

Further, your knowledge and experience will enable you to provide expertise, coordination, and leadership in the implementation of landscape level planning, Integrated Resource Management and related programs across internal and external partners. 

You are creative and forward-thinking, a person who finds solutions that are efficient, effective, aligned with government priorities, and client-focused. 

Leadership competencies required at this level of work are:  Decisiveness, Strategic Orientation, Developing Others, Team Leadership, Self-Awareness and Personal Impact, Effective Interactive Communication, Partnering and Relationship Building, and Intercultural and Diversity Proficiency.

Qualifications and competencies will be assessed 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

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.

Additional Information

This is a permanent, full-time position based in Kentville, 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.