Executive Director, Children and Family Services

  • Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • Deadline: November 17, 2020 at 11:59 pm

Competition # : 27251 

Department: Community Services

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: Exclusion – Non Union – NSPG

Closing Date: 11/17/2020

Designation Status

 

This opportunity is designated to applicants that identify as Indigenous, African Nova Scotian or Other Racially Visible groups, or persons with a Disability.

 

About Us

The Department of Community Services works collaboratively with community, social enterprise, and not-for-profits to ensure vulnerable children, families, and individuals receive the supports they need to live safe, healthy, and productive lives. We are committed to a social service system that helps people be as independent and fulfilled as possible, and to reach their full potential.

 

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Deputy Minister, the Executive Director for Children and Family Supports is accountable for corporate leadership and expertise in the development and implementation of innovative and transformative strategies, policies, and programs that promote and support the independence, self-reliance, and protection of children and families across the province. This role, and this Division, work collaboratively and horizontally with the other program divisions of the department and front line service delivery. This level of collaboration extends to other government departments and agencies and outside of the public sector to various agencies, organizations and partners.

The Executive Director leads a senior team of highly skilled professionals and subject matter experts to ensure that supports to children and families are delivered in a manner that focuses on their needs.  The Executive Director has a broad scope of accountability and authority and ensures that the risks to children (child protection, adoption, foster care, residential), youth, and families are minimized through innovative and responsive child-and-family-centric programs, services and interventions.

 

Primary Accountabilities

As the Executive Director, you provide strategic leadership and innovative expertise in the development, evolution and administration of the Department’s programs and services for children and families. You champion, direct, and lead significant transformation initiatives and serve as a catalyst and executive leader in advocating the adoption of culturally appropriate, evidence-based, outcome-oriented approaches that further the development of sustainable social service programs.

You are the designated program and statutory authority for relevant legislation and regulations and collaborate with others in the development of sustainable, integrated, research-based, outcome-focused programming for children and families.

The impact of this role is far-reaching, and we count on your excellent leadership abilities to:

  • Ensure effective stakeholder relationships at the strategic and executive levels in the sector, across and beyond the province;
  • Build inter-departmental, inter-jurisdictional, and inter-sectoral networks and partnerships that advance the objectives of children and family programs and services;
  • Enhance and extend professional capability and capacity within the sector across the province;
  • Oversee, direct and collaborate on the work of multidisciplinary teams engaged in the development, implementation, administration, and evaluation of policy, programs, and services;
  • Develop and inspire a culture that promotes creativity and innovation; and
  • Ensure a workplace climate that supports collaboration, encourages and honours diversity, and reflects the principles and values of the Department and the Government.

You are an integral member of the Department’s executive leadership team, providing expert advice and information to the Minister, Deputy Minister, and Associate Deputy Minister.

 

Qualifications and Experience

You are a champion of the importance of people, teams, diversity, and culture. You have several years of progressive social-services experience at the director or executive level, ideally with programs and services supporting children (child protection, adoption, foster care), youth, and families.

You are a transformational leader who inspires and challenges others to be creative, innovative, and collaborative.  You are an experienced leader who encourages your team and others to work toward the common goal of family-led decision making and child-centred service.

In your career, you have demonstrated an ability to execute and deliver actions in the short-term, along with experience in developing and implementing a vision with a longer-term outlook. You are a natural and strong communicator and relationship builder and have a bias for collaborative, candid and open discussions, both with internal and external stakeholders.

You have an ability to take in new information and quickly synthesize it to provide excellent advice, rooted in good judgement and expertise. You are well-organized, capable of prioritizing work, and are flexible and open to changing course if new information or a changing environment presents itself.

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

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies 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. 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: Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation, and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click here to learn more about our various benefits offerings and eligibility criteria.

 

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.
  • Mentorship through iNSpire; a new formal, interdepartmental mentorship program that connects employees so they can gain knowledge and experience to support their career development.
  • Countless Career Paths.
  • Department Specific Flexible working schedules.

 

Pay Grade:  EC 16

Salary Range:  $4,766.36 – $5,943.94 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.

To apply for this position, please follow this link: https://jobs.novascotia.ca/job/Executive-Director%2C-Children-and-Family-Services-NS-B3J-3S9/542088617/