Department: Labour, Skills and Immigration
Type of Employment: Term
Union Status: Exclusion – Non Union – NSPG
This opportunity is designated to applicants that identify as Indigenous Person, African/Black Nova Scotian and/or other Racialized Persons, and Person with a Disability.
See the Nova Scotia Government’s Employment Equity Policy for more information, including additional details on the designated groups.
If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you must clearly self-identify during the application process, to be considered.
The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration (LSI) works as a trusted partner to grow the population, develop our current and future workforce, and foster inclusive, safe and fair workplaces. This includes welcoming people from across Canada and the world, helping people prepare for job opportunities and build the skills they need, promoting safe work environments and helping employers and employees know their rights and responsibilities. We work together to create a future where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.
The Engagement, Equity and Belonging Branch supports our people and the health of our organization in five different areas: Communications and Outreach, Learning and Development, Workforce Diversification, Accessible and Inclusive Workplace Environments, and Monitoring and Evaluation.
We are an energetic team with a positive attitude and determination to make a difference by applying equity and inclusion lens and ensure all training and development and engagement and communications are inclusive of the diversity of the department, our partners and Nova Scotians.
If you are interested in making a difference in the area of employee engagement, equity and inclusion and wish to join a strong team environment who strive to achieve success, we want to hear from you.
Reporting to the Executive Director, Engagement, Equity and Belonging, as the Director, you will champion and lead the development of strategies and programs that promote Labour, Skills and Immigration as a place where individuals from diverse backgrounds, at all levels of the department, are respected and valued for their differences and contributions to the department.
As Director, you will have senior leadership accountability and be responsible to provide corporate leadership and strategic Equity, Diversity and Inclusion expertise in the areas of employment equity, barrier identification, action planning, measurement, and evaluation. The Director also works to establish and foster a systems-based approach, ensuring an equity, diversity and inclusion lens is applied in human resource and employee engagement strategies, programs and policies that will guide the department to be a welcoming and engaged public service space.
The Director will lead and manage a strong, diverse and dynamic team of professionals committed to making LSI a better place to work. You will adapt to and effectively implement emerging trends to build a healthier, equitable and welcoming culture across LSI. You will be focused on building a culture that positively supports employees and leaders, based on public service values, a skilled, nimble and adaptable public service and providing a quality work experience that will enable employees to bring their whole selves to work.
As the Director, you are accountable for the implementation of LSI’s Near-Term Plan for Diversity and Inclusion, and Employment Equity Plan. The Director also represents the Branch on various steering committees, advisory groups, and interdepartmental forums including the Diversity & Inclusion Roundtable.
We are looking for a people centred leader who has demonstrated effective leadership experience, and leads with integrity, building success on the relationships established. You have vision and strategy experience with the ability to turn strategy into action through thorough and well-planned implementation. Your communication style includes the ability to read the audience and tailor responses to their needs. You are committed to continuous learning, with a lens that makes equity, inclusion, engagement and accessibility a priority. You work with controlled patience and come with the understanding that culture change takes awareness, strategy, relationships, collaboration and time.
You are a result-focused relationship builder who has experience in demonstrating the value of a diverse and respectful workforce. You have a well-established and diverse network and have experience motivating colleagues. You apply change management techniques in your work, adapting to new directions and overcoming resistance.
You build effective collaborative working relationships at all levels of the organization in diverse communities, and with senior leaders, unions, external partners, and with a variety of stakeholders You have excellent verbal, written and presentation skills.
You have a strong working knowledge of issues impacting diverse communities. You leverage your lived experience and thorough understanding of bias, discrimination, equity, inclusion, privilege, and systemic barriers to effectively navigate and provide innovative solutions to highly complex and/or ambiguous problems.
You hold a post-secondary degree in a related field (or an acceptable equivalency) and have 3 years of progressive leadership experience. You have led major initiatives, policy or strategy development. You move fluidly between work at the individual, group, and systems level, embracing a role that requires an operational and strategic orientation. Demonstrating our leadership competencies is in your nature but you especially excel in the intercultural diversity proficiency competency. Having strong community connections, exceptional network leadership skills and the ability to impact and influence others over whom they have no direct authority is an asset.
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 go to the following link for more information: LEADS (novascotia.ca).
We will assess the above qualifications and competencies identified for this position using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.
Equivalencies considered include, but are not limited to, several years of progressive leadership experience supporting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.
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.
This is a full-time term position with a projected end date of November 10, 2028; however, the position status (“term”, “temporary” or “casual”) is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate.
Pay Grade: EC 13
Salary Range: $4,055.86 – $5,069.81 Bi-Weekly
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.
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.
Interested applicants may apply on the link below:
Director Engagement Equity & Belonging (Designated) Job Details | The Government of Nova Scotia