New Job Director Of Policy And Standards In Nova Scotia

Job Title: Director of Policy and Standards

Competition # : 37762
Department: Justice
Location: HALIFAX
Type of Employment: Permanent
Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG
Closing Date: 2/9/2023 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Accessibility Directorate is a dynamic and committed team that is leading and coordinating Nova Scotia's goal to become an accessible province by 2030. We work together with Nova Scotians with disabilities, community and disability organizations, businesses, municipalities, post-secondary institutions, and other partners to support the cultural shift needed to implement the Accessibility Act and address disability-related issues across government.

Since the team was established five years ago, we have built relationships within government and with public sector and community partners to support their efforts to improve accessibility, including Government's multi-year accessibility plan; beginning development of the province's first accessibility standards - in the areas of Education, Built Environment, Employment, and Goods and Services; collaborating with public sector bodies to support the development of accessibility plans and initiatives across the province; developing accessibility awareness resources and initiatives including the public awareness campaign "Access Includes Everyone" with the related website https://accessible.novascotia.ca/; and initiated the first independent review of the Accessibility Act.

Learn more about our work to ensure Nova Scotians with disabilities can enjoy all this province has to offer, at home, school, work and in community, on the Accessibility Directorate website: https://novascotia.ca/accessibility/.

About Our Opportunity

As the Director of Policy and Standards, you will lead a team of professional staff, mainly senior policy analysts, and provide leadership and direction for the development and delivery of accessibility standards (regulations), and related policies and plans, to achieve obligations in the Accessibility Act and Access by Design 2030 priorities and commitments. You will approve advice, briefing materials, and analysis and make recommendations to senior leadership on government policies, procedures, legislation, and regulations which may have a direct effect or impact on people with disabilities in Nova Scotia, and other sectors. You will be expected to use a citizen centered approach, foster a continuous improvement environment and think through issues by seeing the pattern or big picture, brings facts and ideas together with your team, and together develop innovative or creative insights.

In this role, you will report to the Executive Director and will collaborate and consult with other Accessibility Directorate staff, Nova Scotians with disabilities, provincial government departments, other levels of government, researchers, and other experts, impacted sectors, organizations that represent persons with disabilities, to advance accessibility standards in Nova Scotia.

Primary Accountabilities

As the Director, you will be responsible for:

• Design, development and delivery of reporting and accountability mechanisms to ensure the requirements and expectations of the Department are being met. Ensure that plans and works are aligned with overall Government strategy.
• Leading and monitoring the compliance of obligations and initiatives by analyzing reports and preparing summary and briefings to the Executive Director and other senior officials (interpreting policies and legislation).
• Collaborating and strengthening opportunities to develop and implement accessibility standards.
• Leading the strategic direction and operations of the Policy and Standards Team and overseeing its approach, progress, and strategic growth. Maintaining effective and collaborative relationships with municipal, provincial, and federal governments public sector bodies, disability organizations, disability champions and accessibility partners, and the private and non-profit sector.
• Partnering to drive the culture change needed to meet the goal of an accessible Nova Scotia by 2030.
• Representing the Department on government, industry, public/private, inter-department and internal committees, project teams, and at conferences and meetings.
• Providing direction and support to complex submissions to Executive Council and Finance and Treasury Board on accessibility standards, consult with persons with disabilities and impacted sectors, develop and participate in briefings and presentations to senior leadership as required.
• Leading the development and/or operation of aspects of the internal and external communications with direction from Executive Director and in collaboration with Communications Nova Scotia.
• Ensuring the effective management of human and financial resources by setting and evaluating staff performance targets, promoting diversity and a healthy workplace, demonstrating leadership competencies, respecting corporate human resources practices, promoting teamwork and individual development, maintaining internal communications, monitoring expenditures while adhering to procurement guidelines.

Qualifications and Experience

You are a creative and forward-thinking leader who will provide leadership and build greater capacity for accessibility standards development and implementation. Your knowledge and expertise will allow you to make effective recommendations to senior officials and build a high performing team by ensuring that the team is focused, motivated and inspired to achieve team objectives. You exhibit political acumen in managing and communicating with multiple stakeholders and partners. You have a university degree in a related field of study as well as several years of progressive experience in leadership and policy roles. A demonstrated acceptable equivalent combination of training and experience will be considered.

You also have demonstrated experience in the following:

• Broad knowledge and leadership experience working on accessibility and disability issues, including relevant legislation, policy, and programs.
• Understanding of the motivations, interests, experiences, and issues that are unique to the disability community.
• The ability to analyze policy alternatives and stakeholder input and develop and advance strategic recommendations.
• The ability to make sound decisions relating to complex and sensitive matters, in consideration of the competing needs.
• Expertise in applying diversity and accessibility lens when reviewing policies, programs, and practices.
• Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams and providing supervision, guidance, training and mentorship to others.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• The ability to establish meaningful relationships with a range of interested parties, including non-governmental and governmental organizations (both interdepartmentally and inter-jurisdictionally).
• The ability to negotiate opportunities to advance and enhance the work of the Accessibility Directorate.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills to manage multiple priorities.

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 include: Leads Self, Engage Others, Achieve Results, Develop Coalitions and Systems Transformation. To know more, visit LEADS (novascotia.ca).

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

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

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 offering and eligibility criteria.

Additional Information

This is a Permanent position based in Halifax.

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 A workplace that values inclusion and is committed to diversity

Countless career paths

Department specific flexible working schedules

Pay Grade: EC 13

Salary Range: $3,804.02 - $4,755.01 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.

Current government employees may access this posting through the link below:

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 [email protected].