New Job Senior Strategist In Nova Scotia

About Us

The Department of Health and Wellness offers opportunities to grow and advance in a dynamic sector that touches the lives of all Nova Scotians. Along with our partners, including the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK Health Centre, we’re committed to continually improving our health care system. With a focus on collaborative primary health care, acute care, improved supports for mental health and addictions, digital health, capital infrastructure, and more, the department is thinking differently about how to plan, fund, legislate and monitor to improve access and service delivery. To do this, we’re recruiting leaders at all levels of the organization who embrace a challenge and believe in their ability to make a difference.

We are recruiting for a Senior Strategist with the Office of Addictions and Mental Health (OAMH). This is your opportunity to have an impact on the development and delivery of multiple plans and strategies that improve access to treatment for mental illness and addictions, improve the mental health of the population, and address health inequities.

About Our Opportunity

The Senior Strategist with OMHA works closely with intersectoral partners including, but not limited to, intradepartmental, provincial, federal, and territorial colleagues, the Nova Scotia Health Authority and IWK, and the private and non-profit sector. In this role, you will lead a team of Senior Policy Analysts responsible for policy development, implementation, and evaluation/monitoring to ensure identified health outcomes are achieved.

In this role, you play a critical role in facilitating OMHA evidence-informed decision-making and will have the opportunity to work directly with provincial, inter-governmental and community stakeholders; and will represent the Office on inter-departmental initiatives. You will directly impact change across the health system, inclusive of health promotion, primary health care, acute care, continuing care, and mental health and addictions.

Primary Accountabilities

As the Senior Strategist you are responsible to:

• Provide functional leadership for a team of senior policy staff responsible for evidence-based analysis informing the development of briefing materials, cabinet submissions, and corporate documents. Assists senior leadership to effectively assess the impact and implications of policy, operational, and funding decisions.
• Monitor the planning and delivery of mental health services to ensure NSHA/IWK health service plans, vendor contracts, and agreements with community-based organizations are delivered in accordance with relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks, approved plans, outcome frameworks, and according to contracts, where they exist.
• Provide HR support to a team of senior policy staff including, but not limited to, professional development, performance management, and work planning. Contribute to the effective functioning of the team by setting and evaluating staff performance targets, promoting cultural competence and inclusion, and a healthy, respectful workplace.
• Lead multiple advisory and/or working groups, both within OMHA and across other governments, departments, the health authorities, and/or and community.

Qualifications and Experience

As the successful candidate you have a bachelor’s degree in a related field as well as several years of experience in the design and development policies and programs.

You will demonstrate experience with the following:

• Progressive position responsibility.
• Experience supervising staff/team of staff.
• Strong leadership skills with proven ability to build collaborative working relationships.
• A strong analytical mind who can also think conceptually and see the big picture.
• Highly developed communications skills and uses tact and diplomacy to communicate effectively to any individual regardless of their level.
• Demonstrated understanding and respect of cultural differences including a commitment to recognizing diversity both between and within cultural groups.

In addition to the above, you will have strong leadership skills, independent judgement, initiative, and ability to exercise sound judgement under pressure. You will be well-organized, capable of managing change and competing priorities. Lastly, you will demonstrate the ability to lead the development of a cohesive, well functioning team and, with minimal supervision, be able to ensure the completion of work within multiple, complex portfolios under tight deadlines.

The following will be considered assets:

• Experience within the provincial legislative environment with a proven track record in policy development.
• Knowledge of structure, processes, and key players in Government.
• Familiarity with legislation which falls under the OMHA mandate.
• Knowledge/experience in the field of mental health and addictions.
• Experience dealing with various HR matters.

We will assess the above qualifications 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. Equivalencies may include, but are not limited to:

• A completed Master’s degree

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

Benefits

Based on the employment status 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.

Working Conditions

Most of your time is spent in a comfortable office setting. Your normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day.

Additional Information

This is a permanent, full time 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.