Executive Director, Strategy and Partnerships

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Executive Director, Strategy and Partnerships

Competition # :45740

Department:Advanced Education

Location:HALIFAX

Type of Employment:Permanent

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date:18-Apr-25 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The mission of the Department of Advanced Education is to lead the Province’s advanced education sector through change and evolution to become a modern, responsive, sustainable and strategically integrated system. Our goal is to align government departments, agencies, public and private sectors behind a common agenda to develop and promote strategic advanced education programming, infrastructure development, innovation, research, entrepreneurship, as well as social and sustainable growth and development through targeted investments.

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Senior Executive Director, Advanced Education, the Executive Director, Strategy and Partnership provides vision and overall coordination to senior leaders throughout government, public and private sectors by developing, promoting and implementing the shared vision and alignment of strategy. Further, the Executive Director ensures all provincial government advanced education systems, infrastructure investments, funding and policies are focused on impactful outcomes and that resources are aligned in pursuit of the province’s advanced education system and socio-economic growth platform.

In addition, the Executive Director creates an organizational climate that fosters innovation and creativity, collaboration, partnerships and seeks new approaches to impactful advanced education and the relationships between Advanced Education, government systems and programs. Lastly, the Executive Director provides oversight and expertise to numerous projects and daily operations to ensure progress on strategy and strong policy development, while ensuring public resources are allocated through corporate planning and reporting.

Primary Accountabilities

1. Provides departmental leadership in the strategic visioning and policy planning process of the Department. Leads the development of a framework to ensure the Department is positioned to achieve its goals and objectives related to the post-secondary sector. Provides sound advice and direction on policy, planning, accountability frameworks, evaluation, partner agency relations, and government’s advanced education, economic growth, etc.
2. Cultivates and develops a diverse network of strategic partnerships, relationships and agreements. Develops and maintains extensive consultative networks within government and externally with the education bodies and associated government sectors to identify opportunities for innovation, advancement of research and policy development, such as sector development of a long-term strategy.
3. Acts as the Department’s and Government’s representative by providing oversight and coordination of projects, as well as policy development and accountability measures related to provincial socio-economic development impact advanced through the work of the universities, university sandboxes and Research Nova Scotia, as well as to negotiate agreements for the operating entity including higher education funding, grants, loans.
4. Leads and oversees the budget process. Ensures the establishment of bi-lateral and other formal agreements which include accountability reporting reflecting government’s strategic priorities and delegation that meets government’s policy guidelines and regulations.
5. Ensures executive leadership receives accurate and timely briefing and advice related to the key issues facing the Department in achieving its mandate and policy objectives. Provides authoritative high quality, strategic policy and economic advice and opinion within the Department and across the Portfolio.
6. Provides strategic and policy advice to all levels within the government hierarchy, including Cabinet, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Associate Deputy Ministers and Senior Officials, often on complex, multifaceted issues where responses are required on a rapid turnaround basis.
7. Leads the development and implementation of portfolio management approach for Higher Education and other departments and agencies having a stake in associated policy development.
8. Leads the strategy development for the transformation of the organizational structure of the department, while ensuring resources are aligned and integrated in the pursuit of the overall goals of the Department and Government.
9. Provides oversight and coordination for diverse corporate service functions including activities such as public consultation, records and information management, facilities management, occupational health and safety, risk management, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy, and outreach public/stakeholder consultations.

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this opportunity, you hold a bachelor's degree in addition to ten years or more progressive experience building capacity within strategy and policy development. You are an excellent relationship builder, a progressive leader, and an innovative self-starter. Your broad expertise will allow you to develop plans, solutions, and strategies, to provide sound advice to senior executive leadership, to interpret and apply knowledge of laws, regulations and policies, and to negotiate consensus among various internal and external parties. As a skilled communicator, you possess excellent written and verbal communication and facilitation skills and communicate effectively with a broad range of stakeholders.

Your advanced strategic orientation will allow you to positively influence departmental activities and government’s priorities where the Universities themselves are autonomous entities incorporated by legislative Acts. In addition, you are a highly organized individual who is focused on continuously improving quality and accountability and you have a solution-focused approach. You demonstrate a strong understanding of funding and contractual agreements and the ability to negotiate terms that deliver on departmental outcomes and strategic priorities. You are responsive and able to prioritize your work to ensure departmental strategic goals are met.

You have experience in developing strategy and policy with the ability to use and interpret data to assist in solving problems and making sound decisions. The ability to evaluate complex issues is also an essential skill for this role. You have an excellent grasp of policy and planning methodology, systems and processes of decision-making in a government environment and a strong ability to interpret and work within legislative frameworks. You apply this knowledge to complex and broadly connected regulatory and/or social policy issues.

You demonstrate excellent leadership capabilities, while respecting corporate human resources practices, promoting diversity and inclusion, promoting teamwork and individual development, and maintaining internal communication.

The following would be viewed as assets: A master's or professional degree, and/or Experience or knowledge within the post-secondary sector.

LEADS

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 behaviors 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.

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.

Based on the employment status 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.

Working Conditions

Most of your time is spent in a comfortable office setting. You will have daily contact with various internal and external stakeholders. The scope of this role requires strong leadership abilities as well as excellent organizational skills.

Additional Information

This is a permanent position based in Halifax, 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

Pay Grade: EC 16

Salary Range: $5,556.38- $6,945.46 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:

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.