Program Lead, Senior Policy Analyst (Program Admin. Officer 4)

Competition # : 45443

Department: Health and Wellness

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 20-Mar-25 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

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 are committed to continually improving our health care system. With a focus on collaborative primary health care, continuing 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 need leaders at all levels of the organization who embrace a challenge and believe in their ability to make a difference.

About Our Opportunity

The Senior Analyst is responsible for conducting advanced and specialized data analysis to aid in the administration, management, evaluation, and planning for diverse Department of Health and Wellness analytics-related initiatives impacting the health of Nova Scotians. The Senior Analyst acts as a subject matter expert in the field of health data analysis, data standards, and data quality management. They will lead initiatives by analytically modelling complex business problems and leveraging their knowledge of data integration, and statistical, algorithmic and visualization approaches. The Senior Analyst then communicates data-driven findings to program managers, directors, senior leadership and government decision makers.

Primary Accountabilities

• Leads and delivers projects for one or more health data-related initiatives of the province, while reporting evidence-informed advice to senior colleagues to support health and wellness policy issues impacting Nova Scotians.
• Identifies and designs data-driven analytical solutions to assist with management, evaluation, and planning for future direction of programs and policies related to Nova Scotia’s health system. These activities include requirements gathering, analytical plan development, data asset identification, analysis, knowledge extraction, and knowledge translation.
• Applies and grows competencies in statistical modeling, data mining, and visualizations using object-oriented programing languages, keeping up with industry and academic developments.
• Supports health and wellness policy strategies by suggesting improvements to existing data processes and procedures in collaboration with senior colleagues and project team.
• Contributes to a departmental culture of inquiry through the communication of results from complex analyses to a wide variety of internal and external audiences.
• Supports the development of a broader analytics strategy and capacity by developing and maintaining collaborative relationships across government, the health system, and various external partners, such as academia.

Qualifications And Experience

A Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., statistics, epidemiology, computer science or health) and 6 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Recent experience must include projects with a statistical quantitative or modeling emphasis.

You Also Demonstrate The Following Abilities

• A proven ability to review, integrate, analyze and use a wide range of data sources; identify innovative, advanced analytical approaches to model complex business problems; reflect critically on the evidence and communicate findings to non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency in spatial analytics and GIS tools (such as ArcGIS, or similar), with experience in applying geospatial methods to analyze and visualize health data, inform decision-making, and support strategic planning.
• Proven expertise in applying business knowledge to research, information analysis, synthesis, interpretation, and report writing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience using statistical analysis, quantitative analysis, and data mining techniques.
• Experience with scientific programming languages (such as Python, R or similar) and data visualization tools.
• Knowledge of performance measurement, accountability, evaluation principles and techniques.
• Given the high degree of involvement with interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral groups, the incumbent requires demonstrated excellent interpersonal, team building and communication skills.

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. A Master’s degree or higher and 4 years of related experience.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, 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.

Additional Information

This is a full-time, Permanent position.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• An engaged workplace where we foster respect and recognition.
• Forward-thinking policies and strategies.
• Countless Career Paths.
• Department Specific Flexible working schedules.

Pay Grade: PR 17

Salary Range: $3,107.16 - $3,649.33 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.

This Is a Bargaining Unit Position Initially Restricted To Current Civil Service Employees Represented By The Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If Applying From Outside a Government Office, Employees Must Apply Correctly Via This Link.

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. 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.