Senior Advisor, Diversity and Inclusion

Union Status: Exclusion – Non Union – NSPG

Closing Date: 10-Apr-25 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

Designation Status

This opportunity is designated to applicants that identify as an Indigenous Person, African/Black Nova Scotian and other Racialized Persons, and/or, Person with a Disability.

See the Nova Scotia Government’s Employment Equity Policy for more information, including additional details on the designated groups.

About Us

The Department of Justice is responsible for the administration of justice and for promoting access to justice and the safety and security of Nova Scotians through justice-related programs, services and initiatives.

We are guided by the principles of preventative and restorative justice in fulfilling our mandate. Our efforts to promote safety, security, and access to justice for Nova Scotians span all areas of the Department and include programs and services that assist vulnerable people including Indigenous Nova Scotians, African-Nova Scotians, and Nova Scotians with disabilities.

To accomplish its mandate, the Department provides services through seven core business areas:

1. Public Safety and Security;
2. Court Services and Sheriff Services;
3. Correctional Services;
4. Maintenance Enforcement and Victim Services;
5. Accessibility Directorate;
6. Restorative Initiatives Unit; and,
7. Legal Services to Government.

For more information on the Department of Justice please visit our website.

About Our Opportunity

As the Senior Advisor – Diversity and Inclusion you will collaborate with senior management and program and policy executive to ensure planning, analysis, evaluation and accountability frameworks are in place.

The Government of Nova Scotia is working to have a public service that reflects the people we serve. In this role you will be accountable to ensure an inclusion and diversity lens is applied on the development and management of strategies, policies, standards, program design, recruitment, and initiatives of the department, and is responsible for deepening our understanding of the systemic barriers and conditions produced and reproduced by inequitable and exclusionary power relations, structures, and practices that impact the delivery of the Department of Justice, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2019-2023.

You will provide expert policy and operational advice to senior management including the Deputy Minister and Minister on all matters related to diversity and inclusion for a broad range of programs and services offered by or supported by the Department of Justice.

As well you will provide expertise, leadership and project management support to the Department’s Inclusion Diversity Equity and Accessibility Committee and guide the ongoing development and implementation of priorities under Department of Justice’s EDIA strategies and plans, which are established to develop best practices and to create proactive and sensitive approaches to a wide range of issues. You will also lead the preparation of recommendations and responses to Auditor General Reports, specifically as it relates to diversity and inclusion.

About You

You hold a post-secondary degree in a related field and have a number of years of progressively more responsible related experience (or an acceptable equivalency). 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 diversity and cultural proficiency competency. Having strong community connections and network is an asset.

You are a results-focused, relationship builder who has experience in demonstrating the value of a diverse and respectful workforce. You establish goals and objectives, ensuring there are solid measurements of success and plenty of acknowledgement, communication and feedback. You use broad consultation and put things in plain language for common understanding. You have a well-established and diverse network, and have experience motivating colleagues without direct authority. You apply change management techniques in your work, adapting to new directions and overcoming resistance.

You have vision and strategy experience and can turn strategy into action, through a thorough, well-planned implementation. Your communication style includes the ability to read the audience and tailor responses to their needs. Continuous learning, inclusion and engagement are top of mind and you work with controlled patience, understanding that culture change takes strategy, relationships and time.

You build effective working relationships at all levels of the organization. Your excellent verbal and writing skills enhance your ability to respond immediately to questions and issues regarding respectful and inclusive workplaces.

You have experience working collaboratively with diverse communities, senior leaders, unions, external partners, and a variety of stakeholders with a range of interests which sometimes compete. A strong working knowledge of issues impacting diverse communities is essential to your success. 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.

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 follow LEADS (novascotia.ca) for more information.

Equivalency

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

What We Offer

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 the link on our job page: Benefits for government employees.

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 13

Salary Range: $4,055.86 – $5,069.81 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 on our job page.

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.