Job Description

Competition # : 40544

Department: Service Nova Scotia

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date: 06-Oct-23 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

Procurement is a branch of Service Nova Scotia. Our staff provide knowledge and expertise to our clients as they seek unique, creative, sustainable procurement solutions for complex business needs.

We oversee the Nova Scotia Sustainable Procurement Policy and Procurement Operations is accountable for providing leadership and direction on the development and delivery of procurement programs, plans, and strategies aligned to assist with the delivery of departmental and government priorities. This is accomplished through the leadership and mentoring of teams to develop strategies and frameworks, while adhering to best practices and continuous improvement in go-to-market solutions. We guide agencies, boards, and commissions as well as the greater public sector including municipalities, academic institutions, and schools in their procurement efforts. We provide outreach and education to our supplier community encouraging them to become part of the public procurement equation. We also deliver diversity and sustainable procurement education to our internal client department as well as those in the MASH sector.

About Our Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced procurement leader who:

• is committed to the mission of helping identify solutions to the many province-wide procurement challenges in Nova Scotia
• effectively builds new or strengthen existing work relationships.
• is committed to finding solutions to clients\' complex procurement needs; has demonstrated innovation and creativity in approaching procurement challenges.
• is described by your colleagues and teams as a calming and steady force; a hurricane of energy; a solid leader able to select the best approach for each situation.
• breaks up a 100-mile journey into smaller, achievable goals ensuring successes are celebrated and failures are learned from.
• is a natural communicator, and is equally comfortable as the go-to expert as is openly willing to learn from others.
• espouses the values of diversity, inclusion, equality, and accessibility; creates an inclusive workplace where a diverse team can perform at its best.

If this is you, then Service Nova Scotia, Procurement branch wants you as their new Procurement Operations Director for Goods, Services and Construction.

Primary Accountabilities

If you are an accomplished leader with a track record of success in a senior Procurement-related appointment this job would be a perfect fit. The Procurement Operations Director for Goods, Services and Construction is a senior executive position and reports to the Chief Procurement Officer. Working within a shared service environment you will provide leadership and strategic direction in a multi-client, benefits-focused environment.

You will lead a team of subject matter experts and will be accountable for:

• Managing the procurement of all Goods, Services and Construction-related initiatives as well as providing general advisory and support services to the broader public sector such as MASH and Crown entities where applicable.
• Working collaboratively to foster public confidence through consistent, open, and transparent interpretation and application of multiple Trade Agreements.
• Using your extensive knowledge of procurement law to advise both clients and suppliers. Where necessary, mediate misunderstandings between those stakeholders allowing for a reduction in potential formal legal disputes.
• Using your superior networking and communication skills to be the change; and to ensure maximum utilization and understanding of the procurement policies and processes for internal as well as external clients and aid in their adherence to both.
• Integrating value-added procurement initiatives in the areas of category management, strategic sourcing, contract compliance, process efficiencies and technology upgrades to improve public procurement activities and client service excellence.

Qualifications and Experience

This could be the right job for you if you have the following skills and work experience:

• Several years of experience in procurement, supply chain management, or other related field. Preferably in the public sector.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field as well as several years of progressive management experience in a similar environment. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Project management understanding to oversee multiple files with corresponding delivery requirements.
• Process review experience, using Lean or similar, identifying best practice and highlighting areas of opportunity and/ or recommended change.
• Experience in a combination of operations, procurement delivery, issues management, client excellence.
• Effective liaison capacity across multiple stakeholders in support or lead of solutions development.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic sourcing and experience negotiating contracts
• Understanding of IT-driven procurement systems/approaches and the ability to apply IT solutions to address procurement/logistics problems, specifically SAP Ariba.

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.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and Union agreement, 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 to learn more about our various benefits offering and eligibility criteria.

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

Pay Grade: EC 14

Salary Range: $4,309.95 - $5,387.44 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 Competitions@novascotia.ca.

Government of Nova Scotia