Job Description

Competition # : 46602
Department: Growth & Development (Econ Dev)
Location: HALIFAX
Type of Employment: Permanent
Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG
Closing Date: 31-Jul-25 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)
About Us
The drives economic growth and productivity by creating the conditions for communities, businesses and households to thrive. The Department works with other Departments and key partners to foster a dynamic environment that supports housing innovation and sector development, providing the necessary solutions to grow our population and economy.
The Department is also responsible for ensuring the availability of safe, suitable, and affordable housing for all Nova Scotians. Our work involves making strategic investments, leveraging new funding, and building on critical partnerships to help further position ourselves to meet current and future housing challenges.
About Our Opportunity
We're hiring a Senior Executive Director to lead a major cross-government initiative focused on growing the province's GDP through natural resource-based sectors. This is a strategic, high-trust leadership role with impact across government and the economy.
Reporting directly to the Deputy Minister, this role champion the interdepartmental coordination and convening that will define the next chapter of Nova Scotia's economic direction. You will guide policy and program integration across fisheries, aquaculture, energy, agriculture, forestry, mining, and beyond. As coordination lead, you'll also steer working groups, align communications, remove systemic barriers, and ensure measurable progress on a bold and shared economic agenda.
Primary Accountabilities
In this role, you will support a transformation that prioritizes key sectors and industries, sustainable resource development, and a higher standard of living for all Nova Scotians. You can also expect to:

• Lead and guide the work of cross-departmental initiatives focused on growing GDP in Nova Scotia's natural resource sectors, in alignment with the 2025-26 Provincial Business Plan.
• Drive the strategic integration of multiple departmental workstreams.
• Champion with crown partners investment attraction, labour strategy, and inclusive policy solutions
• Lead integrated economic development strategies that foster vibrant, entrepreneurial, and resilient communities.
• Build trusted partnerships with provincial departments, Crown corporations to engage: community partners, Indigenous leaders, the private sector, post-secondary institutions, and community-based organizations.
• Manage resources strategically, including oversight of complex budgets, staffing, governance, and risk mitigation practices.
• Provide regular briefings to the Deputy Ministers regarding advancements of provincial priorities.
• Coordinating the development of community benefits program to nurture community support for Natural Resource Projects
• Support team of high-performing leaders and foster a resilient, innovative, and equity-centred culture within and across teams.

Qualifications and Experience
A university degree (public administration, economics, resource management, business, or a related discipline) and several years of progressive leadership experience are required, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Familiarity with the natural resources landscape in Nova Scotia (e.g., energy, agriculture, forestry, mining, aquaculture) and experience in regulatory, investment, or innovation ecosystems is ideal.
As a leader, you demonstrate:

• Ability to shape and deliver on a province-wide economic vision.
• Skills at seeing connections, aligning mandates, and coordinating across silos to deliver outcomes.
• Cultural competency and embed equity and inclusive engagement into strategic plans.
• Ability to lead through complexity, ambiguity, and change.

While not required, desirable assets include:

• Experience working within or across Crown corporations and intergovernmental tables.
• Bilingualism (French/English)
• Knowledge of investment attraction strategies or community benefit agreements.

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
We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise. 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 a , 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: .
Working Conditions
You will be working within a high-paced, busy office environment with strict deadlines, sensitive and confidential information, as well as frequent meetings and conferences that require travel. You must have the ability to travel when required.
Your normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day. You may be required to work overtime on occasion.
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.

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.
Accommodation Statement:
We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at competitions@novascotia.ca.
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.