Job Description

Competition # : 42775
Department: Agriculture
Location: BIBLE HILL
Type of Employment: Term
Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG
Closing Date: 30-May-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)
About Us
The Department of Agriculture helps support and grow agriculture and agri-food throughout the province. This is done through the development of programs, services and polices to help farming in rural and urban communities be more competitive, sustainable and profitable
About Our Opportunity
As the Manager of Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change, you will lead a team of professionals to support environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation and adaptation for the agriculture sector. The Manager supports the achievement of departmental and government priorities and is responsible for the program recommendations on agri-environmental best management practices; keeping current on environmental tools, approaches and methodologies; exploring potential sources of funding for addressing environmental and climate change issues; developing presentations and discussions papers on environmental and climate change impacts; communicating departmental positions at the Federal and Provincial levels, providing advice and recommendations on policy, ministerial briefings, and support to the Director on various federal/provincial forums dealing with environment and climate change.
Primary Accountabilities
As the successful candidate, your primary accountabilities will be:

• Lead engagement, alignment and reporting associated with Agri-Environmental and Climate Change Strategies and initiatives.
• Research, evaluate and recommend strategies, beneficial management practices, programs and action plans most effective and adaptive to complex environmental and climate change challenges impacting agriculture.
• Anticipate the impacts of facing a rapidly changing climate by continuously building the Section\'s capacity and knowledge of agriculture best practices, biodiversity, and climate smart farming practices.
• Manage a team of professionals responsible for staying up to date on the latest engineering, science, technical analysis and being original and proactive in developing recommendations and programming on agri-environmental beneficial management practices.
• Engage, build, and enhance collaborative relations with external experts, third party delivery agents, government departments and agencies, academia and partners on emerging findings and priorities.
• Improve communication on Agri-Environmental topics.
• Coordinate and collaborate with internal and external partners to provide functional guidance or options necessary to identify, address and resolve specific environmental and climate change issues, and challenges and opportunities.
• Coordinate and collaborate with internal and external partners to lead the delivery, review and enhancement of environmental programming.

Qualifications and Experience
To be successful in this role, you must have a University degree in Environmental Sciences, Agriculture, Engineering, or a related field of study, including training related to two or more of the following areas: climate change, engineering, environmental management, soil science, sustainability. You must have an understanding of the following priority areas in relation to the NS agricultural sector: biodiversity, soil health, water management, climate change mitigation and adaptation and resilience. You are an excellent communicator with a talent for building strong and lasting relationships as well as able to work well in a team environment.
A minimum of either (7) years of related work experience in environmental or agronomy services, agri-environmental conservation, and climate change mitigation or adaptation. An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.
Preference may be given to candidates that demonstrate one or more of the following: knowledge and experience with agri-environmental and climate change beneficial management practices; experience in agri-environmental and climate change programming; experience in managing a team.
You also possess the following skills and experience:

• Membership with the Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists (Professional Agrologist) is an asset.
• Time management, project and program development, human resource management, and prioritizing and delegating work under tight timelines.
• Communication skills, including report writing, proposal development, and briefing materials; as well as facilitation and presentation skills.
• Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams of professionals.
• ArcGIS experience and training is an asset.
• Membership as a Professional Engineer with Engineers Nova Scotia is an asset.
• Implementing, and monitoring performance indicators to support outcomes-oriented decision making.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to use office technology, software and applications.
• Written and spoken competence in English is required.
• A valid class 5 driver licence as issued by the Province of Nova Scotia, or equivalent is required.

Competencies: Strategic Orientation Effective Interactive Communication Partnering & Relationship Building Intercultural Diversity Proficiency Decisiveness Developing Others Team Leadership Self-Awareness & Personal Impact
Equivalency
Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.
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 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.
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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.
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 , 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: .
Additional Information
This is a TERM employment opportunity with anticipated end date of June 1, 2026. The appointment status Term is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate.
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 and arrangements.

Pay Grade: EC 12
Salary Range: $3,687.15 - $4,608.93 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.