Job Description

Competition # : 43329
Department: Health and Wellness
Location: HALIFAX
Type of Employment: Temporary
Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG
Closing Date: 02-Jul-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)
Designation Status
This opportunity is designated to applicants that identify as [enter the applicable groups - Indigenous Person, African/Black Nova Scotian and other Racialized Persons, and/or Person with a Disability.
See the for more information, including additional details on the designated groups.
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're 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
As the Manager, Employee and Public Engagement, you will provide proactive leadership in building and sustaining a culture of staff, partnership and public participation in strategies and initiatives that are critical to advancing the department's vision of Healthy Nova Scotians. You will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to activate engagement opportunities, sustain engagement platforms, facilitate topical conversations, improve communications, and build reciprocal trust with staff, community partners and Nova Scotians. You will also support regular leadership communications and messaging involving the Deputy Minister's office and departmental staff.
The position reports to Director, Engagement and Strategic Initiatives, with two direct reports (Employee Engagement Advisor, and Project Manager, Public Engagement).
Primary Accountabilities

• Provides strategic leadership to implement comprehensive employee and public engagement strategies and initiatives, including the development and execution of the Employee Engagement Strategy in response to the "How's Work Going?" Survey.
• Develops outcome-driven approaches to enhance organizational capacity through key employee engagement forums, such as the Employee Engagement Network, fostering sustained staff engagement and professional development.
• Leads the Health Public Engagement Collaborative, a community of practice for staff to ensure the consistent evaluation and adoption of best practices in public engagement across the department.
• Drives the implementation of a robust public engagement framework within the department, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and evaluation of engagement efforts.
• Cultivates public engagement capabilities and collaborations with key health partners like NSHA and IWK, fostering cohesive efforts towards informing health policies, programs, and service delivery for Nova Scotians.
• Supports inclusive community engagement in health through partnerships with local stakeholders, promoting geographically relevant initiatives and dialogue.
• Oversees system-level engagement platforms and hubs (e.g., Departmental intranet, Engage4Health) to maintain engagement among staff, partners, and the public.
• Collaborates with educational institutions and grassroots organizations to advocate for and partner on advancing public engagement practices within the health sector.
• Enhances community capacity through grants, mentorship programs, and strategic partnerships, fostering opportunities for local involvement in healthcare initiatives.
• Manages internal and external communications strategies under the guidance of senior leadership, ensuring alignment with departmental goals and enhancing stakeholder engagement.
• Mentors, coaches, and supports team members in their professional growth and development, fostering a culture of learning and collaboration within the department.
• Ensures effective management of human and financial resources by setting performance standards, promoting diversity, and cultivating a healthy, respectful workplace environment conducive to achieving departmental objectives.

Qualifications and Experience
You hold a bachelor's degree in a related discipline with extensive experience in public engagement, communications, change management, leadership, strategic planning, and project management. An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered. In addition, you:

• Apply robust project management principles to lead and oversee staff and community-based engagement projects from inception to completion, including developing project briefs, defining work breakdown structures, and providing comprehensive progress reports.
• Demonstrate proficient knowledge and application of industry-standard public engagement approaches and methodologies, including familiarity with the IAP2 public engagement spectrum.
• Demonstrate outstanding communication skills, adept at fostering engagement with staff, partners, and stakeholders through articulate dialogue, compelling writing, and impactful presentations.
• Excel in collaborating effectively with a wide array of stakeholders across community-based sectors, departments, and institutions to successfully achieve collective goals and objectives.
• Exhibit a robust commitment to creativity, innovation, and strategic foresight in spearheading Public and Employee Engagement strategies.
• Cultivate robust and fruitful relationships with a diverse spectrum of community stakeholders, equity populations, faith-based organizations, newcomers, and other pivotal partners.
• Conduct and facilitate effective data collection, research initiatives, focus groups, committees, and community conversations. Utilize feedback and evidence to inform policies, develop new programs, and explore opportunities related to employee and public engagement.
• Demonstrate a commitment to equity, inclusion, and proactive engagement, understanding their crucial role in advancing the department's vision and goals.
• Required competencies for this position include Decisiveness, Strategic Orientation, Developing Others, Team Leadership, Self-Awareness & Personal Impact, Effective Interactive Communication, Partnering & Relationship Building, Intercultural & Diversity Proficiency.

Benefits
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: .
Equivalency
Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.
Additional Information
This is a TERM employment opportunity with anticipated end date of September 15, 2025. The appointment status (\'term\', \'temporary\' or \'casual\') 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

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.