Job Description

Competition # : 38933

Department: Communities, Culture, Tourism & Heritage

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Term

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date: 5/10/2023 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

As a division of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, Tourism Nova Scotia works with communities and industry to attract visitors to and in the province; and increase tourism revenues through experience and sector development, business coaching, marketing, and visitor servicing. We lead tourism marketing and development initiatives to benefit all regions of our province.

Tourism Nova Scotia operates five visitor information centres across the province - Halifax Airport, Amherst, Peggy\'s Cove, Port Hastings, and Yarmouth. Visitor information centres are one of the first points of contact for many first-time visitors to Nova Scotia and it is very important that our centres create a warm welcome and positive impression with our visitors.

For more information on Tourism Nova Scotia please visit the following link:

About Our Opportunity

Are you passionate about leading a team focused on promoting Nova Scotia to travellers all over the world? We are looking for a Manager of Visitor Services that will be responsible for leading, managing and supporting the activities of the five provincial visitor information centres across the province. The position will also work collaboratively with other government departments and with various stakeholders and sectors including the sponsors of the community visitor information centres. The position also manages third-party contracts for the five centres.

Primary Accountabilities

• Provide leadership, supervision, support, and guidance to all levels of staff (supervisors, travel counsellors, piper, maintenance, and students) at the provincial visitor information centres. This includes optimizing staff performance, effective team building, maximizing employee engagement and empowerment.
• Plan and manage strategic and operational aspects of the provincial visitor information centres including human resources, finance, business planning, management of multiple locations (including exterior grounds and parking lots), training and development of employees aimed at achieving operational and performance targets while enhancing employee skills.
• Develop and oversee plans and programs specific to Visitor Services and provide advice and expertise to executive levels on issues impacting Tourism Nova Scotia\'s service deliverables.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with key partners, stakeholders, government departments to ensure timely and accurate information flow, identification of issues.
• Manage the development, design, implementation, and delivery of efficient customer service delivery to effectively address client needs and expectations and are met.
• Manage the evaluation and implementation of service plans, monitoring systems, and customer service feedback processes ensuring staff comply with standards and take corrective action when necessary.
• Management of financial and human resources, including development and management of budgets, as well as procurement.
• Promote equity, diversity and inclusion, and a healthy workplace, ensuring respectful workplace standards are met.
• Manage the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations and Workplace policies and safe work practices and the Business Continuity Plans for the centres.

Qualifications and Experience

This may be the right opportunity for you if you have a university degree with a specialization in tourism, hospitality, business administration or other relevant discipline along with several years of progressive management experience. A thorough understanding of the Tourism and/or Visitor Services are considered assets.

You demonstrate experience in:

• The development or implementation of visitor experience, customer service, tourism or programs or initiatives;
• Managing and leading a large team of both union and non-union employees including performance management, work priorities, training, mentoring activities, and labor relations
• Sales, marketing, and customer service;
• The preparation of plans, reports, and communications;
• Operating budget management and resource management.

You are a strong communicator with the ability to be innovative, addressing issues with diplomacy and tact. Along with having effective time management skills to successfully develop and manage multiple priorities with competing deadlines.

Leadership competencies required are: Intercultural and Diversity Proficiency, Comprehension of the impact of Unconscious Bias, Decisiveness, Strategic Orientation, Developing Others, Team Leadership; Self-Awareness, Effective Interactive Communication; Partnering and Relationship Building.

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

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.

Working Conditions

Your normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day. You may be required to work overtime on occasion. The Visitor Services Manager supports a team that works 7 days a week. Emergency calls may need to be answered evenings and weekends.

The majority of the work is conducted in a comfortable office environment with travel required throughout the province at the provincial VIC locations: Halifax Airport, Amherst, Peggy\'s Cove, Port Hastings, and Yarmouth. A valid driver\'s license is a requirement for this position.

Additional Information

This a full-time, three-year term position based in Halifax with a projected end date of March 31, 2026.

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: $3,458.20 - $4,322.75 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