Job Description

Competition # : 39712

Department: Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: \xe2\x80\x8b7/14/2023\xe2\x80\x8b (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions* (CSDS), as part of the Government of Nova Scotia, puts people first. CSDS is large, diverse, and passionate about making a difference in peoples\xe2\x80\x99 lives. We believe in user-centered iterative digital service design, and practice . Working at CSDS means you will be a part of a team of caring, compassionate, and highly skilled people whose work makes a difference through designing, continuously improving and delivering the programs and services that people need.

At CSDS, we don\'t just accept difference - we celebrate a supportive culture of diversity, inclusion and belonging!

The people who use government programs and services come from all walks of life. It is important that CSDS reflects the people that we serve \xe2\x80\x93 so we can deliver better, and more accessible, and inclusive public services. We work hard to create an environment where different perspectives and experiences are valued. We are committed to helping diverse talent thrive.

*Formerly known as the Nova Scotia Digital Service (NSDS) group, a part of the previously named Department of Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services.

Who You Are

You are passionate about people\xe2\x80\x99s service experience and want to help build solutions as well as resolve technical problems and requests over the phone, in person, and through our ticketing system. You enjoy supporting a 24/7 environment for critical services, working as part of a team, and going the extra mile to provide an amazing user experience. You thrive on supporting a diverse client base. You are flexible and available to work night shifts and on-call rotations.

You share our values of respect, integrity, diversity, accountability and the public good, have a passion for service excellence and actively promote and encourage the importance of people, teams, diversity, and culture.

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.
• Flexible working schedules.

About Our Opportunity

As a Microsoft 365 Security Specialist with CSDS, you will design, implement, and deliver secure services; you will provide support in a 24/7 operational environment for critical digital services supporting government and health care. You will support government departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and offices, as well as Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health. You will be required to work with clients with varying levels of digital literacy in determining the root cause of their problems and initiating a resolution plan. You must have the ability to use common, non-technical, business language to explain technical solutions. Other key characteristics required for this role include:

• Supporting end users in a prompt, polite and friendly manner.
• A strong self-motivated team player with the ability to work independently.
• Flexibility to work after hours when required.
• Analytical thinking with strong troubleshooting skills.
• Practice good judgement and make decisions under pressure.
• Ability to remain positive and maintain a high level of confidence in own abilities.

Primary Accountabilities

CSDS is looking for a Microsoft 365 Security Specialist, who wants to deliver on a digital technology strategy for the Province. You are an expert on Microsoft 365 Defender services and Exchange Online Protection (EOP). You will use Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (MDO), Microsoft Defender for Identity (MDI), Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (MDCA), and other security solutions to mitigate threats and reduce organizational risk.

You will be responsible for rapidly remediating active attacks in the environment, advising on improvements to threat protection practices, and referring violations of organizational policies to appropriate stakeholders. You will collaborate with business stakeholders, architects, and technical administrators (Identity, Endpoint, Azure, and more) to secure IT systems for the organization.

Your responsibilities will also include the following:

• Implement, manage, and monitor Microsoft 365 security and compliance solutions.
• Triage, incident response, vulnerability management, advanced threat hunting using KQL, and cyber threat intelligence analysis.
• Capture and understand client requirements, provide analysis and recommendations, and develop solutions to meet requirements.
• Work on tickets (service requests, change requests, problems, incidents, etc.), consistently deliver on key performance indicators, and support clients, peers, management and leadership.
• Take ownership of not only operational aspects, but also documentation, coordination, and communication.
• Show initiative, provide thought leadership and work with multi-disciplinary teams to optimize, deliver and enhance identity, access, and email services.
• Coaching and mentoring teammates and peers on new technologies and processes.
• Help create a culture of humility, learning, collaboration, ownership and results.
• Show continuous learning and knowledge update by completing or renewing agreed technical certification(s) every year as part of your performance metrics.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will have a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science plus a minimum of 3 years\xe2\x80\x99 experience, or graduation from a recognized Information Technology program, plus 3 years and 6 months experience or an acceptable equivalent combination of training and experience.

You have completed and earned one or more of the following credentials. Evidence of completion, by way of a Microsoft transcript shared link that shows your legal name, MCID, contact email address and active certifications, is required.

• Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC-100)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500)
• Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate (SC-300)
• Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate (MS-500)
• Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate (SC-200)
• Microsoft Certified: Information Protection Administrator Associate (SC-400)

In addition, you have the following required experience:

• Experience with Microsoft 365 Defender/Advanced Threat Protection.
• Experience with Microsoft 365 workloads and with Microsoft Azure Active Directory.
• Experience with Exchange Online Protection and implementing email security policies.
• Implemented security for Microsoft 365 environments, including hybrid environments.
• Experience with messaging security solutions such as anti-spam appliances.
• Experience implementing, configuring, and maintaining one or more of on-premises Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), Federation Services (AD FS) and Certificate Services (AD CS).
• Managing Azure AD Identity Governance.
• Scripting with Active Directory PowerShell, Azure CLI, etc.
• Resolving issues related to automation, directory security, and integration with load balancers.
• Creating standard operating procedures and processes.
• Undertaking troubleshooting and investigations to resolve incidents and problems.
• Assessing clients\xe2\x80\x99 requirements and supporting consumption of authentication services.
• Communicating complex technical concepts to senior management, peers, and users.

Assets

• Experience with mobile device management solutions and third-party archiving solutions.
• Solid understanding of Windows Server operations, including installation, configuration, and system administration.
• Practical understanding of identity/authentication standards and protocols: Kerberos, SAML2, OAuth2, WS-Federation, WS-Security and OpenID Connect.
• Practical understanding of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).
• Experience working in a health care or public sector environment.
• Experience supporting mission critical, enterprise environments, 24 x 7 x 365.

Working Conditions:

You may be required to work outside normal business hours (08:00-16:30) to provide service and be on-call to work non-traditional shifts, including weekends, to support a 24/7 critical service and environment.

Selection Process

One or more methods that include a technical assessment, oral presentation, interview(s), references, background checks, and more, can be used to assess your candidacy.

Other Considerations

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 or will result in the termination of your employment.

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.

Pay Grade: PR 14

Salary Range: $2,640.65 - $3,215.50 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.

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. 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.

Government of Nova Scotia