Job Description

Competition # : 36468

Department: Municipal Affairs and Housing

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 11/7/2022 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing is 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.

For more information check us out at .

About Our Opportunity

The Operational Strategy and Planning team is responsible for leading operational transformation that improves efficiency and effectiveness, refocuses operations on strategic outcomes and encourages a continuous improvement, client service culture within DMAH. The team leads projects, working collaboratively with staff, managers and leaders to transform programs and processes. Establishing and maintaining trust and being a true partner in operational design are two pillars of our work.

We are hiring a results-driven, innovative, and collaborative leader who can lead transformational projects with multi-disciplinary teams. This is a job for someone who knows how collaborate with subject matter experts, who knows the folly of designing change without those experts on-board, and who can mobilize a diverse group into a team of engaged, driven advocates for change and improvement.

If you thrive in complex environments and enjoy the challenge of developing new approaches to complex issues, the Strategic Operations Lead is your next career opportunity.

Primary Accountabilities

Reporting to the Manager, Operational Strategy and Planning, you will work collaboratively across the department and with internal/external stakeholders to lead the development of key strategic operational improvements, transformation and modernization efforts. You will lead a variety of complex projects that are strategically aligned with government priorities and that include a broad group of stakeholders and technical experts. You will be leading innovation by understanding best practice and finding ways to improve on it.

You will work alongside other operational improvement specialists to assess operations and implement operational strategies/plans that will assist the department in delivering on its vision and mission, and to help us achieve provincial Housing targets and outcomes under the National Housing Strategy.

You will use your expertise and experience to define, scope and manage cross-divisional initiatives, ensuring a high degree of collaboration with subject matter experts and a level of engagement that will ensure long-term success. You will collaborate with teammates on projects, provide insights that will inform recommendations, and develop implementation plans which balance the department's interests, stakeholder needs, and strategic objectives. Communications is critical to your success as you effectively engage internal and external stakeholders in projects, leveraging your change management experience to inform this work.

You will help our Department achieve key deliverables by:

• Leveraging an understanding of key strategic objectives of the Department
• Consulting and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders
• Evaluating current operations, programs and their outcomes
• Understanding IT systems and how they interact with processes
• Recommending solutions that advance Department and Government priorities

Qualifications and Experience

You have a bachelor's degree in a related field, with a minimum of six (6) years of experience in similar roles. As the successful candidate, you will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Operations management experience, specifically operational assessment and analysis
• Experience managing relationships and leading project teams towards a shared goal and outcomes
• Change management experience
• Stakeholder engagement experience
• Understanding of quality management and continuous improvement culture
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, Visio) and collaboration software (for example, but not limited to case management systems, Adobe)
• Ability to work independently and as part of the team
• Excellent organizational skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and exercise sound judgement

Any of the following experience or credentials would be considered an asset:

• Experience with business analysis methodologies
• Formal group facilitation training and experience

You are a rare mix of tactician and innovator. You are disciplined and detail-oriented, understanding that real, lasting change depends on successfully executed small steps. But you can also see the big picture and believe every organization can accomplish great things in the right conditions. You are engaging and persuasive with a contagious energy and you understand the difference between consultation and collaboration.

Equivalency

An equivalent combination of training, education and experience will be considered. Related equivalencies may include, but are not limited to:

• A related master's degree and four (4) years of related experience
• A related 2-year diploma and eight (8) years of related experience

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 offerings and eligibility criteria.

Working Conditions

This role is primarily based in a comfortable office environment and you may be working at your computer for extended periods of time. You may be required to travel within the province to visit sites or regional offices.

Additional Information

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.

This position requires the successful candidate to work on-site.

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: PR 17

Salary Range: $3,001.65 - $3,525.41 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.