Opportunities Director, Child Family Wellbeing

At the Department of Opportunities and Social Development (OSD) we are a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services including Child and Family Wellbeing (CFW) Employment Support Services (ESS) Income Assistance (IA) Supportive Housing and Homelessness and the Disability Support Program (DSP).

Through our services we advocate and help vulnerable Nova Scotians be independent self-reliant and secure. We work collaboratively with community partners and across the province with a strong dedicated network of supports and staff across the province to achieve desired and shared outcomes for all.

As a Director Child and Family Wellbeing you will play a key leadership role in shaping the future of child and family wellbeing services in Nova Scotia. This is a role where you can make a real and lasting difference.

You will lead the development of policies programs and strategic initiatives that support children youth families and communities. This includes guiding system-wide improvements supporting service delivery and helping to create more preventative equitable innovative and community-focused approaches.

This is a unique opportunity to:

• Contribute to meaningful province-wide transformation
• Influence policy practice and long-term outcomes
• Work collaboratively across government and with community partners
• Support and develop a team of skilled professionals

Your work will have a direct and lasting impact on children youth families communities and departmental staff across Nova Scotia.

In this role you will:

• Provide strategic leadership for child and family wellbeing policy programs and practice.
• Lead the development and implementation of policies and guidelines that shape services across the province
• Support the ongoing development and enhancement of the delivery of services to promote child and family wellbeing.
• Guide system transformation initiatives including shifts toward preventative and community-based approaches
• Provide advice and recommendations to senior leadership and government decision-makers
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with other government partners communities and service providers
• Lead coach and support a team focusing on learning growth and strong performance
• Monitor trends risks opportunities and emerging needs to inform policy and program design development and decisions.
• Model and support the implementation of the child and family wellbeing practice framework
  
  

You thrive as a leader who inspires and challenges others to be creative innovative and collaborative. You must have a Bachelors or Masters degree in Social Work and be eligible for registration with the Nova Scotia College of Social addition you have several years of progressive leadership experience in the delivery or oversight of social services and programs including:

• Leading people teams or programs
• Supporting others in their growth and development
• Leading through change and transformation

Excellent people skills and personal resilience are essential to succeed in this highly collaborative human centred addition you have demonstrated the ability to:

• Lead both people and system-level initiatives
• Build strong partnerships across organizations and communities
• Apply an equity and inclusion lens in decision-making and service design
• Think strategically and translate ideas into action
• Communicate effectively with a range of audiences

Desirable assets include experience in developing or implementing public policy and working across multiple sectors (e.g. health justice education). Additional assets include in depth knowledge of Nova Scotias legislation programs and policies relevant to child and family wellbeing.

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.

Based on the employment status the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan 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: Benefits for government employees.

Your typical work week is 35 hours with 7-hour days. There will be regular travel to offices throughout the various regions. Your decisions have a significant impact on the safety and well-being of both citizens receiving OSD services and staff requiring your ability to balance conflicting views with multiple stakeholders.

• 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