Executive Director, Regional Operations and Infrastructure

About Us

The Department of Emergency Management is responsible for leading disaster and emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery activities on behalf of the Province of Nova Scotia. The objective of the Department is to ensure that Nova Scotians are safe, prepared and resilient in the face of disasters and emergencies. The Department leads the coordination and co-operation of partners and resources during provincial level critical incidents, supports municipal and other partners in regional level and local events, administers the province's 911 service, maintains critical communications infrastructure and supports operations of our regional emergency management centres. The Department also works to ensure critical government services continue to function during and after critical events.

The Regional Operations and Infrastructure Branch enhances the safety and resilience of our Province by:

• Strengthening critical communications infrastructure through the establishment and oversight of the Public Safety Field Communications Agency. The Agency's mission is to create a Centre of Excellence in the delivery of public safety communications, dispatch, and related technologies across Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada
• Establishing and maintaining Regional Emergency Operations Centres (REOCs) in 6 regions in Nova Scotia. The REOCs provide leadership in building regional emergency operations networks; ensuring collaborative efforts around emergency planning, training and exercising and developing regional plans for equipment and stores to support emergency response
• Coordinating response to regional emergencies
• Strengthening local and regional emergency preparedness through outreach and education to Nova Scotians at community events, schools, organizations, and through information sessions
• Fostering strong collaboration, communication, and emergency management planning with regional partners, including the development and coordination of regional Nova Scotia Guard networks
• Providing information to the Provincial Coordination Centre and the 24/7 Watch Desk staff to ensure real-time situational awareness, coordination, and support during emergencies and actioning critical information received from the Provincial Coordination Centre in the regions

About Our Opportunity

As the Executive Director of Regional Operations and Infrastructure you will lead a Branch responsible for emergency preparedness, community resilience and critical public safety communications infrastructure. The Executive Director will collaborate and build relationships to coordinate and advance initiatives with a wide network of regional partners. You will work with many diverse communities and stakeholders and create a climate of readiness for emergency response and recovery.

This position is responsible for the strategic leadership and direction of the Regional Operations and Infrastructure Branch which includes two divisions: the Public Safety and Field Communications Agency (a provincial special operating agency) and Regional Operations with six Regional Emergency Operations Centers (REOCs).

Primary Accountabilities

Within the ever-evolving emergency management field, you will lead through change and be willing to adjust quickly, when needed. In this role, you will create an environment that promotes continuous learning and improvement by seeking feedback from your team, colleagues and others while being open to critiques that help to improve outcomes.

As a strategic and inspirational leader, you will hold your team and yourself to high standards of work, integrity, and thorough analysis. You understand the importance of effective and clear communication whether it is internal to government or out in our communities. You can convey complex issues to decision-makers in a way that enables good dialogue, and you provide sound advice.

Responsibilities include:

• Overseeing critical programs and initiatives, ensuring they are aligned with the department's goals and objectives and ensuring consistent delivery across all regional centers.
• Fostering strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government agencies, community organizations and private sector partners to support collaborative regional emergency management efforts.
• Working closely with municipalities, first responders, and NGOs to promote a culture of preparedness and resilience.
• Leading incident management teams and the REOCs during emergencies, ensuring effective response and coordination.
• Completing senior-level communications and briefings.
• Leading, promoting and supporting regional and provincial after-action reviews.
• Leading contract negotiations, submitting recommendations on contract execution and overseeing staff who will manage and ensure accountability on large contracts.

Qualifications and Experience

You have a bachelor's degree in a related field as well as several years of progressive management and leadership experience, experience in a government setting and experience leading multidisciplinary teams that work on complex, cross-cutting issues.

As the Executive Director, you must demonstrate knowledge and experience in:

• Leading multi-disciplinary teams of professionals that work on complex problems
• Forging strong relationships of trust and collaboration across diverse groups and communities
• Developing strategic plans and conducting risk assessments
• Translating goals into prioritized action plans
• Building capacity and leading change management processes
• Using critical thinking and analysis to solve complex problems
• Emergency management policies, programs and plans as well as a strong understanding of how the initiatives impact the people, communities, and businesses of the province
• Negotiating agreements and approaches with government and non-government partners

Excellent verbal and written communication and persuasion skills are required.

The following will be considered an asset:

• Specific experience in building community resiliency
• Expertise in public safety communications systems and infrastructure management
• Specific experience in conducting after-action reviews of critical incidents

Leadership competences required at this level of work are:

Decisiveness, strategic orientation, change leadership, team leadership, effective interactive communication, self-awareness and personal impact, partnering and relationship building, and intercultural and diversity proficiency.

We may 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, 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.

Working Conditions

• Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day
• Can expect to be called upon on a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week basis during an emergency

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