Provincial Assessment Coordinator

**Competition #**: 42516

**Department**: Education & Early Childhood Development

**Location**: HALIFAX

**Type of Employment**: Term

**Union Status**: NSGEU - NSPG

**Closing Date**: 24-Apr-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is leading the transformation of the early years and public education system in Nova Scotia. We are doing this by designing an innovative curriculum, facilitating excellence in teaching and learning, ensuring an inclusive education experience, and working closely with our partners in education. This will provide children, students, and families with a strong foundation for success. This department is a perfect fit for those that want to be part of the future of public education in the province.

As part of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development's Centre for Equity in Achievement and Well-Being Branch, Student Assessment and Evaluation administers a comprehensive assessment program which provides reliable and accurate data about student performance in mathematics and literacy. We develop, administer, score, and report on English and French provincial assessments and examinations and are responsible for administering national and international assessments as well. Our division is entering an exciting time of reflection and change in the way we operate, and you will have the opportunity to be a major contributor to this change.

About Our Opportunity

As the Provincial Assessment Coordinator (PAO3), you are accountable for the efficient, cost-effective, and quality-assured delivery of the provincial assessment program. The position requires considerable independence of action and sophisticated judgement in determining impacts and risks to a highly profiled government program. The position has the responsibility to liaise and coordinate with Regional Centres of Education, the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial, and Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey in establishing, maintaining, and revising as needed all procedures and logístical aspects of the administration of the provincial assessment program, including the security of assessments, and the timely delivery and recovery of assessment materials. Any one assessment form includes up to 10,000 student booklets, and assessments and examinations are written in both French and English.

Primary Accountabilities

Plan, develop, coordinate, and manage all aspects of the production, distribution, recovery, and tracking of all provincial assessment and examination materials, within rigid timelines and strict quality controls. Planning requires the negotiating of complex timelines within the division as well as with other entities, including editors, graphic designers, printers, other branches and departments within government, Canada Post, and school regions.

The coordination of the assessment program requires close attention to detail and monitoring of overlapping schedules and timelines of the different assessments; this position must plan and coordinate the development work of up to thirteen assessment projects at any one point in time and adapt and renegotiate as needed to ensure the department meets all publicly declared deadlines.

The Provincial Assessment Coordinator institutes and monitors quality controls to ensure that printed assessment materials are of high quality, accurate in variable data, and within strict allowances of printing error; institutes and monitors shipping procedures to ensure error-free and on-time delivery of assessment materials to schools throughout the province, as well as to international schools associated with the Nova Scotia Department of Education. The position also has responsibility for managing procurement of services to ensure that all projects are completed efficiently, on time, best value, and charged to the appropriate cost centre.

The Provincial Assessment Coordinator is the primary point of contact for regional partners regarding the administration of assessments and any issues that arise regarding the provincial assessment program. This position is responsible for liaising with colleagues and senior management to determine and communicate resolutions of issues associated with the provincial assessment program consistent with department policies, guidelines, and practices.

Qualifications and Experience

This may be the right opportunity for you if you have a university degree with 5 years related experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience. You possess a high level of competence using a variety of technology programs including Microsoft Word, Excel, Acrobat, Teams, Google Suite.

You must be able to work closely in a team of professionals and possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, particularly in communicating program information to a variety of audiences. Your strong interpersonal skills help you to interact effectively with educational partners and