Director, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and

**Competition #**: 43959
**Department**: Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives
**Location**: HALIFAX
**Type of Employment**: Term
**Union Status**: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG
**Closing Date**: 10-Sep-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)
Designation Status
This opportunity is designated to applicants that identify as Indigenous Person, African/Black Nova Scotian and other Racialized Persons, Person with a Disability.
See the Nova Scotia Government's Employment Equity Policy for more information, including additional details on the designated groups.
About Us
The Office of Equity and Anti-Racism (OEA) works across government with partners, communities, and public service employees, to help lead and support government's equity and anti-racism initiatives. In July 2024, our mandate was expanded to include both an internal and external focus.
For public service employees—we work to promote and advance equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility and to create a culturally responsive workplace; and
For all Nova Scotians—we work to identify and address systemic racism, barriers, and inequities in government policy, legislation, programs and services.
If you are interested in making a difference and wish to join a strong team who strive to achieve change, we are interested in hearing from you
About Our Opportunity
Reporting to the Executive Director, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA), as the Director of EDIA, you will champion and lead the development of strategies and programs that promote the Government of Nova Scotia as a place where individuals, at all levels of the organization, are respected and valued for their differences and contributions to the organization.
As Director you will have senior leadership accountability and be responsible to provide corporate leadership and strategic EDIA expertise in the areas of employment equity, barrier identification, action planning, measurement, and evaluation. The Director also works to establish a systems-based approach, ensuring an equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility lens is applied in corporate human resource strategies, programs and policies that will guide the organization to be a welcoming and engaged public service.
The Director will lead and manage a strong, dynamic team of professionals committed to making the Nova Scotia Public Service a better place to work, adapting to and effectively implementing emerging trends and building an equitable, inclusive, and welcoming culture. You will be focused on building a corporate culture that positively supports employees and leaders, based on public service values, a skilled, nimble and adaptable public service and providing a quality work experience that will enable employees to bring their whole selves to work.
As the Director, you are accountable for the development and implementation of the new All Together Action Plan and its accountability report, the development and implementation of the Employment Equity Policy and Guidelines as well as the Employment Systems Review recommendations in partnership with the Public Service Commission, along with a variety of training, resources, and services to support the 2SLGBTQIA+, Disability, and Racialized communities, to name a few. The Director also represents the OEA on various committees, advisory groups, and interdepartmental forums.
The Director works collaboratively and supports Employee Networks, the EDIA departmental leads table, and various offices, agencies, and external partners. The Director also has oversight of the biennial public service diversity conference.
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for a leader who has demonstrated effective leadership experience, holds others accountable and leads with integrity, building success on the relationships established. You have vision and strategy experience and can turn strategy into action, through systematic and well-planned implementation. Your communication style includes the ability to read and understand a variety of the audiences and tailor responses to their needs. Continuous learning, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility are top of mind, and you work with controlled patience, understanding that culture change takes awareness, strategy, relationships, and time.
About You
You build effective working relationships at all levels of the organization. Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills enhance the ability to respond immediately to questions and issues regarding equitable, respectful and inclusive workplaces.
You have experience working collaboratively with diverse communities, senior leaders, unions, external partners, and a variety of stakeholders with a range of interests which sometimes compete. A strong working knowledge of issues impacting diverse equity communities is essential to your success. You leverage your lived experience and thorough understanding of bias, discrimination, equity, inclusion, privilege, and systemi