Opportunities Program Lead, Sector Development & Partnerships (Program Admin Officer 4)

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) 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 early learning and 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 early learning and public education in the province by supporting student learning in a progressive and responsive policy environment.

The Program Lead supports initiatives that strengthen quality inclusion innovation and capacity across Nova Scotias early learning and childcare sector.

Reporting to the Manager Sector Development and Partnerships you will help coordinate programs resources and partnerships that support childcare operators educators and sector organizations. Your work will help ensure quality initiatives are accessible inclusive and responsive to the needs of the sector.

Working with colleagues government partners and community organizations you will identify sector needs and trends use evidence and data to inform decisions and contribute to the development of policies standards and strategies that promote excellence equity and sustainability across the early learning and childcare system.

As the Program Lead you will:

• Plan coordinate deliver monitor and evaluate sector-wide quality initiatives pilots and programs that support continuous improvement and sector capacity building.
• Develop frameworks tools resources and communications that help the sector apply evidence-informed strategies to advance quality and inclusive practices in early learning and child care.
• Work with government and external partners to identify sector-wide concerns trends and innovations and use this information to support departmental decision-making.
• Build strong partnerships with departmental and community partners including Quality Assurance Specialists Pyramid Model Coaches Developmental Interventionists Professional Learning Support Site Coordinators regional Pre-primary Leads and others.
• Support effective and coordinated program delivery by helping partners align services resources and initiatives with the needs of children families educators and communities.
• Strengthen community engagement by supporting professional learning communities consultations workshops and learning sessions with sector partners.
• Develop manage and monitor funding agreements with partner organizations to support accountability timely delivery budget alignment and achievement of departmental outcomes.
• Collect review and synthesize information from quality assessments licensing data surveys engagements and research from other jurisdictions to improve initiatives related to quality inclusion and sector capacity building.
• Prepare reports summaries recommendations and briefing materials to support accountability and evidence-informed policy-making.

As the ideal candidate you have a bachelors degree in a related field along with at least six years of related experience. An equivalent combination of education training and experience may be considered.

Your experience includes a combination of:

• Leading or supporting the planning development implementation monitoring or evaluation of programs initiatives or services of varying size and complexity.
• Working in or with early learning and childcare early childhood education child development inclusion professional learning quality improvement or related early years programs.
• Applying research and analytical skills to identify issues and trends collect and review data synthesize information and provide clear recommendations.
• Developing or supporting tools resources standards frameworks policies communications or program materials.
• Building relationships with partners service providers community organizations government or sector stakeholders.
• Communicating complex information clearly and respectfully to diverse audiences through writing presentations facilitation engagement or advice to decision-makers.
• Managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while demonstrating sound judgement initiative and attention to detail.
• Working effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• You bring strong interpersonal written and verbal communication skills. You are collaborative organized and able to support work across multiple partners and priorities. You also demonstrate a commitment to equity inclusion accessibility cultural responsiveness service excellence and continuous improvement.

We will assess the above qualifications using one or more of the following tools: written examination standardized tests oral presentations interview(s) and reference checks.

The following would be considered assets:

• Education training or certification in early childhood education.
• Experience with licensed child care family home child care before-and-after school programs Pre-primary early intervention inclusion supports Pyramid Model professional learning quality assurance or pedagogical leadership.
• Experience working with Indigenous African Nova Scotian Acadian/francophone newcomer disability rural or other equity-deserving communities.
• Bilingualism with fluency in both French and English.

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Based on the employment status and union agreement the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as aDefined 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.

This is a Term position with an anticipated end date of March 5 2027.

This position may require occasional travel within Nova Scotia to meet with partners attend meetings or support program and sector engagement.

• 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