Director, Pharmacare and Extended Health Benefits

The Government of Nova Scotia; Halifax; On-site; CAD 112,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Health, Dental and Life Insurance

Vacation and Employee Assistance

Job summary

The Government of Nova Scotia is seeking a Director, Pharmacare Administration in Halifax to lead public drug and related health benefits programs. You will guide policy, operations, and financial stewardship while ensuring accountability and quality client service across the division.

You will manage cross‑government relationships, oversee complex programs, and lead experienced teams. This role requires strategic thinking, decisive leadership and strong communication with senior decision makers.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership with experience guiding programs or services in a complex setting.
• Ability to balance legislation, policy, service delivery and financial accountability.
• Strong written and verbal communication for briefing and decision-making.
• Experience interpreting legislation to practical operational processes.
• Experience in government, health insurance or public sector is essential.
• Equivalencies in education/experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight for benefit adjudication and program operations.
• Lead policy changes, modernization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee the Prescription Monitoring Program and program evaluations.
• Manage day-to-day operations, budgets and resource allocation.
• Build relationships with provincial, federal and health-system partners.
• Deliver expert briefings and recommendations to senior leaders.

Skills

Senior leadership experience

Program management

Policy interpretation

Strategic planning

Budget and financial oversight

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Communication skills

Change management

Intercultural proficiency

Education

Post-secondary degree in public/health administration or related field

Job description

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Director, Pharmacare and Extended Health Benefits

Competition # :50334

Department:Health and Wellness

Location:HALIFAX

Type of Employment:Permanent

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date:26-Nov-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Pharmaceutical Services Division of the Department of Health and Wellness provides evidence-based research, policy analysis, strategic planning, program design, monitoring and evaluation for Nova Scotia’s publicly funded drug and related benefit programs. The Division develops legislation, regulations, policies, standards and guidelines that respond to the changing health needs of Nova Scotians and support the Department’s strategic direction. Programs include Seniors’ Pharmacare, Family Pharmacare, the Drug Assistance for Cancer Patients Program, the Nova Scotia Insulin Pump Program and other programs delivered with health-system partners.

About Our Opportunity

As Director, Pharmacare Administration, you will lead programs that help Nova Scotians access publicly funded drug and related health benefits. Reporting to the Executive Director, Pharmaceutical Services, you will provide strategic direction for program planning, operations, delivery and evaluation, while helping the Division respond to emerging needs, system pressures and opportunities for improvement. Your leadership will influence how benefits are administered, how policies are translated into service delivery and how programs evolve to remain accountable, sustainable and responsive. You will work across government and with health-system, provider and industry partners to address complex issues, strengthen program performance and support informed decisions. This opportunity is well suited to a collaborative and decisive leader who can connect policy, operations, financial stewardship and client experience. You will guide experienced teams, advise senior decision-makers and help shape programs that have a direct impact on Nova Scotians.

Primary Accountabilities

As Director, you will provide leadership across a broad and complex portfolio. You will:

• Provide strategic oversight for benefit adjudication, administrative and provider service agreements, operational systems and frameworks, provider and program audits, provider negotiations, data-sharing agreements, and program and benefit utilization analysis.
• Lead policy and program changes, modernization work, continuous improvement initiatives, and complex operational or administrative transformations.
• Provide strategic oversight of the Prescription Monitoring Program.
• Lead managers and staff responsible for day-to-day program operations, benefit delivery, program evaluation, utilization review, information requests and individual case reviews.
• Create the conditions for team success by establishing clear direction, tools, training, escalation pathways and performance expectations.
• Prepare and provide expert advice, briefings, analysis and recommendations to the Executive Director, Deputy Minister, Minister, senior leaders and other government officials on delivery pressures, emerging risks, policy gaps, operational impacts and opportunities to improve access to benefits.
• Oversee the Division’s budget and financial performance, including expenditure forecasting and resource allocation.
• Build effective relationships with provincial, federal and international governments, health-system partners, providers and other organizations, and represent the Department on committees, project teams, at conferences and in meetings.

Qualifications and Experience

You bring senior-level experience leading programs, services or operational teams in a complex and changing environment. You understand how to balance legislation, policy, service delivery, financial accountability, privacy, equity, client experience and public expectations. You are comfortable managing competing priorities, making well-reasoned decisions with incomplete information and advising on sensitive or high-profile matters. To be considered, you have a post-secondary degree in a relevant field, such as public administration, health administration or a health profession, plus extensive years of progressively responsible experience in a relevant field. An equivalent combination of training, education and experience will be considered. The following experience and capabilities are also essential:

• Experience managing complex programs in government, health insurance, or a comparable public- or private-sector environment.
• A strong understanding of, and demonstrated experience within, the Canadian health-care or social-services system.
• Proven experience leading teams and significant day-to-day operations, including establishing operational controls and overseeing monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrated success identifying risk, resolving operational issues and implementing improvements with measurable results.
• The ability to interpret legislation, regulations and policy and translate them into practical operational processes and decision-support tools.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing clear briefings, reports and recommendations for decision-makers.
• Demonstrated leadership strengths in analytical thinking, strategic orientation, innovation, continuous improvement, adaptability, change management, initiative, risk management, effective communication, partnership, collaboration, and intercultural and diversity proficiency.

Experience in the management of drug or other insured health benefits or significant leadership experience in pharmacy practice will be considered assets.

We will assess the above qualifications and experience using tools such as assessments, presentations, interviews and reference checks.

Equivalency

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

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

• The normal work week is 35 hours, based on seven hours per day.
• Occasional overtime may be required.
• The role involves managing competing priorities and responding to sensitive, complex or high-profile program matters.

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
• A dynamic, client-focused office environment where service excellence and teamwork are our focus.

Pay Grade:EC 13

Salary Range:$4,322.15- $5,402.66Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement: Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians, Persons of African Descent, Racialized Persons, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ Persons and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

Accommodation Statement: We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act.If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail].

Current government employees may access this posting through the link below:

PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

If you are receiving a pension from the Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP) or any related plans, you cannot receive pension payments while contributing to the same plan. If you accept a position that requires PSSP contributions, your pension payments must be stopped. Please contact the Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation for more information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. Where required, candidates must provide proof that they are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to [e-mail] .