Safe Schools Executive Lead

The Government of Nova Scotia; Halifax; On-site; CAD 108,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension Plan

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

Vacation

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

The Government of Nova Scotia’s Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is seeking a dynamic Project Executive Lead- School Safety to join our team. You will lead strategic initiatives to ensure schools are safe and inclusive for students and staff, reporting to the Executive Director, Safe and Inclusive Schools.

You will oversee implementation of Safe School initiatives, align work with provincial priorities, and guide cross-team collaboration to improve outcomes for students,

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a related field.
• Minimum seven years of progressive leadership experience.
• Strong facilitation and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent leadership, organizational and decision-making abilities.
• Expert knowledge to analyze evidence-based practices for strategy.
• Expertise in business planning, strategic planning and systems thinking.
• Evidence-based collaborative problem solving of complex issues.
• Proven ability to lead complex work teams.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Collaboration, negotiation and persuasion with internal and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead and ensure successful implementation of priority projects, identifying risks, monitoring milestones, supporting change management efforts, and offering data-driven solutions to enhance initiative effectiveness.
• Support strategic planning, governance initiatives, and committee structures that advance program development and project progress in relation to the Provincial School Code of Conduct, as well as Emergency Management Planning.
• Support branch-wide project integration ensuring projects have coherence and are aligned with branch, department, and government priorities. This will result in reduced violence in schools
• Provide informed recommendations to senior leadership on high-priority projects or initiatives. Ensuring clear and timely communication within the department and with external partners.
• Foster regular, cross-team collaboration to support priorities. Act as a hub for communication to ensure all teams remain informed and aligned on strategic initiatives.
• Monitor and assess emerging national and international trends, issues, needs, and barriers. When potentially impactful, analyze information and propose practical, data-driven solutions that align with government goals and those of our partners.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to internal and external partners, fostering collaboration, and driving continuous improvements.
• Adapt to evolving priorities in a dynamic, high-impact environment, providing effective team support, initiative execution and support to drive optimal outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Strategic Thinking

Stakeholder Engagement

Communication

Public Education

Education

Master’s Degree in Education/Business/PM

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Department:Education & Early Childhood Development

Location:HALIFAX

Type of Employment:Permanent

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date:01-Dec-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

At the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD), we lead the transformation of the early years and public education system in Nova Scotia. We do 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.

EECD is a fit for those that want to be part of the future of early learning and childcare and public education in the province by supporting children, students and families with a strong foundation for success in a progressive and responsive policy environment.

Joining EECD means being a part of a dynamic team driving impactful change that brings innovative minds together from across the department, and the broader system.

About Our Opportunity

We’re looking for a dynamic and strategic leader for the position of Project Executive Lead- School Safety to join our Education and Early Childhood Development team.

In this exciting role, you will have a leadership role in ensuring schools are safe and inclusive for students and staff. Reporting to the Executive Director, Safe and Inclusive Schools, you will provide expert advice and oversee the implementation of Safe School initiatives tied to provincial priorities. Your leadership will support the achievement of departmental and government priorities, ensuring that the work of your team aligns with and contributes to the broader goals of the division, the department, the province.

Primary Accountabilities

• Lead and ensure successful implementation of priority projects, identifying risks, monitoring milestones, supporting change management efforts, and offering data-driven solutions to enhance initiative effectiveness.
• Support strategic planning, governance initiatives, and committee structures that advance program development and project progress in relation to the Provincial School Code of Conduct, as well as Emergency Management Planning.
• Support branch-wide project integration ensuring projects have coherence and are aligned with branch, department, and government priorities. This will result in reduced violence in schools
• Provide informed recommendations to senior leadership on high-priority projects or initiatives. Ensuring clear and timely communication within the department and with external partners.
• Foster regular, cross-team collaboration to support priorities. Act as a hub for communication to ensure all teams remain informed and aligned on strategic initiatives.
• Monitor and assess emerging national and international trends, issues, needs, and barriers. When potentially impactful, analyze information and propose practical, data-driven solutions that align with government goals and those of our partners.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to internal and external partners, fostering collaboration, and driving continuous improvements.
• Adapt to evolving priorities in a dynamic, high-impact environment, providing effective team support, initiative execution and support to drive optimal outcomes.

Qualifications and Experience

We’re looking for someone who brings not just technical expertise and experience, but also strategic thinking and collaborative leadership

The ideal candidate has experience in a senior level position where they were responsible for moving forward significant priorities for their organization. Candidates should have project management skills with an action-oriented approach.

Experience working in a public school system with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is considered an asset.

We would love to hear from you if you have the following:

• Master’s Level Degree completed in education-related discipline, business administration, project management, or related subject. Equivalent experience and/or alternative education may be considered.
• Minimum of seven years of relevant leadership experience with progressive accountabilities for financial, strategic and people management to deliver high quality services.
• Strong facilitation and relationship building skills.
• Excellent leadership, organizational and decision-making skills.
• Expert knowledge to critically analyse evidence-based practices to inform strategy development and organizational planning.
• Expertise in business planning, strategic planning and systems thinking.
• Evidence-based collaborative problem solving of complex multifaceted issues.
• Understands the principles of project management and demonstrated ability to lead complex work teams.
• Demonstrated advanced interpersonal, communications and team building skills.
• Collaboration, negotiation, and persuasion skills are paramount as this role requires the input of internal and external partners.

Equivalency

We welcome candidates with diverse and transferable experience. Applicants who do not meet the exact education requirement may still be considered if they clearly demonstrate an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Equivalent experience should show substantial depth in financial analysis, accounting, funding administration, compliance monitoring, internal controls, or a closely related area. Applicants relying on equivalency must clearly explain in their application how their background gives them the financial judgement, analytical skills, and accountability experience needed for this role.

The Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan fit 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 .

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 14

Salary Range:$4,754.34- $5,942.94Bi-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].

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] .