Tourism Development Advisor (Planning and Development Officer 1-2) (2 Positions)

Public Service Commission, Government of Nova Scotia; Windsor; On-site; CAD 53,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Health and dental insurance

Life Insurance

General illness and disability cover

Job summary

Public Service Commission, Government of Nova Scotia is seeking a Tourism Development Advisor based in Windsor. The role leads the development of market-ready tourism experiences and destinations, aligning with visitor demand and strategic priorities.

You will coach operators, design capacity-building tools, and evaluate opportunities to strengthen Nova Scotia’s tourism offering. You will collaborate with communities, industry and government partners to advance development priorities, deliver

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Tourism, Public Relations, Business, Community Development or related field; 1 year tourism development experience.
• Strong facilitation, interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven project management skills with ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to prepare briefing materials and deliver presentations.

Responsibilities

• Lead tourism product and experience development initiatives to improve quality and market-readiness.
• Support communities, industry and government in strategic tourism planning.
• Provide coaching and advisory services to tourism businesses and communities.
• Design and deliver development programs across their lifecycle, including evaluation and reporting.
• Build relationships with stakeholders to advance development priorities.
• Evaluate proposals and opportunities and provide sound recommendations.
• Develop resources and research in collaboration with partners.
• Contribute to departmental communications and industry events.

Skills

Facilitation

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Organizational skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Tourism/PR/Business/Community Development

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

Competition #: 49022

Department: Communities, Culture, Tourism & Heritage

Location: WINDSOR

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 08-Nov-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage supports
communities across the province to be welcoming, inclusive, and accessible,
providing a great quality of life for Nova Scotians and a memorable experience
for visitors. We value the collective diversity of our heritage and our people
and believe in the transformative nature of culture to help create healthy,
active, growing communities.

Tourism Nova Scotia, a division of CCTH, is focused on attracting visitors to
the province and maximizing the value of tourism to Nova Scotia's economy
through experience and sector development, business coaching, marketing, and
visitor servicing. This work is guided by the Tourism Sector Strategy for Nova
Scotia, a shared strategy with industry and partners that aligns efforts around
a vision for sustainable, year-round tourism growth.

About Our Opportunity

As a Tourism Development Advisor, you will play a key role in advancing Nova Scotia's tourism sector by leading the development of market-ready tourism experiences and destinations that align with visitor demand, travel trends, and strategic priorities. Working as part of the Experience Development team, you will implement product and experience development initiatives that enhance the quality, competitiveness, and distinctiveness of Nova Scotia's tourism offerings. Using a strong understanding of consumer motivations and market research insights, you will support businesses and communities in developing compelling tourism products, experiences, and destinations that increase traveller appeal and strengthen the province's tourism offering. In this role, you will provide advisory services and coaching to tourism operators, non-profit organizations, and communities; design and deliver tourism capacity-building tools, resources, and development programs; evaluate tourism investment opportunities; and support research and planning initiatives that inform product and experience development. You will also build strong partnerships across industry and government to advance strategic development opportunities. This position operates in a dynamic, relationship-driven environment and requires strong facilitation, collaboration, communication, and strategic thinking skills, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities. This position reports to the Manager, Experience Development.

Primary Accountabilities

• Lead and implement tourism product and experience development initiatives that improve the quality, sustainability, and market-readiness of Nova Scotia's tourism offerings.


• Support communities, industry, and other levels of government in the preparation and implementation of strategic tourism plans.


• Provide coaching and advisory services to tourism businesses, communities, and organizations to support planning, tourism development, and market alignment.


• Design, deliver, and implement development programs across their full lifecycle, including application intake, evaluation, stakeholder coordination, contract management, monitoring, and reporting.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with tourism businesses, industry stakeholders, community organizations, and federal, provincial, and municipal partners to advance development priorities.


• Evaluate tourism-related proposals and investment opportunities, providing analysis and recommendations aligned with strategic objectives.


• Lead or support creation of tourism development resources to inform decision making, including industry capacity-building resources and research initiatives in collaboration with internal teams and external partners.


• Contribute to departmental communications, including briefing notes, stakeholder correspondence, presentations, and participation in industry events and committees.

Qualifications and Experience

• A bachelor's degree in Tourism, Public Relations, Business, Community Development or related field plus one (1) year of tourism development experience focussing on tourism product and/or destination development.


• Strong facilitation, interpersonal, relationship-building, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across communities, sectors, and partners.


• Demonstrated project management skills and strategic orientation, with the ability to lead initiatives, manage multiple priorities, and deliver results.


• Strong organizational and time management skills.


• Experience managing meetings, handling complex or sensitive situations, and representing an organization in a professional capacity.


• Experience managing projects and administering programs, including coordinating multiple priorities and timelines.


• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing briefing materials, tourism development resources, and delivering presentations.


• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate proposals and information to make sound recommendations.


• The ability to exercise sound judgement, discretion, and professionalism in a government or client-service environment.


• Experience using Microsoft Office 365 applications and digital tools.

While not required, it is considered an asset if you possess:

• Public sector experience, including knowledge of public sector policies, programs, and services


• Ability and willingness to travel (valid driver's license considered an asset)


• Written and verbal communication skills in French

Candidates may be assessed using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

• An equivalent combination of training, education and experience will be considered. Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.


• An equivalency may be considered, such as five (5) years of related experience in the tourism industry.

Benefits

• Based on the employment status and union agreement, 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, Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day.

May be required to work overtime on occasion.

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: PR 05 - PR 13

Salary Range: $2,025.08 - $3,410.48 Bi-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 and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities 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].

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly.

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. 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. 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].