ESS Program Administrator (Program Admin Officer 3)

 

 

Competition # : 46216 

Department: Opportunities and Social Development

Location: Flexible

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG 

Closing Date: ​11-Jun-25 ​ (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

 

About Us

At the Department of Opportunities and Social Development (OSD), we are a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services including Child and Family Wellbeing (CFW), Employment Support Services (ESS), Income Assistance (IA), Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and the Disability Support Program (DSP). 

 

Through our services, we advocate and help vulnerable Nova Scotians be independent, self-reliant, and secure.  We work collaboratively across the province with a strong and dedicated network of supports and staff, to achieve desired and shared outcomes for all. 

 

About Our Opportunity

The Program Administration Officer, Employment Support Services (ESS), is a critical team resource in the development, implementation, coordination, tracking and monitoring of policies, pilot projects and programs.  

 
You directly contribute to, and make recommendations for, projects and programs for individuals and their family members connected to income assistance, people of diverse equity groups and youth-at-risk. The work you do impacts service delivery and focuses on prevention, early intervention, and skills development approaches to employment support services. 

 

The ESS Program team is driven and solution-focused and looking for a dynamic individual with an innovative mindset, who is eager to enhance programming opportunities for the individuals and families we support. 

 

Primary Accountabilities

We count on your expertise to cultivate working relationships and enhance the development and implementation of programs and/or projects. You will achieve this through: 

 

• Creating, monitoring, implementing, and evaluating standards and guidelines that support ESS programs and policies; 
• Assisting in the enhancement of program development and delivery through the creation of accountability systems and support in coordination; 
• Providing advice and guidance on projects/programs related to sustainable labour market attachment and employment-related initiatives for youth-at-risk, persons with disability and recipients of income assistance; 
• Analyzing and interpreting policy from a research lens to identify gaps in services and consider trends when contributing to effective program development; 
• Partnering with regions as well as internal and external parties to actively support the achievement of the short and long-term objectives of the ESS division, in alignment with departmental goals; 
• Developing approaches and communication tools to implement new projects and programs to the regional delivery system; 
• Participating in the development of evaluation frameworks used to assess program performance and supporting analysis and reporting of outcomes; 
• Providing contract management and communications with proven community collaboration and networking abilities; and
• Contributing to the monitoring of budgets and forecasts by developing and implementing effective program statistical tracking mechanisms. 

 

Qualifications and Experience

You have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least five (5) years of related experience in policy/program planning and development. Previous experience with Employment Support Services and knowledge of services and programs offered by the department and other community agencies are desirable assets. 

 

By applying an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens to your work, you are analytical in nature and can identify opportunities, determine program requirements, evaluate alternatives, and provide sound recommendations to management. You can interpret policy with proficiency, track statistical program information, and measure desirable program outcomes. 

 

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