Program Manager, Wood Street Campus

Competition # : 50004

Department: Opportunities and Social Development

Location: TRURO

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date: 07-Oct-26 (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), Supportive Housing and Homelessness, 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 dedicated network of supports and staff, to achieve desired and shared outcomes for all.

About Our Opportunity

Wood Street Campus is a cornerstone in providing specialized treatment services for children in the care of the Minister. We are passionate about supporting children and enhancing their development into successful young people in the community. The experience of fostering positive outcomes for children is very rewarding and requires a highly motivated and energetic individual!

Reporting to the Director, Service Delivery, Child & Youth Caring Services, as the Program Manager, you will be part of the leadership team at Wood Street Campus. You will be accountable for the recruitment, supervision, and leadership of your professional staff, who all work together to provide diagnostic, assessment and treatment services, and programming for children with complex emotional and/or behavioural issues in the care of the Minister.

About You

You are a highly motivated, energetic, and collaborative individual whose passion is positively contributing to experiences for children in care. Through your leadership, you aspire to shape the future of children through your impact on positive outcomes and working in partnership with other organizations to ensure best practices in service delivery. If this is you, this is your team!

Primary Accountabilities

You will oversee the program and human resource management at Wood Street Campus, including assessment, treatment, education, programming, safety and security. Your key responsibilities include:

- Interpreting and administering the Children and Family Service Act

- Collaborating with Clinical Services to ensure the effective delivery of services, youth programming, treatment plans, and case management

- Quality management through monitoring, assessing, and reviewing incidents and treatment plans

- Leading the enhancement and development of various policies, committees and initiatives

- Ensuring the effective management of human resources and supervising a team of employees

Qualifications and Experience

As our Wood Street Campus Program Manager, you have completed your Bachelor's degree, or an acceptable equivalent, combined with several years of progressive experience supervising and/or managing a child and youth caring program. A valid driver's license, ability to travel, and access to a reliable vehicle are required.

Knowledge of human behaviour, trauma-informed care and considerable insight into the motivation of young people to implement change in their lives is required. You also have an understanding of child and youth caring treatment programs and demonstrated knowledge of safety and staffing issues in a child and youth caring treatment setting. Strong organizational skills, experience in program development and a proven ability to provide effective problem-solving techniques in an intense treatment setting are required.

You possess strong leadership abilities and communication skills, both verbal and in writing. You are a collaborative leader and have the ability to foster partnerships and strong working relationships with a variety of professionals and stakeholders. You have a proven ability to provide inspirational leadership, individual and group supervision of staff, as well as direction, guidance, coaching and modelling on effective treatment strategies for children. Proven ability to work as a member of an Interdisciplinary Team, along with the ability to prepare and maintain staff shift schedules, and recruit, motivate and train staff within a 24/7 program are essential. A working knowledge of the Department’s policies and procedures, as well as relevant acts and legislation, such as the Children and Family Services Act and the Occupational Health & Safety Act, is a definite asset.

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

Equivalency

We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise. Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status, 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

Wood Street Campus, Secure Treatment operates twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days per week, with an Interdisciplinary Team who provide stabilization, assessment, and treatment services to children with complex emotional and/or behavioural issues. These children may also demonstrate harmful/aggressive behaviours, and the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Model (NCI) is utilized to manage these behaviours. You must be physically able to implement NCI techniques.

Your hours of work may include evenings and weekends to ensure the safe and effective operation of the campus.

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

Pay Grade: EC 11

Salary Range: $3,571.99 - $4,465.03 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, 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 [email protected].

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. 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 [email protected].