Immigration Program Coordinator (Program Admin Officer 4)

Competition # : 49230

Department: Labour, Skills and Immigration

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Term

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

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

About Us

The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration (LSI) works to provide fairness, safety, and prosperity for all Nova Scotians by helping them live, learn, and work to their highest potential. We have a staff of more than 500 employees working in offices throughout Nova Scotia. Together we are responsible for workplace safety, fire safety, pensions, immigration, apprenticeship, adult education, and many other facets of everyday life.

About Our Opportunity

The Immigration Program Coordinator helps supervise a team of professionals and is responsible for overall immigration program(s) development and delivery, in accordance with immigration legislation, bilateral agreements and branch policies. They are responsible for the day-to-day team leadership and coordination of operations. They provide technical supervision and mentoring to Immigration Officers and will provide support to the Manager and Director where necessary.

In coordination with the Immigration Program Manager , they are responsible for assigning program applications and approving recommendations for nominations and endorsements. They will also be responsible for providing information on program criteria to various stakeholders, including employers and applicants. Coordinators contribute to program delivery improvements and are accountable for ongoing monitoring and reporting of program results.

Primary Accountabilities

The Coordinator leads day-to-day program delivery, including scheduling, case file assignment, and supervision of Immigration Officers to support effective delivery of the Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program. They monitor daily work activity, application inventory, processing times, and emerging challenges, and report on processing targets on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis. They contribute to achieving provincial allocation targets and expected annual results within a client-focused environment.

The Coordinator ensures the team adheres to prescribed processes, policies, systems, and regulations, and that processing activities are appropriately documented and secured in accordance with federal regulations, provincial policies, and departmental and program guidelines. They ensure adherence to established frameworks for the approval and refusal of applications, and that assessment recommendations are consistent with program criteria and policies.

The Coordinator also supports broader program improvement by assisting with the development of briefing notes, presentations, and other program communications, recommending operational improvements, and identifying adjustments to processes, policies, and frameworks that reduce the risk of immigration fraud. They establish relationships with the federal government and other provincial jurisdictions, share best practices, and foster a learning environment for Immigration Officers.

Qualifications and Experience

Post-secondary degree in a related discipline and six (6) years of related experience (or an equivalent combination of training and experience).

Recent experience supervising diverse teams, meeting aggressive deadlines/targets, and managing day-to-day operations within policy and legislative frameworks.

Demonstrated experience managing a caseload in a regulated, rules-based, or adjudicative environment, involving multiple concurrent stakeholders (e.g., applicants, employers, representatives, internal leadership), with the ability to prioritize, track, and resolve files within service standards.

Demonstrated experience maintaining accurate, secure, and well-documented case records in accordance with privacy, retention, and program requirements.

Demonstrated experience reading, interpreting, and applying legislation and/or regulations (supported by policy frameworks) to operational decisions, and instructing others in how to apply them.

Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with a proven ability to make defensible decisions through careful, logical analysis while upholding service standards.

Strong written and verbal communication, including the ability to deliver technical direction to staff and information to external stakeholders.

Demonstrated intercultural proficiency and experience working effectively across diverse populations.

Proficiency with Microsoft O365 (Power BI, MS Lists, etc.) and the ability to communicate using a variety of printed and visual tools.

Due to the nature of the role and its responsibilities, this position requires Canadian citizenship or Permanent Resident status in Canada.

Assets

Direct experience working with immigration law (IRPA, IRPR, provincial immigration legislation, bilateral agreements), or experience in a regulatory/compliance environment applying similar legal frameworks.

Experience with the Provincial Nominee Program and/or Atlantic Immigration Program (or comparable economic immigration streams).

Paralegal designation, legal studies, or formal training in administrative law or statutory interpretation.

Experience engaging with employers, immigration representatives, or legal counsel on file-specific matters.

Application Process

As part of the application process, applicants will be required to provide written responses to the following two application questions. Responses will be assessed as part of the overall screening and selection process.

Case Management: Describe a time you managed a complex caseload involving multiple stakeholders (e.g., staff, leadership, applicants, employers, or representatives). Explain how you prioritized the work, tracked progress, and handled competing expectations. (Max 400 words.)

Interpretation of Legislation, Regulation, and Policy: Describe a situation where you had to interpret and apply legislation, regulation, or policy to a decision, beyond following a checklist. Explain the framework, the issue you resolved, and how you defended your interpretation. (Max 400 words.)

Equivalency

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

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, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

• Regular work week 35hrs/week
• Comfortable office environment
  
  

Additional Information

This is a TERM employment opportunity with anticipated end date of April 24, 2028. The appointment status (‘term’, ‘temporary’ or ‘casual’) is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate.

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 17

Salary Range: $3,410.48 - $4,005.58 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 competitions@novascotia.ca.

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 via this link:

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 Competitions@novascotia.ca.