Director, Data Strategy, Performance and Analytics

Competition # : 49929

Department: Labour, Skills and Immigration

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date: 04-Oct-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration is a dynamic and innovative department focused on strategies, policies and programs that help people live, learn and work to their highest potential in vibrant businesses and organizations throughout Nova Scotia.

The Corporate Policy and Services Branch is the department's primary link with broader government. It helps ensure the department aligns with government policies, priorities and processes, and supports informed departmental and government decision-making. The branch leads and coordinates functions including corporate policy and planning, accountability and performance reporting, strategic initiatives, research, intergovernmental affairs, access and privacy, records and information management, facilities, and legislative and executive coordination.

About Our Opportunity

As Director, Data Strategy, Performance and Analytics, you will establish and lead a coordinated departmental function that strengthens how Labour, Skills and Immigration governs, prioritizes, analyzes and uses data. Reporting to the Senior Executive Director, Corporate Policy and Services, you will provide strategic leadership for departmental data strategy, performance measurement, reporting standards, analytics priorities and related governance practices.

You will lead a team and work across branches to bring greater consistency to analytics, accountability and performance reporting. Your work will support evidence-based policy and program design, operational planning, resource allocation, accountability reporting and executive decision-making. You will exercise considerable judgment in setting priorities, developing standards and workplans, and providing advice on complex and sensitive issues.

Primary Accountabilities

In this role, you will:

• Lead the development, implementation and ongoing administration of a departmental data strategy, including priorities, governance, standards and accountabilities.
• Develop common approaches to performance measurement, outcomes reporting and executive-level monitoring across the department.
• Identify and oversee departmental analytics priorities, products and workplans, including executive dashboards and decision-support products.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leadership on program performance, operational pressures, emerging trends, risks and opportunities.
• Guide the coordination and transition of analytics, reporting and performance-related work into a more integrated departmental function.
• Establish data governance practices that support appropriate, consistent and effective use of departmental information.
• Support program evaluation and the use of evidence to improve policy, program design, service delivery and accountability.
• Build strong working relationships across the department and with central agencies, other government departments and external partners.
• Lead, develop and support a high-performing team by setting priorities, assigning work, managing performance and supporting employee development.
• Contribute to workforce planning, organizational design, resource allocation and other confidential management discussions and decisions.
  
  

Qualifications and Experience

You are a strategic, collaborative leader with strong expertise in data strategy, performance measurement and analytics. You can translate complex evidence into clear advice and practical tools for executives and program leaders. You are comfortable working across organizational boundaries, building shared approaches and leading change in an environment with multiple priorities.

You have a related post-secondary degree, such as public administration, business administration, economics, statistics, data science, social sciences or another relevant discipline, along with several years of progressively responsible experience leading data, analytics, performance, evaluation or strategic planning functions. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Your application must clearly demonstrate:

• Progressive leadership experience, including leading and developing a team and managing competing priorities.
• Experience developing or implementing organizational data strategies, data governance frameworks or enterprise analytics approaches.
• Experience with performance measurement, outcomes reporting, program evaluation and executive dashboards or similar decision-support products.
• Experience using evidence and analysis to support policy, program, operational or resource-allocation decisions.
• Strong strategic thinking, judgment and problem-solving skills, including experience advising senior leaders on complex or sensitive matters.
• Experience leading organizational change and building collaborative relationships across diverse programs, professions and stakeholder groups.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical information in clear, practical language.
• A demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in leadership and decision-making.

The following are considered assets:

• Experience working in the public sector or in a large, complex organization.
• Experience with economics, labour market information, labour market analysis or related forecasting and research.
• Experience with advanced analytics, business intelligence platforms, data visualization tools or modern data environments.
• Formal training or demonstrated experience in change management.
• Experience establishing new teams, functions or centres of expertise.
  
  

Please submit a cover letter and resume that clearly demonstrate how you meet the qualifications and experience for this position.

LEADS

The Government of Nova Scotia has adopted the LEADS Leadership Framework. During the interview, candidates will be expected to describe how they have demonstrated the behaviours and capabilities required to lead effectively in a caring and inclusive environment. The LEADS domains are Leads Self, Engage Others, Achieve Results, Develop Coalitions and Systems Transformation.

We will assess the qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, oral presentation, interview and reference checks.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate those 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

The normal work week is 35 hours, based on 7 hours per day. The successful candidate 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: EC 14

Salary Range: $4,754.34 - $5,942.94 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 competitions@novascotia.ca.

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 Competitions@novascotia.ca.