Manager, Wildlife & Integrated Resource Planning

Competition # : 48724

Department: Natural Resources

Location: KENTVILLE

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date: 25-Nov-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

Nova Scotia is rich in natural resources - including biodiversity, forests, geological resources, provincial parks and the land we manage. The Department of Natural Resources and Renewables is responsible for the development, management, conversation and protection of forest, mineral, parks and wildlife resources and the administration of the province's crown land. Together, we are working with Nova Scotians to build a better future through sustainable natural resource management as we all benefit from the natural health and wealth of the province.

About Our Opportunity

The Manager, Wildlife & Integrated Resource Planning provides strategic and operational leadership to a multidisciplinary team responsible for supporting evidence-based decisions related to Crown land use, natural resource management, biodiversity, wildlife, and environmental values.

Reporting to the Director, the Manager leads a team of professional and technical staff and plays a key role in advancing integrated approaches to land use planning and resource management. Operating in a complex environment with competing priorities, the Manager ensures that advice provided to decision-makers is practical, balanced, solutions-focused, and aligned with legislative requirements, government priorities, and sustainable resource management objectives.

The Manager is responsible for building a high-performing team, fostering collaboration across government, industry, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and the public, and supporting organizational change as the department continues to evolve its approach to integrated land and resource management.

Primary Accountabilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and oversight to a multidisciplinary team of professional, scientific, technical, and administrative staff.
• Establish team priorities, allocate resources, manage performance, and support employee development to achieve program and departmental objectives.
• Foster a positive, respectful, diverse, and inclusive workplace culture that supports employee engagement, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Lead the development and delivery of integrated advice and recommendations to support Crown land use planning, resource management, biodiversity conservation, wildlife management, and environmental decision-making.
• Ensure technical, scientific, operational, economic, social, and policy considerations are appropriately integrated into land use planning and resource management decisions.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external partners, including other government departments, Indigenous communities, municipalities, industry, conservation organizations, academic institutions, and stakeholders.
• Support complex decision-making processes by identifying risks, opportunities, trade-offs, and practical solutions aligned with government priorities and legislative obligations.Lead organizational change initiatives and help employees navigate evolving priorities, processes, and business practices.
• Represent the Department on provincial, interprovincial, national, and cross-sector working groups.
• Ensure effective stewardship of financial and human resources, including budgeting, forecasting, procurement, workforce planning, and performance management.

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this opportunity, you possess a bachelor's degree in a related field and several years of progressive leadership or management experience in a complex organizational environment. You also have experience developing, delivering, or overseeing programs, policies, or planning processes related to natural resource management, wildlife conservation, environmental management, or land use planning. You have demonstrated success leading teams, building partnerships, managing competing priorities, and delivering results through others. You are comfortable working in areas where technical, operational, environmental, social, economic, and political considerations intersect. You have experience providing strategic advice to senior leaders and supporting sound decision-making in complex and often ambiguous situations.

Experience in one or more of the following areas would be considered an asset: Natural resource management; Crown land management; Environmental management; Land use planning; Wildlife management; Biodiversity conservation; Species at risk; Environmental assessment; Ecosystem management; Regulatory programs; Public policy development Municipal or regional planning

You are recognized for your ability to: Lead and develop high-performing teams; Build trust and productive relationships across diverse interests; Balance competing priorities and perspectives; Navigate change and support others through transformation; Translate complex technical information into practical business and policy advice; Deliver client-focused and solution-oriented outcomes.

Leadership competencies required at this level include: Decisiveness; Strategic Orientation; Developing Others; Team Leadership; Self-Awareness and Personal Impact; Effective Interactive Communication; Partnering and Relationship Building; Intercultural and Diversity Proficiency.

Qualifications and competencies may be assessed through written exercises, presentations, interviews, reference checks, and other assessment methods.

Equivalency

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

Benefits

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.

Additional Information

This is a permanent, full-time position based in Kentville, Nova Scotia.

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 12

Salary Range:$3,929.22 - $4,911.52 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 [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].