About the Opportunity

We are looking for the right person to build on existing efforts and work in close partnership with other departments, municipalities, and external partners to reduce the impacts of inland and coastal flooding in Nova Scotia by: 

• Understanding hazards, impacts, and risks faced by Nova Scotians;
• Improving access to data and information to support action; and
• Strengthening responses to inland and coastal flooding, including environmentally sustainable and equitable approaches.

The province is a leader in climate change adaptation. We are supporting departments, communities, and business sectors to understand, plan for, and adapt to the impacts of the changing climate. This position is an opportunity to be part of a dynamic and diverse team at the forefront of the developing field of climate change adaptation focused on improving the well-being of communities and the environment.

About Us

Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change’s role is to protect the environment and human health through regulatory excellence, conservation, partnership, and promotion. To achieve this, we strive to develop legislation, regulations and policies, process notifications, applications, and approvals for regulated activities based on sound scientific knowledge and expertise. 

For more information, please visit https://novascotia.ca/nse

Primary Accountabilities

As the Flood Management and Adaptation Lead, you will be responsible for:

• Helping to identify data and knowledge gaps.
• Leading the development of flood hazard / impact / risk assessments that consider equity.
• Providing technical expertise to government and municipalities on understanding risks and options to adapt.
• Identifying and recommending opportunities to address flooding that meet government priorities.
• Supporting or leading initiatives to reduce flood risks (e.g., climate and coastal plan actions).
• Coordinating efforts across internal partners and collaborating with municipalities and other external partners.
• Communicating technical information in accessible ways to diverse audiences.
• Representing the Province in external flood-related working groups and/or associations.
• All aspects of project management, including administration, budgets, partnerships, evaluation, and reporting.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

You have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., water resources management or engineering, geophysical sciences, urban/rural planning) looking to take on a high profile and impactful area of work.

To ensure you are successful in this role, we are looking for someone with at least 6 years of experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be acceptable (e.g., master’s degree and 4 years of experience).

You have:

• Demonstrated experience using data, technical expertise, and other evidence to understand problems and identify potential solutions.  
• Expert knowledge of coastal and inland flood mechanisms and risks.
• Demonstrated understanding of the range of nature-based, infrastructure, and policy solutions to address flooding that can work at provincial and local scales.
• Experience in conducting or significantly contributing to the assessment of coastal and inland flood hazards / risks in relation to social, built, and natural climate vulnerabilities.
• Experience in managing spatial datasets and using spatial analysis software, such as ArcGIS suite.
• Attention to detail, excellence in listening and facilitation, project management, time management, and ability to synthesize technical information and communicate to diverse audiences.
• Experiencing working with municipalities and the ability to build relationships with diverse partners on shared challenges and consider equity.

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

Professional designations in a relevant discipline (e.g., professional planner or engineer) will be considered assets, but are not required.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on training, education and experience equivalencies must clearly 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

This role is primarily in an office work environment. This position offers greater work-life balance with benefits such as:

• Flexible work schedules (normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day)
• Opportunity for a long weekend every three weeks under our Earned Day Off work plan (e.g., working 7.5 hour days instead of 7 hours over a three week period).
• Limited expectations of overtime (compensated).
• Minimal work travel within the Province, so you can be home each night. 

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 with forward-thinking policies and strategies.
• Countless career paths.
• Department-specific flexible working schedules.