Director, African Canadian Services; Designated

About Us

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is leading the transformation of the early years and public education system in Nova Scotia. We are doing this by designing an innovative curriculum, facilitating excellence in teaching and learning, ensuring an inclusive education experience, and working closely with our partners in education. This will provide children, students, and families with a solid foundation for success.

This department is a perfect fit for those that want to be part of the future of public education in the province by supporting student learning in a progressive and responsive policy environment.

The African Canadian Services Branch is located within the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is dedicated to collaborating across the Department to build a Nova Scotian educational system that is equitable, culturally responsive and a safe learning environment for African Nova Scotian/Black learners. ACSB (African Canadian Services Branch) is dedicated to advancing the holistic development, well-being and scholarship of African Nova Scotian and African Canadian learners.

The African Canadian Division was established in February of 1996 to implement the Department’s response to the BLAC (Black Learners Advisory Committee) Report on Education, Redressing Inequity Empowering Black Learners.

ACSB’s mandate is located at the following link:

About Our Opportunity

As the Director, you are accountable for the effective planning, development, direction and implementation of programs and services to meet the educational needs of African Nova Scotian/Canadian learners and the African Nova Scotian community, and ensure that the programs reflect the history and culture of African people. The Director ensures the Department is fulfilling its responsibility of providing African Nova Scotian/Canadian learners with the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes to become capable, lifelong learners and valued contributing members of society.

The Director provides leadership and guidance to other branches and divisions for the development, implementation and monitoring of the Department's anti-racism policy, guidelines for the evaluation of teaching and learning resources for race and cultural bias. The Director ensures student assessments and testing practices do not discriminate based on race or culture, ensuring that all students and teachers have the benefits of cross-cultural and race relations training and information.

The Director ensures that the Regional Education Centres address the need to increase the number of Black teachers, administrators, and Student Support Workers in schools across the Province, while networking and making presentations to the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU), the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission and the Nova Scotia Education Common Services Bureau.

This position reports to the Executive Director, African Canadian Services Branch.

Primary Accountabilities

Ensuring the effective management of human and financial resources by setting and evaluating staff performance targets, promoting diversity and a healthy workplace, respecting corporate human resources practices, promoting teamwork and individual development, maintaining internal communication monitoring revenues and expenditures, adhering to procurement guidelines, acquiring goods and services in the most cost-effective manner, and accurately forecasting budget requirements for the fiscal year.

Strategically implement and ensure that projects and initiatives are actioned in accordance with projected timelines and budgetary allocations and provide support to staff in the fulfillment of operational plans and expectations.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role you possess a master's degree in education (or related field) with 5 years of educational experience in progressively responsible roles, including at least three years leading teams of professionals. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered. As a skilled negotiator, networker, and people manager you have successfully managed complex stakeholder…