Program Lead, Development & Partnerships; Program Admin Officer

Location:

HALIFAX

Employment Type:

Term

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

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

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) is leading the transformation of the early years and public education system in Nova Scotia. We design innovative curriculum, facilitate excellence in teaching and learning, ensure an inclusive education experience, and work closely with partners in early learning and education. This department is a perfect fit for those who want to be part of the future of early learning and public education by supporting student learning in a progressive and responsive policy environment.

The Program Lead supports initiatives that strengthen quality, inclusion, innovation, and capacity across Nova Scotia’s early learning and childcare sector. Reporting to the Manager, Sector Development and Partnerships, you will coordinate programs, resources, and partnerships that support childcare operators, educators, and sector organizations. Your work will help ensure quality initiatives are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of the sector.

Working with colleagues, government partners, and community organizations, you will identify sector needs and trends, use evidence and data to inform decisions, and contribute to the development of policies, standards, and strategies that promote excellence, equity, and sustainability across the early learning and childcare system.

• Plan, coordinate, deliver, monitor, and evaluate sector-wide quality initiatives, pilots, and programs that support continuous improvement and sector capacity building.
• Develop frameworks, tools, resources, and communications that help the sector apply evidence-informed strategies to advance quality and inclusive practices in early learning and child care.
• Work with government and external partners to identify sector-wide concerns, trends, and innovations, and use this information to support departmental decision-making.
• Build strong partnerships with departmental and community partners, including Quality Assurance Specialists, Pyramid Model Coaches, Developmental Interventionists, Professional Learning Support Site Coordinators, regional Pre‑primary Leads, and others.
• Support effective and coordinated program delivery by helping partners align services, resources, and initiatives with the needs of children, families, educators, and communities.
• Strengthen community engagement by supporting professional learning communities, consultations, workshops, and learning sessions with sector partners.
• Develop, manage, and monitor funding agreements with partner organizations to support accountability, timely delivery, budget alignment, and achievement of departmental outcomes.
• Collect, review, and synthesize information from quality assessments, licensing data, surveys, engagements, and research from other jurisdictions to improve initiatives related to quality, inclusion, and sector capacity building.
• Prepare reports, summaries, recommendations, and briefing materials to support accountability and evidence-informed policy-making.

As the ideal candidate, you have a bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least six years of related experience. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

• Leading or supporting the planning, development, implementation, monitoring, or evaluation of programs, initiatives, or services of varying size and complexity.
• Working in or with early learning and childcare, early childhood education, child development, inclusion, professional learning, quality improvement, or related early years programs.
• Applying research and analytical skills to identify issues and trends, collect and review data, synthesize information, and provide clear recommendations.
• Developing or supporting tools, resources, standards, frameworks, policies, communications, or program materials.
• Building relationships with partners, service providers, community organizations, government, or sector stakeholders.
• Communicating complex…