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 department is a perfect fit for those that want to be part of the future of early learning, childcare, and public education in the province by supporting children, students and families with a strong foundation for success in a progressive and responsive policy environment.

About Our Opportunity

We are seeking a results-oriented and strategic leader to join our School Food team as the School Food Quality Assurance Manager. This exciting opportunity plays a pivotal role in supporting the delivery of the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program (NSSLP)—a province-wide initiative committed to providing healthy, affordable school meals to students across Nova Scotia.

In this role, you will lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive meal quality assurance framework, ensuring that all school lunches meet the highest standards of nutrition, food safety, quality, and operational consistency. Reporting to the Executive Lead for School Food, you will work closely with food service providers, Regional Centres for Education (RCEs), the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP), and various government partners to oversee the meal quality framework, vendor performance, menu development, and continuous program improvement.

This position is a key contributor to our goal of strengthening equitable access to nutritious meals and creating a strong foundation for student well-being and academic success.

Your leadership will support the achievement of departmental and government priorities, ensuring that the work of your team aligns with and contributes to the broader goals of the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD).

We welcome candidates with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences in food services, education, and health.

Primary Accountabilities

As the School Food Quality Assurance Manager, you will:

• Lead Program Quality and Compliance: Develop and implement the NSSLP Meal Quality Program to ensure school meals consistently meet high standards for nutrition, quality, and food safety, with consistent delivery across sites. Conduct audits and site visits in collaboration with RCEs/CSAP and vendors, and proactively respond to quality concerns with corrective action and strategic improvements.
• Oversee Vendor and Contract Management: Manage provincial vendor relationships, oversee food service provider contracts, and guide procurement, negotiation, and renewal processes. Create and apply vendor monitoring protocols, assess performance, and ensure alignment with evolving provincial policies and standards.
• Drive Policy and Infrastructure Development: Guide the creation and maintenance of policies, menus, and recipes in alignment with the Nova Scotia School Food and Nutrition Policy. Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and resolve infrastructure challenges that impact compliance and service quality.
• Build Capacity through Training: Design and deliver training sessions and resources for vendors, schools, and regional partners to support food safety, compliance, and program excellence. Serve as a key communicator for updates to policy and operational guidance.
• Monitor and Report on Program Performance: Collect and analyze compliance data and stakeholder feedback to identify trends and inform program and menu improvements. Prepare regular reports and confidential briefings to support executive leadership and enhance program accountability.

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this opportunity, you must have post-secondary education in food services, nutrition, hospitality management, public administration, or a related discipline. This may include a diploma, certificate, or Red Seal certification in cooking or culinary arts, as well as a university degree. An equivalent combination of education and experience may also be considered.

You bring extensive experience in food service program management, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. You are adept at managing vendor relationships and navigating procurement processes, and you have a solid grounding in food safety regulations and nutrition policy.

In addition, you have:

• A proven track record of developing and implementing program standards and performance frameworks.
• Strong project management skills and experience leading large-scale, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Advanced analytical skills to evaluate performance data and shape strategic improvements.
• The ability to travel across Nova Scotia to support food service providers and regional teams.

Assets:

• Bilingualism in English and French.
• Experience in a regulated or compliance-driven environment.
• Familiarity with the Nova Scotia School Food and Nutrition Policy and related government frameworks.

LEADS

The Government of Nova Scotia has adopted the LEADS Leadership Framework. During the interview, candidates will be expected to express how they have demonstrated the key behaviors and capabilities required to effectively lead in a caring and inclusive environment. LEADS Domains includes Leads Self, Engage Others, Achieve Results, Develop Coalitions and Systems Transformation. Please follow LEADS for more information.

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

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must 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

· Periodic travel to other locations within the province may be required.

· Work in a comfortable office setting.

· Your normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day.

Additional Information

This is a permanent, full-time position based in Halifax. 

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.