About Us

At the Department of Opportunities and Social Development (OSD), we are a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services including Child and Family Wellbeing (CFW), Employment Support Services (ESS), Income Assistance (IA), Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and Disability Support Program(DSP).

Through our services, we advocate and help vulnerable Nova Scotians be independent, self-reliant, and secure.  We work collaboratively across the province with a strong dedicated network of supports and staff, to achieve desired and shared outcomes for all.

About Our Opportunity

This Hiring Pool will be used to fill multiple Permanent, Term, and Casual opportunities over the next several months.

Wood Street Campus (WSC) is a cornerstone in providing specialized treatment services for children and youth in the care of the Minister. Operating 24/7, we are dedicated to supporting young people and helping them develop the skills, resilience, and confidence to thrive in their communities. The work is deeply rewarding, offering the chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children who need it most.

Our campus offers two (2) programs: a secure treatment program and a long-term treatment program. The successful candidates may be assigned to either. 

As Unit Supervisor, you will provide steady, consistent leadership that fosters positive relationships among staff and youth, builds morale, and ensures a safe and supportive environment. You will play a key role in both day-to-day operations and long-term outcomes by supporting the safety, security, and well-being of youth and staff. You will also maintain dynamic and static security measures in both secure and long-term treatment settings and provide direct supervision, guidance, and development for Youth Workers who deliver treatment and case management services.

Primary Accountabilities

As the Unit Supervisor, we count on your effective and consistent leadership to ensure and maintain positive relationships with staff, youth, and community partners, along with high morale and safety. A few of your key responsibilities will include:

• scheduling and managing the daily operations, including treatment plan strategies, the application of case management, and overseeing the delivery of emotional and social programming for youth.
• ensuring the safety and security of youth and employees through facilitating, monitoring, and maintaining both dynamic and static security on campus.
• providing appropriate interventions in response to managing the youth's behaviour, which may present as harmful and aggressive in nature.
• Performance planning and absence management for a team of youth workers.

You may occasionally, in the absence of the Program Manager, assume responsibility for the daily operations and may issue Secure Treatment Certificates and Leaves of Absence under the authority of the Children and Family Services Act.

Qualifications and Experience

You have completed a related degree and several years of experience in child and youth care treatment programs, including demonstrated success in a leadership role.

You bring: 

• Proven ability to provide both individual and group supervision, offering direction, coaching, and modelling of effective youth care interventions.
• Familiarity with culturally responsive care for diverse populations.
• Strong understanding of short-term crisis programs, youth-in-care treatment, and group care dynamics.
• Solid working knowledge of safety, security, program operations, and staffing in a treatment setting.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication abilities, with the interpersonal skills needed to build trust, maintain positive relationships, and work collaboratively.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and support a team of Youth Workers in an intensive, high-demand environment, while fostering a positive and professional workplace culture.
• Skills in assessing situations quickly, making sound decisions under pressure, and managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. 

Assets include:

• Certification in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI), Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), or similar de-escalation and intervention training.
• Training or certification in trauma-informed care and attachment-based approaches
• Experience supervising in a unionized environment.

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

Equivalency

We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise. Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Salary Information

EC 10 -  

$3,108.16 - $3,885.22 

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

You will work in a treatment facility that operates 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week and rotating shift work is required. Components of the treatment program/campus may be secured. You will facilitate and maintain both dynamic and static security to provide safety and security of youth, visitors, staff, and the public. While we take precautions, children and youth may demonstrate harmful/aggressive behaviours and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) techniques are utilized to manage these behaviours and you must be able to perform these techniques.

Personal resiliency is essential to meet the physical and emotional demands of this position. You will be subjected to a high degree of stress and must be able to work under pressure and in crisis situations.

Additional Information

Two (2) term positions are currently available, both with anticipated end dates of July 30, 2027. The appointment status (‘term’, ‘temporary’ or ‘casual’) is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate.

We may use this competition to fill additional Unit Supervisor opportunities within 1 year of the closing date of the competition. 

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.
• WSC offers free, on-site parking!