Senior Government Managers and Officials

(NOC 0012)

in All Management

These managers and officials manage the affairs of cities, towns, and villages, or provincial or federal departments, boards, agencies or commissions. They set the direction to be taken by these organizations in accordance with legislation and policies.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Decline employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 40 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Management

  • Estimate 2445 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5900 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$24.73

Minimum

$57.69

Median

$76.92

Maximum

Annual Pay

$40,251

Minimum

$95,175

Median

$150,294

Maximum

Compared to: All Management

Hourly Pay

$22.50

Minimum

$43.80

Median

$66.20

Maximum

Annual Pay

$10,632

Minimum

$55,002

Median

$124,014

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

These managers and officials manage the affairs of cities, towns, and villages, or provincial or federal departments, boards, agencies or commissions. They set the direction to be taken by these organizations in accordance with legislation and policies.

Job duties

Senior government managers and officials:

  • Set objectives for the organization according to government legislation and policy.
  • Define or approve and evaluate programs and procedures alone or with senior government committees.
  • Give advice to elected members on policy questions and refer major policy matters to these representatives for final decision.
  • Recommend, review, evaluate and approve documents, briefs and reports submitted by middle managers and senior staff members.
  • Coordinate department activities with other senior government managers and officials.
  • Present to legislative and other government committees on policies, programs or budgets.
  • Assign human and financial resources to implement policies and programs.
  • Create financial and administrative controls.

Sample job titles

  • ambassador
  • chairperson
  • chief administrative officer (CAO)
  • chief financial officer (CFO)
  • chief operating officer
  • city administrator
  • city superintendent
  • deputy minister
  • executive director
  • fire marshal
  • First nations band chielf/manager

Skills

  • You need strong leadership qualities and an ability to motivate others. You need excellent organizational, problem-solving, planning, and decision-making skills. You must have confidence and initiative, and you need excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Job requirements

  • A university degree or college diploma is usually required.
  • A graduate degree in a related field may be required.
  • Several years of managerial experience in the public or private sector are required.

Other considerations

  • There is movement among senior management positions.

By the numbers

Quick look

490

employed in 2016

99.0%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

44.9%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
55.1%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
52

median age

Compared to: All Management

44,250

employed in 2016

91.2%

employed full-time

18.9%

self employed

40.5%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
59.5%
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48.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

66.7%

Halifax

$97,462 median annual income
9.4%

Annapolis Valley

$94,976 median annual income
8.3%

North Shore

$70,589 median annual income
8.3%

Cape Breton

$79,254 median annual income
7.3%

Southern

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

95.5%

Public administration

2.2%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

2.2%

Educational services

What is the age of Employment?

31.0%

55-64

29.0%

45-54

27.0%

35-44

9.0%

65+

5.0%

25-34

Compared to: All Management

30.7%

45-54

23.1%

35-44

21.7%

55-64

14.0%

25-34

7.8%

65+

Top levels of education

34.3%

Master

$108,128 median annual income
33.3%

Bachelor

$96,558 median annual income
10.1%

College Diploma

$84,118 median annual income
6.1%

Diploma Below Bachelor

$88,391 median annual income
5.1%

High school

N/A

Compared to: All Management

27.2%

Bachelor

$71,875 median annual income
23.8%

High school

$42,294 median annual income
20.4%

College Diploma

$50,256 median annual income
9.1%

Master

$93,261 median annual income
7.2%

Trade Certification

$44,396 median annual income

Education & training

Business Administration and Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. They include courses in management theory, human resources management and behaviour, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.

Institutions providing this program

Maritime Business College

Lower Sackville, NS

Academy of Learning Career College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Business/Commerce

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and non-profit public and private institutions and agencies. They prepare students to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Development Economics and International Development

College or University Program

These programs focus on the systematic study of the economic development process and its application to the problems of specific countries and regions. They include courses in economic development theory, industrialization, land reform, infrastructural development, investment policy, the role of governments and business in development, international development organizations, and the study of social, health, and environmental influences on economic development.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Finance

College or University Program

These programs prepare students to plan, manage, and analyse the financial and monetary aspects and performance of business enterprises, banking institutions, or other organizations. They include courses in principles of accounting, financial instruments, capital planning, funds acquisition, asset and debt management, budgeting, financial analysis, and investments and portfolio management.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Health/Health Care Administration/Management

College or University Program

These programs prepare students to develop, plan, and manage health care operations and services within health care facilities and across health care systems. They include courses in planning, business management, financial management, public relations, human resources management, health care systems operation and management, health care resource allocation and policy making, health laws and regulations, and applications to specific types of health care services.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies

College or University Program

These programs focus on the dynamic social relations between and among majority and minority groups and different minority groups, and ways to promote mutual tolerance, inter-group cooperation, and the leadership and management of diverse groups and diversity issues in family, educational, recreational, and work settings. They include courses in ethnic and cultural studies, group psychology, sociology, anthropology, conflict resolution, human services and resources, and applications to various functional environments.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

International Relations and Affairs

College or University Program

These programs focus on the systematic study of international politics and institutions, and the conduct of diplomacy and foreign policy. They include courses in international relations theory, foreign policy analysis, national security and strategic studies, international law and organization, the comparative study of specific countries and regions, and the theory and practice of diplomacy.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Junior High and High School Education and Teaching

College or University Program

These programs prepare individuals to teach students in the secondary grades, which include grades seven through twelve. This includes preparation to teach a comprehensive curriculum or specific subject matter.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Law (LLB, JD, BCL)

University Program

These programs prepare students for the independent professional practice of common or civil law, for becoming a Quebec notary, for taking bar examinations, and for advanced research in jurisprudence. They include courses in the theory and practice of the legal system, including the statutory, administrative, and judicial components of civil and criminal law.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Operations Management and Supervision

College or University Program

These programs prepare students to manage and direct the physical and/or technical functions of a firm or organization, particularly those relating to development, production, and manufacturing. They include courses in principles of general management, manufacturing and production systems, plant management, equipment maintenance management, production control, industrial labour relations and skilled trades supervision, strategic manufacturing policy, systems analysis, productivity analysis and cost control, and materials planning.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Organizational Leadership

College or University Program

These programs focus on leadership skills that can be applied to a business, government, non-profit, or educational setting. They include courses in organizational planning, dynamics of leadership, finance, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, communication and other management skills.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Public Administration

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to serve as managers in the executive arm of government and focus on the systematic study of executive organization and management. They include courses in the roles, development, and principles of public administration, the management of public policy, executive-legislative relations, public budgetary processes and financial management, administrative law, public personnel management, professional ethics, and research methods.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Canadian Institute of Management - Maritimes
Various, NS
Institute of Public Administration of Canada
Toronto, ON