From CBC Nova Scotia:

The only person to apply for a major new job in the province's executive council office was asked for input on the job description a month before it was posted.

Documents from a freedom of information request by the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union show Marilla Stephenson was asked for her input on the outline for the role of managing director of corporate and external relations.
...

When the job competition closed on May 16, Stephenson was the only applicant. She went through the interview process and the two-person hiring committee, which included Langley, recommended her for the job.

Until that point Stephenson, a former newspaper columnist and reporter, was working on an 18-month contract as part of the One Nova Scotia coalition, the group tasked with implementing the goals of the Ivany report.

For more see Public Service Commission got job input from applicant who was eventually hired