Director, Media Outreach and Events

Role Responsibilities

Your strong media relations, client consulting and leadership skills will guide the strategic advice and oversight you bring to the Director, Media Outreach and Supports role at Communications and Public Engagement (CPE).

As the director, you’ll provide strategic direction on media outreach and support that align with the corporate communications plan, branch communications plans and government priorities. You’ll provide advice, ensure media interviews are confirmed, tracked and evaluated in key multicultural, rural and urban Alberta, speciality publications, and national and international media markets. By working closely with branch communications directors, Premier’s office communications, government press secretaries and Alberta’s international offices, you’ll oversee the delivery of media roundtables, one-on-one interviews with government officials, media reporting, metrics and analysis.

The role also oversees translation services of key government communications materials, including news releases, to support reaching broader Albertan and international audiences.

You will also lead an event delivery team that provides on-site event supports for Premier and Minister media and stakeholder events as well as video, livestreaming, reporter teleconference and audio-visual services for government news conferences.

You’ll be a key team lead for government communications during major events like emergencies and dignitary events.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

The successful candidate for this role will have the following competencies: 

• Systems Thinking - Considers the whole system and recognizes links between everything from the complex network of global to departmental priorities. Sets goals within the context of long-term outcomes and broad perspectives.
  
  
• Creative Problem Solving – Creates a safe environment for others to voice and try out new ideas or methods. Creates space for people to think creatively.
  
  
• Agility - Maintains awareness of changing organizational priorities and proactively shifts strategic focus and activities as appropriate.
  
  
• Drive For Results - Removes barriers to collaboration and achievement of outcomes.
  
  
• Develop Networks - Gives service beyond stakeholders’ expectations by seeking information about underlying needs, providing insights and recommending actions to address these needs.
  
  
• Build Collaborative Environments - Promotes positive conflict resolution by identifying issues and facilitating discussion and/or coaching others to constructively resolve conflict.
  
  
• Develop Self And Others - Finds ways to leverage strengths through on the job assignments, career moves or further developing strengths through formal training, volunteers for “stretch” assignments and taking on increase responsibilities.

Qualifications

University graduation in a related field to the position, ideally in public relations, communications or journalism supplemented by 7 years progressive media relations and team management experience.

Equivalencies: 

• Considered on the basis of 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education 

Assets: 

• Extensive and expert knowledge and experience in media relations, with a proven track record of successfully delivering effective media outreach.
• Extensive and expert knowledge of communications planning, implementation, and measurement.
• Strong understanding of communications and marketing practices, both within government and industry best practices.
• Strong understanding of emergency management communications.
• Excellent political acumen.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

The successful candidates will be evaluated on a combination of experience and education.

Please ensure your resume highlights how your previous work experience is related to the qualifications and requirements for this position. Please clearly state the employment dates on your resume with the month and the year.

For employment: Please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time or full-time. Example: Receptionist, Jan 2018 - June 2021, Part-time (three 8 hour shifts/week).

Other information:

This competition may be used to fill current and future vacancies at equal or lesser classifications across the Government of Alberta. Final candidates for this position will be required to undergo a security screening.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA has to offer to prospective employees:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) - https://www.mepp.ca
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.