Communications and Issues Coordinator

Role Responsibilities

Be at the heart of communication and decision-making in a dynamic regional environment. As a Communications and Issues Coordinator, you’ll shape how critical information is shared, support leadership with timely and strategic advice, and help navigate emerging issues with confidence. This is an opportunity to blend creativity, analysis, and collaboration to ensure impactful communication that supports programs serving children and families across the region.

Reporting to the Issues and Communications Manager, this role provides communications, issues management, and project support to the region’s leadership team. Working in a fast-paced environment, it operates with a high degree of independence to develop communications, support initiatives, and ensure timely, accurate responses to emerging issues and executive requests.

Some of the key responsibilities include:

• Lead Regional Communications and Content Development: Develop, draft, and coordinate a wide range of communication products, including newsletters, SharePoint content, presentations, and information materials. Ensure all communications are clear, consistent, aligned with GOA standards, and effectively support internal and external audiences.
• Support Strategic Planning and Branch Operations: Contribute to regional communications planning and decision-making, develop processes and tools to improve information flow, and provide communications support for operational planning, program delivery, and leadership initiatives.
• Manage Projects and Cross-Functional Initiatives: Lead and support communications-related projects and special initiatives that align with regional and divisional priorities. Provide coordination and surge capacity for cross-branch and ministry-wide initiatives to ensure consistent and integrated outcomes.
• Coordinate Issues Management and Executive Requests: Support the management of Action Requests (ARTS), correspondence, and emerging issues by gathering, analyzing, and coordinating information across stakeholders. Ensure timely, accurate responses to senior leadership requests and contribute to continuous improvement of tracking and reporting processes.

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.

• Creative Problem Solving:  Identifies root causes and develops practical solutions to communication and operational challenges. Works across teams to encourage ideas, share expertise, and improve processes while balancing risks and opportunities.
• Drive for Results:  Takes ownership of deliverables, meets tight timelines, and ensures accurate, high-quality outputs. Collaborates across teams to deliver effective communications, projects, and issue responses aligned with regional and ministry goals.
• Systems Thinking:  Takes a holistic view of communication needs, anticipating impacts of emerging issues and aligning strategies with ministry priorities. Improves information flow and supports coordinated, cross-team approaches.
• Build Collaborative Environments:  Promotes open communication, respects diverse perspectives, and supports teamwork and conflict resolution. Strengthens relationships to enable effective, coordinated delivery of outcomes.
• Develop Networks:  Builds and maintains strong stakeholder relationships across the region, ministry, and external partners. Engages diverse groups and uses effective communication to support alignment and coordinated responses to issues.

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standard: University graduation in a related field (Communications, Social Services, Business Administration, Public Relations, Public Administration, Political Science, Journalism); no experience required; or equivalent as described below.

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of: 

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; OR
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.
  
  

Someone with strong IT or Marketing or Graphic Design background is preferred. Related experience with government systems, processes and policies is preferred. Direct experience in communications and operations planning is preferred.

Assets:

• Strong knowledge of government of Alberta structures, initiatives, policies, legislation, and protocols, particularly within the Child Intervention Division and related service delivery systems.
• Excellent analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving skills with the ability to break down complex issues, synthesize information, and apply sound judgment in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities and tight timelines.
• Strong organizational, time management, and adaptability skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet short deadlines, and deliver high-quality results in an environment of changing demands and priorities.
• Strong collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and digital communication skills, including experience working with government protocols, SharePoint or similar platforms, and familiarity with branding/identity standards and design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite considered an asset).
• Strong written, verbal, editorial, and proofreading skills with the ability to communicate complex and politically sensitive issues in clear, plain language tailored to diverse audiences while maintaining neutrality and professionalism. 

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

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday, 36.25 hours per week.

Location: Edmonton, Alberta

Application Requirements:

• Complete all pre-screening questions.
• In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. For example, January 2006 – June 2009 (part-time). This example is provided for illustrative purposes only. Applicants are encouraged to present their information clearly and thoroughly, using a format that best conveys their experience.
• Candidates will require a clear Criminal Record Check and Intervention Record Check (if applicable) to be considered for the role (if not currently in the Child Intervention Delivery Services Branch).
• Please be advised that your current supervisor and manager will be contacted as references.
  
  

The final candidate for this position will undergo appropriate pre-employment checks and provide suitable 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 have to offer to prospective employees:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.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.