Director, Communications - BULK

Role Responsibilities

Bring your strategic communications expertise and leadership strengths to a dynamic and high-impact role with the Ministry of Communications and Public Engagement (CPE)!

As part of the Alberta Public Service, this opportunity offers a unique balance of autonomy and collaboration. You’ll benefit from the support of a cross-government community and have the chance to contribute to high-profile initiatives that shape public understanding and engagement across Alberta.

As the Director of Communications, you will play a pivotal role in advancing the ministry’s priorities through strategic, proactive, and responsive communications. You will work closely with the Deputy Minister’s Office, Minister’s Office, senior ministry leaders, colleagues across government, and the broader CPE community. You will coordinate and lead communications efforts on projects and initiatives with an external focus and serve as a full member of the ministry’s executive committee.

Key Responsibilities:

In this role, you will:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate both long-term and short-term communications strategies that support ministry priorities.
• Collaborate on policy and program development planning.
• Identifying and addressing highly sensitive media and communications issues affecting the ministry.
• Enhance public awareness and understanding of ministry programs, services, and initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide leadership to a high-performing team of communications professionals, acting as a mentor and coach.
• Oversee team operations, including budgets, human resource planning, performance management, and professional development.

Why Join Us?

This is a great leadership role for an experienced communicator who enjoys fast-paced, high-impact work. If you are ready to make a difference, we’d love to have you on our team!

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 - Asks questions to get a deeper understanding of the present issue.
  
  
• Drive for Results - Clarifies objectives and taps into a variety of available resources within the organization; ensuring that roles and contributions are clear. Sets performance standards and monitoring processes to ensure deviations from the plan are identified at an early stage.
  
  
• Build Collaborative Environments - Engages others to think broadly about impacts of projects, brings differing perspectives together and encourages debate. Works with others to identify and remove barriers.
  
  
• Develop Networks - Understands that stakeholder relationships are key to securing the success of initiatives. Seeks to understand the perspectives and needs of colleagues, clients and stakeholders.
  
  
• Systems Thinking - Considers the inter-relationships among different aspects of an approach including how they relate to other programs or areas. Considers emerging trends when contributing ideas to the development of broader priorities, strategies and approaches.

Qualifications

University graduation in a related field, such as communications, public relations, journalism, English, supplemented by seven years progressively responsible management experience.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Extensive experience leading strategic communications in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing long- and short-term communications strategies that align with organizational priorities and respond to emerging issues.
• Strong experience in stakeholder engagement and relationship-building, with the ability to collaborate effectively across government, with external partners, and with the public.
• Leadership experience managing high-performing teams, including overseeing recruitment, training, performance management, staff development, and budget administration.

Equivalencies to be considered as below:

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.

Assets:

• Excellent political acumen
• Experience with systems work including building processes and tools for use in large organizations.
• Management experience in coaching, developing, maintaining relations, leading, and motivating teams

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: 36.25 hours per week.

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.

This competition will also be used to fill future vacancies in other areas. If you’re ready to make a difference, we encourage you to apply!

Final candidates 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
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca
• 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
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement
• Leadership and mentorship programs