Media & Digital Specialist

Role Responsibilities

Are you an experienced professional in communications, crisis management, and public engagement? Take your career to the next level by joining our team as a Media and Digital Specialist. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact, supporting the Forestry Division in educating the public, managing critical communications during emergencies, and leading dynamic communication strategies.

As a valued member of our team, your expertise in strategic communication, leadership, and media relations will set you apart. Working in this role, on a daily basis, you will:

• Supervise, coach, and train staff responsible for social media and digital content creation, ensuring they meet established objectives.
• Develop and deliver media training to enhance the communication skills of staff, executives, and partners.
• Lead the development and implementation of crisis communication strategies, including media relations and social media crisis management, to ensure timely and effective information dissemination.
• Act as a spokesperson for the Forestry Division, representing the organization during media engagements and public events.
• Provide leadership, advice, and mentorship to staff during emergency wildfire situations to ensure accurate and clear communication that supports decision-making and public safety.
• Oversee the creation and updating of content for public-facing platforms, including Alberta Wildfire’s website and social media channels.
• Write key messages, coordinate media interviews, and facilitate media access during evolving emergency situations.
• Develop and implement communication plans and strategies to improve stakeholder engagement and public education, fostering awareness of wildfire prevention, mitigation, and safety.
• Design and deliver course materials for the Wildfire Information Officer course and other training initiatives to build communication capacity across the team.
• Monitor public discourse and emerging trends to identify opportunities for improved public engagement and outreach.
• Collaborate with executives and partners to align communication efforts with organizational mandates and objectives.

This role requires a proactive, results-driven individual with exceptional communication, project management, and leadership skills. If you thrive in high-pressure situations and are passionate about delivering impactful communication strategies, we invite you to apply and make a difference in forestry communications, public safety, and community engagement.

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.

• Agility - Ability to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.
• Drive for Results - Knowing what outcomes are important and maximizing resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization, while maintaining accountability to each other and external stakeholders.
• Develop Networks - Proactively building networks, connecting and building trust in relationships with different stakeholders.
• Creative Problem Solving - Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.
• Build Collaborative Environments - To ensure a collaborative approach is taken within your work to facilitate open communication, and leverage team skills to achieve desired outcomes.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirement Standard:

University graduation (4 years) in a related field such as Arts, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, plus 4 years of progressive responsibility and directly related experience, or
Diploma (2 years) in related field plus 6 years of related experience.

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 education.

Asset:

• Expertise in media relations and public speaking.
• Expertise in crisis communications.
• Knowledge of wildfire related issues, trends and research.
• Proficiency in social media platforms, digital media and web content development and systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to multitask and determine priorities under pressure.

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

This is a full time temporary position in Edmonton for 24 months, with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday.

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.

Candidates are required to complete a written assessment as a prerequisite for proceeding with the interview process.

Application Information:

• In your application, please include a cover letter detailing your interest in the role related experience. Your cover letter will also be used to assess your writing abilities.
• In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time or full-time. For example January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).
• Three (3) work-related references are required for those selected for an interview.
  

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.
• 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.