Assistant Communications Director - Talent Pool

Role Responsibilities

The Assistant Director, Communications is often considered the communications branch’s ‘air traffic controller’ - anticipating, assessing and adapting to changing priorities. If this sounds like you, then you could be the best fit for this role!

You are responsible for the day-to-day planning and supervision of staff and activities within the communications branch, including coordinating and monitoring how people, processes and products are developing. You will also act as the Director of Communications in their absence

Using your proactive and well-developed consulting and relationship building skills, you will help the Director to plan, develop, deliver and monitor communications projects. In addition, you will use your strong interpersonal and time management skills to:

• Ensure standards are met and products are of high quality.
• Resolve problems that interfere with excellence in information and operations.
• Lead and advise when consulting, writing and editing.
• Coordinate cross-ministry initiatives.
• Provide solid issues management advice and guidance.
• Manage or direct media relations activities.
• Align resources with the goals of program areas, the ministry and the Government of Alberta.

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

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviours 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


Below is a list of the APS Competencies to assist you:

• Agility: Responds quickly to shifting priorities in a fast-paced communications environment, adjusting plans, messaging and resourcing to meet urgent and emerging needs. Maintains composure and sound judgment when managing multiple files, deadlines and issues.
• Develop Self and Others: Models continuous learning and keeps current on communications best practices, issues management, and emerging channels. Coaches and supports staff through clear direction, timely feedback, editing guidance and stretch opportunities to strengthen individual and branch capacity.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Fosters an inclusive, respectful branch culture where priorities are clear, information is shared, and staff can raise risks early. Brings people together to coordinate work, resolve competing demands and deliver consistent messaging across teams.
• Develop Networks: Builds strong working relationships with program areas, senior leaders, and communications partners across government to support coordinated planning and delivery. Uses these networks to gather intelligence, align approaches, and anticipate issues that may impact the ministry’s reputation or operations.
• Systems Thinking: Understands how communications decisions affect the broader system (program delivery, stakeholder confidence, media environment and cross-ministry impacts). Assesses risks, interdependencies and downstream effects to provide sound advice and ensure messaging is consistent across channels.

Qualifications

Requirements:
A degree in a related field, such as communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, English, supplemented by four years of related communications experience.

Progressively responsible management experience including coaching, developing, and leading teams.

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:

• Team leadership in a large organization.
• Media relations experience.
• Exceptional writing skills.
• Excellent political acumen.
• Project management skills.
• Experience with systems work including building processes and tools for use in large organizations.
  
  

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 posting may be used for various vacancies within Communications and Public Engagement.

Hours of Work: 36.25 per week

This competition may be used for 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.

 

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Please also indicate whether your work experience was part-time or full-time. For example: January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Executive Director of Job Title (Full time).

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.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.