Senior Media Relations Advisor in Edmonton

The Alberta Public Service works to build a stronger province for current and future generations. We make a difference in the lives of Albertans through rewarding and diverse career opportunities.

Executive Council works to ensure effective strategic planning and coordinated policy development and communications across government, engages Albertans and the broader global community, and promotes a vibrant and innovative public service. In addition to policy, protocol, communications and Cabinet functions, Executive Council includes Communications and Public Engagement (CPE). CPE is the Government of Alberta's full-service communications, public relations and marketing department. Its mandate is to enhance communications between Albertans and the Government of Alberta. CPE's expert staff provide specialized services across the spectrum of communications including writing, social media, media relations, event coordination, issues management, crisis communications, digital communications, advertising, marketing, graphic design, public engagement and translation services. The department staffs the communications branches in all ministries of government, and provides centralized research, engagement, advertising and media services to government.

The Senior Media Relations Advisor supports strategic media relations through media monitoring and analysis, proactive and reactive outreach, and targeted engagement with national, international and specialty media. The position provides strategic advice on emerging media issues, identifies audiences and media opportunities, and supports accurate and effective communication of government information.

Key responsibilities include:

• Monitor and analyze media trends and emerging issues and recommend proactive and reactive media relations approaches.
• Develop targeted media outreach strategies supporting government priorities across rural, national, international and specialty media.
• Use research and data to identify audiences, media sources and opportunities for effective outreach.
• Support implementation of the annual media relations plan, including expanded national and international media engagement.
• Build and maintain media relationships and coordinate interviews, media roundtables and other targeted outreach.
• Coordinate translated and culturally appropriate content needed to support effective media engagement.
• Maintain detailed and up-to-date media outlet profiles and contact information, including circulation, audience and reach demographics, geographic coverage, publication frequency, languages and editorial focus.
• Leverage media intelligence and audience insights to identify outreach opportunities and inform targeted engagement strategies across national, international and specialty media.
• Lead or support media relations projects and provide strategic advice to communications partners and senior stakeholders.
• Coach and mentor junior staff and students and contribute to coordinated media relations service delivery.

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans:

• Systems Thinking: Considers media trends, audience needs, stakeholder interests and the broader government context when developing advice and outreach strategies.
• Creative Problem Solving: Uses research, data and diverse perspectives to develop practical options for complex or emerging media issues.
• Agility: Adapts advice and priorities as media issues, timelines and communications needs change.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Builds productive relationships across communications teams, senior offices, media outlets and community partners.

Qualifications:

University graduation in journalism, communications or a related field, plus 4 years of related experience. Related experience should demonstrate:

• Media relations and proactive outreach, particularly with national and/or international media outlets.
• Issues management and strategic communications advice.
• Project delivery involving internal and external stakeholders.

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.

Preference may be given to candidates who demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Experience developing or implementing media relations or outreach strategies involving national and/or international media outlets or audiences.
• Experience building and maintaining professional relationships with journalists, editors, producers, broadcasters, or other media partners.
• Experience providing strategic communications or issues management advice to senior leaders.
• Experience coordinating translation services or adapting communications for international or culturally diverse audiences.
• Experience managing communications or media engagement projects, including timelines, budgets, logistics, and evaluation.
• Experience using media monitoring or tracking systems.
• Experience providing communications advice or delivering communications initiatives within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment, such as municipal government, another public-sector organization or a similarly complex organization.

This is a temporary full-time position ending March 31, 2027. The position works 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This position is based in-office in Edmonton.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a criminal records check (CRC). 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 we have to offer: Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level. We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Annie Ostopowich at Annie.Ostopowich@gov.ab.ca.