Communications Advisor

Government of Nova Scotia; Halifax; On-site; CAD 92,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

The Government of Nova Scotia’s Cyber Security & Digital Solutions (CSDS) seeks an experienced Communications Advisor to promote public understanding of initiatives, programs, and services across diverse audiences. You will brief senior leaders, coordinate media requests, and collaborate with marketing, video, design and web teams to deliver high‑quality communications products and strategies.

The ideal candidate has a degree in public relations or communications and several years of

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree in public relations, communications, journalism, and several years of professional communications experience, or an acceptable equivalent.
• Experience with media relations.
• Experience advising senior leaders and elected officials.
• Experience developing comprehensive communications strategies.
• Experience with social media and digital platforms.
• Experience in communications strategies and tactics for inclusion and accessibility.

Responsibilities

• Briefing and providing advice to senior staff and elected officials.
• Supporting sessions of the Legislative Assembly and appearances at legislative committees.
• Media relations.
• Issues management.
• Developing and implementing communications strategies.
• Writing news releases, speeches and other materials.
• Content development for social media, public announcements, marketing and web.
• Event planning.
• Working with partners on stakeholder communications.
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

Skills

Strong writing skills

Media relations

Public speaking

Stakeholder engagement

Plain language

Education

Post-secondary degree in communications/public relations/journalism

Tools

Social media platforms

Job description

Competition # : 49618

Department: Cyber Security & Digital Solutions

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date: 22-Sep-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

At CSDS, we prioritize people—both within our team and in the communities we serve. Our mission is to redefine how Nova Scotians engage with government by creating accessible, reliable digital solutions centered around user needs.

In today’s tech-driven world, CSDS empowers government departments with essential digital solutions to meet Nova Scotians’ expectations. As a trusted partner across government, we enable departments to fulfill their mandates with secure, user-friendly services. From healthcare and education to public safety, we collaborate to transform how services are designed and delivered.

We don’t just implement technology; we modernize outdated systems and reimagine processes. Our agile, data-driven approach ensures that digital services are both efficient and adaptable to Nova Scotia’s evolving needs.

Joining CSDS means contributing to work that makes a real difference. From providing vital tech support to healthcare professionals to strengthening cybersecurity and developing scalable digital platforms, you’ll play a key role in building a more inclusive, responsive government for Nova Scotians.

Together, we’re setting new standards for digital public service, delivering resilient solutions that meet today’s needs—and anticipate tomorrow’s challenges.

About Our Opportunity

We’re looking for an experienced Communication Advisor who is passionate about delivering clear, impactful messages to a diverse range of audiences. You will work with staff to promote public understanding of initiatives, programs and services, and ensure priorities, policies and actions are clearly communicated. You will work with media, accepting and coordinating requests and media questions, and developing answers. You will also work with professionals in marketing, video, photo, designs and more to deliver quality communications products and strategies.

The ideal candidate is skilled in developing effective and innovative communication strategies. You have experience working with a diverse range of audiences and crafting communications strategies and products that are accessible and inclusive. You have experience in the full range of communications skills, tactics and strategies to support the needs of the department you’re supporting. You will be expected to brief and advise senior leaders and elected officials.

Primary Accountabilities

• briefing and providing advice to senior staff and elected officials
• supporting sessions of the Legislative Assembly and appearances at legislative committees
• media relations
• issues management
• developing and implementing communications strategies
• writing news releases, speeches and other materials
• content development for social media, public announcements, marketing and web
• event planning
• working with partners on stakeholder communications
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required

Qualifications And Experience

The successful candidate should have a post-secondary degree in public relations, communications, journalism, and several years of professional communications experience, or an acceptable equivalent.

The Successful Candidate Should Also Have

• curiosity about emerging technologies and the ability to translate complex digital and technical concepts for public audiences
• ability to build relationships and collaborate with members of Nova Scotia's broader digital, technology and cybersecurity communities
• strong writing skills, including plain language skills, and speech writing experience
• experience with media relations
• strong collaborative work ethic
• significant experience developing and implementing comprehensive communications strategies that leverage traditional and emerging digital strategies
• experience with social media and digital platforms/technologies, and the ability to effectively engage large audiences with minimal resources
• experience in communications strategies and tactics for inclusion and accessibility
• experience advising clients and working with a diverse range of stakeholders
• experience and comfort briefing and advising senior staff and elected officials
• experience working in a fast-paced, collaborative work environment, under tight deadlines

Assets

• Solid understanding of the public-sector environment
• Leadership experience
• An understanding of Nova Scotia’s unique social, historical and demographic make-up
• Experience working with vulnerable populations and an understanding of the associated social and systemic complexities
• Experience in/knowledge of data analytics, human-centered approaches, and artificial intelligence.
• French language skills

We will assess the above qualifications and experience using tools such as assessments, presentations, interviews, reference checks, etc.

Equivalency

• Definition of professional communications experience = professional writing experience, digital content creation, media relations experience, experience interpreting complex information for a public audience, preparing and delivering briefings to senior-level officials, including experience with traditional and emerging digital-first communications strategies and data-driven storytelling.

Benefits

Based on the employment, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long-Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

• Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day.
• Will be required to work outside business hours from time to time.
• High concentration of demands and priorities.
• Pressures to meet deadlines with attention to accuracy.
• Majority of time is spent in a comfortable office setting with frequent opportunity to move

What We Offer

• Career development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths
• A dynamic, client-focused office environment where service excellence and teamwork are our focus.

Pay Grade: EC 11

Salary Range: $3,571.99 - $4,465.03 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians, Persons of African Descent, Racialized Persons, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ Persons and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

Accommodation Statement

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail].

Current government employees may access this posting through the link below:

PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

If you are receiving a pension from the Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP) or any related plans, you cannot receive pension payments while contributing to the same plan. If you accept a position that requires PSSP contributions, your pension payments must be stopped. Please contact the Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation for more information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to [e-mail].