Senior Communications Officer

Government of Northwest Territories; Yellowknife; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A government organization is seeking a Senior Communications Officer in Yellowknife to provide expertise in communications planning and media relations. Ideal candidates should have a degree in a communications discipline and several years of relevant experience. The role supports departmental communications strategies and requires strong media relations skills. This position includes competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Northern living allowance

Defined benefit pension plan

Health/dental benefits

Relocation assistance

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in a specialized communications discipline.
• 3 years of experience with a degree or 5 years with a diploma in communications.
• Experience in media relations and public communications.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic communications planning and advice.
• Lead production of communications materials.
• Support media relations and respond to inquiries.

Skills

Strategic communications

Media relations

Public relations

Written communication

Education

Degree in communication discipline

Diploma in communication discipline

Job description

Department: Environment and Climate Change

The mandate of the Department of Environment and Climate Change is to manage land, water, air, wildlife, and forests. This includes promoting, planning, and supporting the wise and sustainable use of natural resources, and protecting, restoring, and stewarding the environment for the social and economic benefit of all Northwest Territories residents.

Job Information

The Senior Communications Officer is located in Yellowknife and provides expert communications advice and direction on the web, publications, communications planning, and media relations to departmental managers and staff. The incumbent also prepares communications materials for use by the Premier, Minister and Deputy Minister, as well as for public dissemination. The Senior Communications Officer works closely with the Communications Officer to support the overall communications strategy within Department, Environment and Climate Change and with divisional staff who provide sectorial expertise.

The Senior Communications Officer leads the development of innovative and creative solutions to communications challenges and opportunities. The position assumes a proactive approach to departmental communications and takes the lead in developing solutions, both alone and in collaboration with the Manager of Communications and senior management. The incumbent also develops communications strategies, plans, policies and guidelines, and provides media relations advice and responds to media and general inquiries to the Department. Part of the correspondence that the incumbent is tasked with is mass communication such as news releases and advertisements in consultation with program managers.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides strategic communications planning, advice and support for the Minister, Deputy Minister, senior management and departmental staff to ensure messages are presented in an accurate, coordinated and effective manner.
• Lead in the production of communications material.
• Provides media relations advice and support.
• Supports the delivery of Official Languages Services for the Department.
• Responds to general inquiries on the department's priorities, objectives and activities by acting as a contact point for the general public and departments, including inquiries from the main Department of GNWT websites.

Key Qualifications

• A degree in a specialized communications discipline such as journalism, or public/media relations or a similar equivalent, and three (3) years of direct progressive experience in the communications field.
• A diploma in a specialized communications discipline such as journalism, or public/media relations or a similar equivalent, and five (5) years of direct progressive experience in the communications field.
• Similar equivalent degrees may include but are not limited to a communication degree or graphic design degree.

The GNWT offers a competitive salary, an annual northern living allowance, a generous defined benefit pension plan, and health/dental benefits in addition to relocation assistance. For more information about living and working in the Northwest Territories please visit our benefits page orNWT Tourism .

GNWT Inquiries

Inquiries Only:

Department of Finance
Government of the Northwest Territories
YELLOWKNIFE CENTRE 5TH FLOOR
BOX 1320 YELLOWKNIFE NT X1A 2L9
Tel [phone] Extension 14106
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]

Note: If you do not receive electronic notification confirming receipt of your application, please follow up via telephone.