Director of Communications & Citizen Engagement

Director of Communications & Citizen Engagement

Location: 11738 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta

Closing Date: March 26, 2025 or Until Suitable Candidate Found

Position Status: Full Time (40 hours/week), Permanent

The Otipemisiwak Mtis Government is recruiting for a Director of Communications & Citizen Engagement. Reporting to the Senior Executive Officer, the successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Otipemisiwak Mtis Government communications, including marketing campaigns, graphic design and social media, media inquiries, and the planning, development, and implementation of communications strategies. The successful candidate will be a collaborative team leader with strong interpersonal and relationship building skills, and have experience managing communications, marketing, and design functions in a progressively senior leadership role.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a communications strategy and strategic plans with up-to-date marketing and communication materials and practices.
• Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of all communications, marketing, and graphic design initiatives related to Otipemisiwak Mtis Government and its affiliates and institutions.
• Monitor projects to ensure timely completion of deliverables within defined requirements and in alignment with strategic objectives.
• Collaborate with the Communications leadership team, departments, and affiliates on the creation or revision of processes and procedures to ensure practices remain competitive and in alignment with Otipemisiwak Mtis Government values and priorities.
• Liaise with department leaders to determine key areas requiring communications support.
• Ensure all communication messages and branding are consistent with the mission and values of the Otipemisiwak Mtis Government and are culturally sensitive and appropriate.
• Proactively build and promote strong, long-lasting relationships with internal and external stakeholders, maintaining an understanding of current and potential future needs.
• Provide communications advice and leadership in Otipemisiwak Mtis Government branding, media, and stakeholder relations.
• Guide staff, the Executive team, and leadership of various departments in identifying opportunities and mediums for distribution of key messaging to target audiences.
• Provide effective leadership to the Communications team, including mentoring team members through feedback, coaching, and formal evaluations.
• Perform supervisory duties, including hiring and training staff, building staff capacity, assigning job duties, and conducting performance reviews.
• Manage operational and fiscal activities, including developing and implementing work plans and forecasting within a designated budget.
• Maintain a high level of political awareness, cultural sensitivity, professionalism, and
  confidentiality in interactions with internal and external stakeholders.
• Other duties as required or assigned.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong leadership skills with a recognized strength in leading and engaging teams, creating a culture that promotes the development of individual and organizational capacity.
• Excellent technical skills and experience with Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, Hootsuite, Search Engine Optimization, analytical tools, and various social media platforms.
• Strong understanding of marketing and communications principles and practices, branding, and broadcast and digital media.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects or tasks, delegate, set expectations, and monitor progress of direct reports.
• Exceptional creative abilities, innovative, proactive, and forward thinking.
• Excellent strategic planning skills, including an ability to establish short- and long-term plans to meet key objectives of projects/initiatives.
• Demonstrated time management and organization skills with the ability to prioritize and meet tight deadlines.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with an ability to produce professional documents, reports, and presentations.
• Superior interpersonal skills and a proven track record of building collaborative partnerships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Competency to identify, develop, and execute initiatives and messages to different audiences.
• Sound analytical thinking skills with the ability to assess options and implications, engage different perspectives, and create strategic solutions for communications challenges.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and changing environment and be adaptable and flexible to changing needs.
• Political and cultural sensitivity and a strong sense of ethics, with the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality in all interactions.
• Knowledge of Mtis history, culture, and issues affecting Mtis people. An in-depth understanding of the Otipemisiwak Mtis Government and Mtis culture is an asset.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary or Master's degree in Communications, Marketing, Arts, or related field is required.
• Minimum of five years leadership experience, including leading a team of direct reports.
• Minimum of seven years working in Communications or related field.
• Experience in videography, photography, graphic design, and development of communications strategies.
• Experience in advising, coaching, and supporting management with interpretation, understanding and application of government or other large scale communications strategies, campaigns, and practices.
• Experience with budgeting, work plans, report writing, and drafting processes and procedures.
• Experience working in an Indigenous and/or non-profit setting is an asset.

Other Requirements

• Position will be based in office, with occasional remote work.
• Ability to work regular office hours of Monday to Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm, as well as a flexible schedule of days, evenings, and weekends.
• Travel within Alberta and out-of-province is a requirement.
• Reliable transportation and valid class 5 drivers' license.

What We Offer

• An opportunity to work for Otipemisiwak Mtis Government under its newly ratified Constitution and be an instrumental part of the largest Indigenous Government in Canada as it rapidly grows and develops.
• An opportunity to learn about Mtis culture, history, and art.
• Meaningful work in a fun and supportive work environment.
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• A comprehensive benefit package and employer contributions to Pension Plan.
• Generous time off policies.

Mtis applicants are encouraged to apply!

The Otipemisiwak Mtis Government thanks all applicants for their interest. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Please note that candidates who have been selected to move forward to the next stage of the recruitment process will receive an email to complete a short online one-way video interview. Should you have any concerns with completing the video interview, please reach out to Human Resources by responding to the email invitation. No phone calls please.