Communications Advisor Regional Municipality

Competition # 48975 – Term Position

Department:
Opportunities and Social Development

Location:

Halifax

Type of Employment:
Term

Union Status:
Exclusion – Non Union – NSPG

Closing Date: 09-Jun-26 (Applications accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

Opportunities and Social Development (OSD) is a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services in Child and Family Wellbeing (CFW), Employment Support Services (ESS), Income Assistance (IA), Supportive Housing and Homelessness, and the Disability Support Program (DSP). Through our services, we advocate for and help vulnerable Nova Scotians be independent, self‑reliant, and secure. We work collaboratively across the province with a strong dedicated network of supports and staff, to achieve desired and shared outcomes for all.

We are looking for experienced Communication Advisors who are 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, design 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.

• 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

• Post‑secondary degree in public relations, communications, journalism and several years of professional communications experience, or an acceptable equivalent.
• 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 in communications strategies and tactics for inclusion and accessibility
• Experience with social media and digital platforms/technologies, and the ability to effectively engage large audiences with minimal resources
• Experience advising clients and working with a diverse range of stakeholders, including a grasp of Nova Scotia's unique social, historical and demographic makeup
• Experience and comfort briefing and advising senior staff and elected officials
• Experience working in a fast‑paced, collaborative work environment, under tight deadlines

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.

• Solid understanding of the public‑sector environment
• Leadership experience
• 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‑centred approaches and artificial…