Director of Communications

POSITION TITLE:

Director of Communications

DEPARTMENT:  Communications and Citizen Engagement

CLASSIFICATION:  MGEX-02

SALARY RANGE:  Starting at $ per Annum

POSITION TYPE:  Full-time, Permanent

ACCOUNTABLE TO:  Deputy Chief, Government & Public Relations

Brief Overview
The Director of Communications provides strategic leadership for the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan's Communications and Citizen Engagement (CCE) department. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Director is responsible for establishing the vision, priorities, communications governance frameworks, and performance expectations that guide communications, citizen engagement, issues management, storytelling, creative services, events, and related functions across the organization.

The Director ensures the department strengthens citizen trust, supports government priorities, protects and enhances organizational reputation, and builds meaningful relationships between citizens and their government. The role provides executive counsel to leadership, oversees departmental performance and resources, and ensures that communications and engagement activities are coordinated, culturally grounded, measurable, and aligned with the strategic direction of MN–S.

Key Responsibilities
Distinctions-based Communications Management
Establish the departmental distinctions-based work plan, priorities, and measurable objectives for the communications function.
Align communications strategies with the MN-S Distinctions-Based Focus Plans, government priorities, and leadership direction.
Lead the planning, implementation and evaluation of government-wide, high-impact communications initiatives.

Senior Leadership Counsel and Decision Support
Serve as the senior communications advisor to senior leadership.
Provide communications advice on interest holder impacts, public perception, and change initiatives.
Support executive communications, public positioning, and spokesperson readiness.
Provide recommendations to support informed decision‑making on emerging communication opportunities and challenges.

Reputation, Issues and Crisis Oversight
Oversee reputation management and issues management.
Assess emerging issues and advise leadership on response strategies.
Ensure crisis communications plans, protocols, and organizational readiness are maintained.
Provide oversight during significant issues, incidents, and crisis events.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration and Alignment
Build strong relationships across departments, ministries, leadership teams, and external partners.

Ensure communications considerations are integrated into planning, and major initiatives.

Promote coordination and alignment across communications, engagement, visual storytelling, creative, and operational functions.

Represent the communications function in organizational, interdepartmental, and distinctions‑based focused planning discussions.

Leadership, Management, and Accountability
Lead the communications teams by establishing clear priorities, expectations, and accountability for results.

Oversee departmental budgets, work plans, resource allocation, workforce planning, and professional development.

Establish, monitor, and report on departmental objectives, service standards, key performance indicators, and outcomes.

Prepare and submit reports, dashboards, briefing materials, budget updates, and operational performance summaries for executive leadership.

Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills
Deep knowledge of Métis history, governance, rights, culture, and contemporary priorities, with the ability to apply culturally grounded approaches to communications, engagement, and relationship‑building.

Expertise in communications management, including research, audience and stakeholder analysis, strategic…