Job Specification

Purpose :

- To provide strategic communication advice and expertise to all levels of the Ministry on contentious issues relating to ministry programs and goals.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Communications Management
- Identifies and analyses the ministry's communications requirements related to ministry policies, programs, legislation and services.
- Anticipates and identifies emerging issues and trends with potential implications for the ministry by utilizing issues management strategies such as monitoring media reports and advising management of contentious issues related to the ministry's business.
- Researches and keeps abreast of issues affecting the ministry/division by accessing house notes, briefing notes, news releases to obtain additional information when briefing the Director and management
- Conducts research and environmental scans of literature, studies, papers, etc for relevance and interest to issues within the ministry/division.
- Coordinates public consultation and public education campaigns and media events related to government/ministry initiatives; manages all administrative and logical arrangements and identifies and resolves all issues related to the events.
2. Liaison and Strategic Advisory Services
- Provides strategic communications advice, services and products to ministry senior management, the Minister's and Deputy Minister's Offices, Cabinet Office, Management Board, colleagues within the branch, and other ministries. Advises on issues that are likely to receive media attention; communications requirements related to specific policy/program initiatives; methods of communications and the type of information appropriate to individual groups or media.
- Consults with clients to suggest and develop messaging appropriate to the particular initiative/project/audience.
Identifies target audiences and stakeholder groups; analyzes and advises on their specific communication needs. Assesses likely public response/relation to proposed initiatives.
3. Media
- Responds to media inquiries (normally the same day) relating to high profile issues and situations affecting the ministry. Coordinates approvals of media materials for Cabinet Office prior to distribution.
- Organizes media events.
4. Project Leadership
- Leads branch teams to develop, implement and roll out internal and external strategies for cross-divisional, cross-ministry and cross-government initiatives. Ensures that deadlines are met and that strategies are consistent with government agenda, and the ministry's policies and direction. Establishes priorities; monitors performance.
- Provides technical direction and guidance to external communication service providers, Work with contractors on communications projects/initiatives
5. Materials Preparation
- Writes and edits material for electronic and print media, issues and briefing notes, Minister and Deputy Minister's speeches, reports, statements and responses to questions in the Legislature, Internet and Intranet applications and publications such as brochures, newsletters and business plans.
- Writes and/or edits government messaging for Minister's House Notes, Premier's tour notes and Government Member Questions and assists program areas in preparation of materials in response to emerging priorities

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
- Ministry strategic directions, programs, issues, relevant legislation to provide strategic communications/issues advice to the Minister's Office, Deputy Minister's Office, and senior management on current and emerging contentious issues.
- Understanding of government direction, as well as the functions of central bodies such as Cabinet Office and the Premier's Office, to develop and recommend strategic responses to issues in order to support relationships and outcomes of ministry/government policies and programs.
- Policy development and legislative and political decision-making processes to manage ministry issues by providing accurate, timely responses.
- Media and public relations within a government context to analyze and assess public opinion, media perceptions and stakeholder positions on ministry issues, to develop and recommend strategic responses.
- Oral and written communication skills to brief political staff daily on ministry policies or programs that have received media attention; to communicate the fundamentals of various ministry policies or programs to senior political staff in the Minister's Office; to edit and/or prepare briefing materials, responses and strategic communication proposals
- Computer proficiency to prepare reports and correspondence, access databases, research information, etc.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Interpersonal skills to exchange and discuss information with the Minister's staff ensuring that appropriate responses to media inquiries are developed which position the ministry in a positive manner.
- Negotiating skills to negotiate deadlines for information or briefings material requested by the Minister's Office (e.g. persuading program areas to produce responses within tight time constraints) and to provide advice to stakeholders, senior management, and political staff.
- Consultation skills to advise ministry policy/program areas of the communications implications of different options or tactics relating to a recommended strategy, policy, or piece of legislation.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analyzing and problem-solving skills to:
- Research, evaluate, compose and edit communication materials for approval by senior ministry officials, the Minister and Cabinet Office; to appreciate the potential ramifications of written expression; to interpret audience reaction to prepared material.
- Identify and evaluate emerging issues, and brief appropriate senior officials.
- Assess a situation and anticipate consequences to determine the most appropriate response to media inquiries to safeguard the Minister or government's position on a matter; to anticipate and assess public opinion, media perceptions and stakeholder positions on ministry issues; to develop communications strategy and/or messaging to support options in Cabinet Submissions; to select from a variety of media types and outlets (e.g., information packages, advertisements, the Internet) in order to project the ministry's message or position to the public.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
- Leading staff teams in the development and implementation of effective communication and issues management strategies and providing strategic advice to senior management on communication plans , programs and projects.
- Preparing briefing and communications materials for media and House response. Editing technically complex communications products in language that is understandable to the public.
- Plans and manages contracts and budgets with external service providers.
- Decisions are guided by: a broad framework of government decision-making processes, briefing practices, legislative processes, issues management protocol, established timelines, and ministry strategic directions, policies and programs Has latitude to provide strategic advice to the Minister, Deputy Minister and Director on contentious issues and recommend the most appropriate key messages to be used in response, if and when it is raised in the Legislature or with the media.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

- Policy/program staff to liaise with and coordinate the development of communication and briefings products.
- The Minister and Minister's Office staff to exchange information and meet information requests.
- The Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister's Office staff to exchange information and obtain approvals on a variety of communications products.
- Cabinet Office to provide early warning as to upcoming contentious issues or events; to coordinate fact checks and explain key ministry policies and programs in relation to issues management.
- Counterparts in other ministries to co-ordinate efforts and discuss issues of mutual concern.

Guidance / Supervision :

- Provides technical leadership to line managers, branch staff and writers in the development of materials and responses for Housebook Notes and the media.
- Leads branch teams in developing and implementing cross-divisional strategies and roll-outs; leads staff in meeting deadlines and ensuring that strategies are consistent with government agenda and the ministry's policies and direction. Establishes priorities; monitors performance

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

- Frequent requirement to balance many competing priorities at different stages of completion. Works to tight deadlines.
- Frequent requirement to respond to media inquiries the same day; meets last minute requests to prepare materials for the Minister or other senior management.

Mental / Sensory :

- Concentration is required when doing research to identify key issues to be addressed when preparing materials.
- Listening skills is required when exchanging and discussing ideas/information on the preparation of appropriate responses with clients.

Conditions / Environment :

- Work is performed in a typical office environment.