Closing Date

Aug 21, 2016

Our organization:

The Alberta Securities Commission is the industry-funded regulator responsible for administering the province's securities laws. It is entrusted with fostering a fair and efficient capital market in Alberta and with protecting investors. As a member of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the ASC works to improve, coordinate and harmonize the regulation of Canada's capital markets.

The Communications and Investor Education Division provides strategic communications counsel and support to all areas of the ASC to engage and educate internal and external stakeholders. The team promotes consistent, relevant and timely communication through media relations, investor education, corporate communications, public information and internal communications.

The opportunity:

Reporting to the Director, Communications & Investor Education, the successful candidate will provide strategic communications support and counsel to enhance the reputation of the ASC as a trusted source of information and to create greater awareness of the ASC’s role as a regulator. The successful candidate will work with a dynamic and creative team in a highly professional culture that offers challenging work while maintaining a healthy work/life balance.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and managing a proactive media relations program, including acting as spokesperson.
• Building and maintaining relationships with key national, provincial and local media to extend the reach and quality of media coverage on ASC activities.
• Monitoring and anticipating major issues and opportunities, briefing appropriate Commission senior management and staff and providing counsel on communications responses.
• Strategic communications planning for key external relations projects.
• Providing senior-level writing and editing skills to support department and Commission objectives.
• Contributing to investor education efforts including creating innovative approaches to garner media coverage and being part of a team that presents investor education seminars.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications or journalism.
• Minimum eight years of related experience, specifically in developing proactive and creative media relations programs, including acting as a spokesperson.
• Outstanding proofreading and editing skills. Attention to detail is critical.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills with the ability to articulate and translate complex issues into common language.
• Proven communications planning, critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative team environment, exercising discretion, judgment, diplomacy and confidentiality.
• Skill in developing strong relationships within all levels of an organization, including leadership.
• The ability to manage multiple projects with conflicting deadlines while maintaining a high level of work quality.
• A strong working knowledge of communications best practices and principles.
• The ability to travel periodically, usually within Alberta.
• Knowledge of and/or experience working in the capital market strongly preferred.