Communications Advisor

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date: 14-Jul-25 (Applications are accepted until 11:5+ PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Department of Health and Wellness offers opportunities to grow and advance in a dynamic sector that touches the lives of all Nova Scotians. Along with our partners, including the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK Health Centre, we’re committed to continually improving our health care system. With a focus on collaborative primary health care, continuing care, improved supports for mental health and addictions, digital health, capital infrastructure, and more, the department is thinking differently about how to plan, fund, legislate and monitor to improve access and service delivery. To do this, we need leaders at all levels of the organization who embrace a challenge and believe in their ability to make a difference.

We offer an opportunity to work with the Department of Health and Wellness’s Communications team, which is focused on government’s top priority of improving healthcare. We are a high-energy team working in a fast-paced environment.

The team also collaborates closely with other healthcare communications teams, including the Office of Addictions of Mental Health, Department of Seniors and Long-term Care, IWK Health and Nova Scotia Health.


About Our Opportunity

We’re looking for an experienced communicator who is passionate about delivering clear, impactful messages to a diverse range of audiences. You will work with staff to promote public understanding of healthcare 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 Health and Wellness. You will be expected to brief and advise senior leaders and elected officials.


Primary Accountabilities

The Communications Advisor works with partners to develop and implement communications strategies. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

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
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
Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate should have a post-secondary degree in public relations, communications, journalism and several years of professional communications experience, or an acceptable equivalent.

The successful candidate should also have:

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
Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.


Assets

Assets for this role include:

Previous public sector experience
Leadership experience
Editorial skills
French-language skills
Experience working with marginalized communities
Benefits

The Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short- and Long-Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

What We Offer

Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
Engaging workplace. Our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies.
Countless Career Paths.
A Dynamic, client-focused office environment where service excellence and teamwork are our focus.

Pay Grade: EC 11

Salary Range: $3,418.+6 - $4,273.75 Bi-Weekly


Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.


Accommodation Statement:

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at competitions@novascotia.ca.


Current government employees may access this posting through the link below:


PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.


Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca. Read more