Communications Opportunities - Future Opportunity Stream

About Us

Do you want to make an impact by helping Nova Scotians understand the programs, services, decisions, and priorities that shape their communities? Are you an experienced communications professional who can turn complex information into clear, accessible, and meaningful messages for diverse audiences?

At the Government of Nova Scotia, communciations professionals help people access information, understand government decisions, and connect with the services and supports they need. Whether explaining new programs, supporting communities through emergencies, helping people navigate  change, or communicating important decisions that impact their lives, communications professionals play a critical role in keeping Nova Scotians informed and engaged.   

Communications teams are embedded within departments across government. They work closely with program experts, senior leaders, and partners to support departmental priorities and communicate with the people and communities each department serves. This keeps communications close to the programs, services, and issues that matter to Nova Scotians.

At the same time, communications professionals collaborate across government to share expertise, align approaches, and support clear, accurate, accessible, and consistent information for Nova Scotians. This balance of departmental expertise and central coordination helps ensure people receive trusted information wherever they interact with government.

To build a strong and connected communications community across government, we are introducing a coordinated recruitment approach for communications positions.  This approach helps attract exceptional talent, promote consistent hiring standands and strengthen collaboration across departments. While recruitment is coordinated through this Future Opportunities Stream, successful candidates will be hired directly by individual departments.  Their day-to-day work, reporting relationships, and responsibilities will be shaped by the priorities, operations, audiences, and mandate of the department they join. This model supports consistency across government while preserving the fleixibility departments need to serve Nova Scotians well.

About Our Opportunity

We are looking for experienced, thoughtful and collaborative communications professionals who are passionate about delivering clear, timely, inclusive, and strategic communications to a diverse range of audiences. In the Government of Nova Scotia we do not just accept difference — we celebrate and foster a culture of diversity and belonging. We are committed to creating an environment where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and valued, and we encourage applications from individuals who are passionate about promoting equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in their work.

Over the coming months, we will hire for various communications roles across government departments and locations. Typical opportunities may include:

Communications Directors who provide senior-level strategic communications planning, advice, leadership, and direction. These roles advise Ministers, Deputy Ministers, senior leaders, and colleagues across government on complex, high-profile, and emerging communications issues and opportunities. Directors lead integrated communications planning and delivery across digital, media, marketing, internal communications, crisis communications, and public information channels. They help shape how government communicates with Nova Scotians and support informed decision-making through strategic communications insight.

Communications Advisors who develop and implement communications strategies, provide communications advice to senior staff and elected officials, manage media requests, support issues management, and create communications products such as news releases, speeches, social media content, web content, public announcements, and stakeholder communications.

Advisors help translate complex policies, programs, and decisions into clear, accessible information that people can understand and use. They work closely with departmental teams while collaborating with communications colleagues across government to support consistent, coordinated public communication.

Why Join the Nova Scotia Government Communications Community?

Each communications role offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful work that impacts people, communities, and services across the province. You will work within a department, close to the priorities and audiences you support, while also being part of a connected communications community that shares expertise, strengthens practice, and helps Nova Scotians access trusted information.

Whether you are looking to apply your communications expertise in an advisory role or take on a senior leadership opportunity, this stream may connect you with an opportunity where you can grow, collaborate, and help deliver clear, inclusive, and effective public communications.

Primary Accountabilities

In these roles, you can expect to:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate integrated communications strategies aligned with departmental priorities and government-wide initiatives.
• Provide strategic advice and briefings to senior staff, elected officials, and executive leadership on communications approaches, issues, and risks.
• Translate complex policies, programs, and issues into clear, human-centred, accessible communications products across digital, media, stakeholder, and public channels.
• Lead or support media relations, issues management, crisis communications, and high-profile announcements in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborate with internal teams, communciations colleagues across government, and external partners to plan and deliver coordinated communications, campaigns, partner engagement and public-facing initiatives.
• Help ensure Nova Scotians receive timely, accurate, accessible, and consistent information while reflecting the unique responsibilities and priorities of each department.
• For senior roles, lead communications planning and delivery, manage priorities and people, and contribute to executive decision-making through strategic communications insight.

Qualifications and Experience

We are looking for motivated, collaborative, and strategic communications professionals who can thrive in fast-paced environments and support high-quality public communications. The minimum requirements are:

• Director, Communications: Completion of a related bachelor’s degree along with seven years of experience developing and delivering communications strategies, including experience providing senior-level strategic communications advice and leading complex communications work.
• Communications Advisor:  Completion of a related bachelor’s degree along with three years of professional communications experience
• An equivalent combination of education, training and experience
  
  

Candiates should demonstrate the ability to:

• Communication and Writing: Write clearly, accurately, and persuasively in plain language for diverse audiences and channels.
• Strategic Communications: Develop and implement comprehensive, multi-channel communications strategies.
• Advisory Excellence: Provide sound communications advice and brief senior leaders with professionalism, tact, and political acuity.
• Collaboration and Relationships: Work effectively with colleagues, senior leaders, elected officials, partners, and diverse partners.
• Operational Agility: Manage competing priorities, tight timelines, and high-pressure or sensitive issues.
• Equity and Inclusion: Apply equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility principles to communications planning and delivery.
• Context and Digital Acumen: Understand government and media environments and use digital, social, and data-informed tools to engage audiences.

Assets Include:

• Solid understanding of the public-sector environment.
• Experience with crisis communications, issues management, internal communications, change communications, or stakeholder engagement.
• Experience developing communications strategies and tactics that support inclusion and accessibility.
• An understanding of Nova Scotia’s unique social, historical, and demographic makeup.

Equivalency

We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise.

Equivalencies include, but are not limited to:

• A completed diploma or master’s degree related to communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or digital media.
• Previous work experience related to professional communications, media relations, strategic communications planning, digital communications, public affairs, public engagement, stakeholder communications, or issues management.

Salary Information

Salary will vary depending on the classification and level of the opportunity.

Director, Communications: EC 13 — $4,136.98 to $5,171.21 bi-weekly.

Communications Advisor: EC 11 — $3,418.96 to $4,273.75 bi-weekly. 

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, 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.

Working Conditions

These opportunities offer a balanced and supportive working environment with a typical regular work week of 35 hours, and 7-hour days. You will work in-person in a modern office setting, with some roles requiring occasional travel to project locations and communities throughout the province as required. Work outside normal business hours may be necessary during peak periods or when specific circumstances demand. There are no work-from-home options.

Additional Information

Learn more about the Future Opportunities Stream here.

Some opportunities may be designated for specific employment equity designated groups. To be considered for these opportunities, you must self-identify when submitting your application. See the Nova Scotia Government’s Employment Equity Policy for more information, including additional details on the designated groups.

Please note that after you submit your application and this competition closes, you will be sent an email from our competitions email with a series of pre-screening questions designed to help us learn the most about you. We encourage you to allow ample time to complete them thoroughly.

What We Offer

At the Government of Nova Scotia, we offer you: 

• Opportunities to take on challenging roles, lead impactful projects, and engage in continuous learning programs and training opportunities.
• An inclusive workplace that values diversity and fosters a culture of respect.
• Access to extensive health, dental, pension and employee and family assistance plans to ensure you and your family’s well-being.
• Positive and collaborative work environments that celebrate your achievements.