Manager, Issues Communications

Are you our next Manager, Issues Communications? You would be a good fit for this position if you:
Strong relationship management skills that build effective networks of internal and external business contacts
Are an excellent critical thinker that is able to synthesize and translate scientific knowledge to business language.
Have the ability to thrive in a rapidly changing business environment.

We are game changers
Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st-century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre, and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance the well-being of Albertans through research and innovation.
Our subsidiary, InnoTech Alberta, offers a diversified range of scientific engineering and technological research and testing capabilities, and the facilities to support technology scale-up. Our multidisciplinary team has the depth of experience to work across all sectors, from energy to health to food and fibre. InnoTech Alberta offers you access to research talent, technical expertise, and unique facilities that can help accelerate technology development that serves both the private and public sector.

**Intrigued? Here’s some more information about the position**:
Corporate & Issues Communications
Develop and implement tactical strategies and provide editorial services to ensure technical/scientific content is easily understood by public and employee audiences and that it meets high business communications and journalistic standards.
Proactively develop and support communications to advance the expertise, knowledge, and impact of company thought leaders, programs, and initiatives with government decisionmakers, policy influencers, business, and community leaders
Prepare corporate reports including business plans, discussion/white papers, policy briefing materials, community impact and innovation reports, key messages, etc.

Media Relations
Work closely with the senior manager, media and community relations and others to develop strategies that deepen and broaden relationships/networks with science and business journalists, niche, and traditional mass media channels.
Seek out opportunities and prepare media pitches to support paid-to-earned brand communications and education campaigns, place innovation impact stories involving Alberta Innovates and subsidiaries.

Municipal/Regional Advocacy
Follow local and regional government developments and community initiatives to anticipate issues that could impact enterprise communications and programs.
Prepare speeches and presentations for senior management to enable timely operational presence and profile in relevant sector and cross-economy conferences and forums.
Work closely with directors, and program experts to prepare accurate and timely responses to government information requests and issues; ensure relevant staff are informed of potential impacts and reputation risks.

Strategic Initiatives & Partnership Communications
Work closely with department directors, senior managers, and colleagues to prepare and implement media positioning strategies, announcement plans and communications tactics that reach policy influencers, build allies, and activate support of partners internally and externally around key programs and strategic initiatives

Qualifications;
Undergraduate degree in Communications, Business, Political Science or Journalism
10+ years of multi-sector communications experience
Professional certification from CPRS, IABC, IAP2 an asset
Advanced knowledge of legislative and government systems
Strong journalistic understanding and business media network
Understanding of civic organizations and community development issues
Ability to establish rapport and high trust relationships with people in a variety of roles, at all organizational levels
Understanding of domestic and international sustainability/ESG trends and communication best practices
Awareness of the government policy agenda and expectations related to the provincial innovation ecosystem and Alberta Innovates
Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, negotiation, conflict resolution and interpersonal skills
Superior writing and editing skills and business journalism savvy
Exceptional public research and analytical skills
Capable to develop policies, strategies, and tools for business needs
Persuasive; can obtain buy-in for new ideas, leading and managing subsequent change
Build and maintain productive relationships with key stakeholders
Ability to pre-empt problems and capitalize on opportunities
Ability to adapt B2B and B2C marketing operations practices and principles to crown corporation
Ability to multi-task,