Executive Lead, Communications & Engagement

Your Opportunity:

Assisted Living Alberta (ALA) is seeking a strategic and influential communications executive to join its Executive Leadership Team (ELT) as Executive Lead, Communications and Engagement. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this role provides provincial leadership for communications, engagement, public affairs, government relations, and stakeholders. As ALA continues to evolve as a provincial health agency, the Executive Lead will play a key role in building public confidence, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and advancing understanding of ALA's mandate and services. This is a unique opportunity to establish and lead a modern communications and engagement function that supports organizational growth, system transformation, and service excellence. Working closely with government, healthcare partners, service providers, and community organizations, the Executive Lead serves as a trusted advisor to the CEO and ELT on strategic communications, public affairs, issues management, and reputation management. The ideal candidate is an accomplished executive with extensive experience in strategic communications, government and stakeholder relations, ministry engagement, media relations, crisis communications, and issues management. Assisted Living Alberta (ALA) delivers, coordinates and oversees home and community care and continuing care health services in Alberta, helping Albertans live safely and independently in the places they call home.

Description:

The Executive Lead, Communications and Engagement leads communication and engagement strategies that build confidence in Assisted Living Alberta (ALA) and its contracted partners as providers of high-quality continuing care services in the community. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, this role establishes and advances communications, engagement, government relations, and stakeholder coordination functions in partnership with the Ministry and system partners, supporting ALA's evolution as a provincial health agency. The Executive Lead provides strategic leadership for organizational communications, ensuring clear, consistent messaging that strengthens understanding of ALA's mandate, identity, and future-state model among internal and external audiences. With a team of nearly 30, the role oversees external communications and public affairs, including media relations, digital, web and social channels, public information and education, issues management, and crisis communications, while fostering strong relationships with government, stakeholders, and partners. This provincial position’s location is Edmonton (preferable) or Calgary.

Required Qualifications:
Additional Required Qualifications:

This key leadership position requires expertise in strategic communications, including internal, external and crisis communications at a system and local level. Demonstrated experience serving as a trusted strategic advisor to executive leadership teams, providing expert counsel on communications, stakeholder engagement, reputation management, and issues management, including preparing and coaching senior leaders for media interviews, public appearances, and high-profile communications events. Experience in government and stakeholder relations, including ministry interface. Experience in issues management. Cross-agency engagement and coordination experience is required, as is proven adeptness at building strong relationships with a wide variety of partners. Experience developing organizational strategy and planning, leading strategic initiatives and leading change to achieve positive results. Proven leadership abilities, including comfort with decision-making and exercising sound judgement. Ability to influence, negotiate, and mediate resolutions to complex situations.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in healthcare, continuing care or large-scale public sector organizations is preferred. Professional accreditation through Canadian Public Relations Society or International Association of Business Communicators is preferred.