Director, Strategic Communications at BC Energy Regulator

Classification: Management Band B, Excluded - Pending Exclusion Review

Office Location: Fort St John or Kelowna or Victoria 

Salary: $119,211 - $156,045 – Permanent Full-Time, based on a 35-hour work week.
An additional 3% Location Allowance will be added to posted salary for northern location

About the Job:
The Director, Strategic Communications (Director) is accountable for the BCER’s enterprise strategic communications, reputation management, public affairs, and issues management programs in support of the organization’s mandate, strategy, and priorities. The Director provides strategic counsel to BCER leadership on public sentiment, reputational risk, stakeholder confidence, organizational positioning, and the communications implications of significant organizational decisions.

The role leads proactive and responsive communications strategies that strengthen understanding of BCER’s regulatory role and maintain public and stakeholder confidence in the organization. Working across the organization, the Director anticipates emerging issues, establishes coordinate organizational responses, and ensures the BCER is prepared to effectively manage complex, sensitive, and high-profile public, political, and stakeholder matters.  

Organization Chart:
Commissioner, Chief Executive Officer
         Chief Legal Counsel, Governance & Regulatory Affairs
                  Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & Strategic Engagement 
                           Executive Director, Communications & Strategic Engagement
                                    Director, Strategic Communications 

Lead the BCER’s enterprise issues and reputation management, establishing strategies and coordinated organizational responses to emerging public, media, political, and stakeholder issues that may affect BCER’s mandate, credibility, operations, or strategic objectives.

Provide strategic counsel to senior leadership and across the organization on reputational, public, political, stakeholder and communications risks, opportunities and implications associated with significant organizational decisions and emerging issues.

Develop and implement reputation -building strategies that strengthen public confidence in BCER’s independence, regulatory oversight role, transparency and accountability.

Develop, implement, and manage proactive communication programs for the Regulator ensuring organizational communications are timely, accurate, coordinated and aligned with BCER’s strategic objectives.

Maintain alignment of BCER’s organizational narrative and positioning across communications channels, ensuring consistency, clarity and alignment with the organization’s values, mandate and strategic priorities.  

Build and maintain strategic relationships with government communications functions, partner agencies, and external organizations to coordinate responses, address shared issues, and advance organizational communication objectives.  

Anticipate, assess, and escalate emerging public, political, media, and stakeholder issues, risks, and opportunities, ensuring the organization has the appropriate advice and response strategies before issues develop into significant operational or reputational challenges. 

Monitor and report on public relations, public sentiment, media coverage and communications performance to identify trends, risks, opportunities and areas requiring strategic action while promoting a culture of transparency to build and maintain trust from First Nations, the Public and stakeholders.

Lead, develop, and manage a geographically dispersed team, establishing expectations and priorities, allocating resources, managing performance, addressing employee relations and disciplinary matters, building organizational capacity, and fostering a high‑performing and collaborative culture aligned with BCER priorities.

Education:
A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a relevant field such as Communications or Public Relations, and seven years of directly related experience.

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.  

Professional accreditation is an asset (APR from Canadian Public Relations Society or CMP/SCMP from International Association of Business Communicators).

Experience:
Demonstrated experience as a senior-level communications leader in a complex organization, including responsibility for strategic communications planning, executive communications, issues management, and media relations.

Enterprise-wide experience in approaches to issues management and reputational risk including identifying emerging public, political, stakeholder or media issues and coordinating proactive organizational responses.

Demonstrated experience providing strategic advice to executives or senior decision-makers on communications strategy, public sentiment, organizational positioning, reputational risk, and the external implications of significant organizational decisions.

Demonstrated experience developing and leading crisis communications and proactive communications, campaigns or public education initiatives that improve public understanding of complex organizational mandates, regulatory processes, technical issues or policy decisions.

Demonstrated experience in public relations or government relations, ideally involving coordination with ministries, elected officials, public agencies, regulators or other government partners on sensitive or high-profile matters.

Demonstrated experience building trust with diverse stakeholders, including First Nations, communities, industry, government, media, advocacy organizations and the public.

Demonstrated experience translating complex information into clear narratives for different audiences, including media, stakeholders and the public.

Demonstrated experience leading and developing professional teams and coordinating complex initiatives across multiple business areas. 

Demonstrated experience using media monitoring, stakeholder intelligence, or public sentiment analysis to inform communications strategy, identify emerging risks, and measure effectiveness.

Preference may be given to candidates with public-sector, regulator, or energy-sector experience involving matters subject to public, political, legal, environmental, economic, or community interest.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements: 
Occasional travel is required throughout the province and to industry offices outside of British Columbia.

Financial Responsibilities:
Accountable for contracts supporting Branch operations. 
 
Key Competencies:
Building Trust-Based Relationships
The ability to build and maintain ethical relationships, networks, or contacts with others, while fostering trust through genuine and transparent interactions. It emphasizes integrity and commitment to both personal and professional connections through open exchanges of experiences and culture. 

Communicating Effectively
The ability to convey information clearly, accurately, and appropriately to the intended audience. It involves utilizing multiple forms of communication channels and techniques, such as verbal and written communication, active listening, and nonverbal cues, to ensure a message is understood and received as intended. It involves being mindful of the audience’s needs, preferences, and cultural backgrounds, adapting the message and delivery style accordingly to facilitate mutual understanding and engagement.  

Strategic Advisory Leadership
The ability to provide trusted strategic counsel to senior leaders on complex issues, risks, opportunities and decisions. It involves synthesizing information, understanding the broader public, political and stakeholder environment, and translating insights into clear, actionable advice that supports informed decision-making and organizational objectives.

Team Building 
The ability to develop group identity, facilitate decision-making, and foster open and effective communication within diverse teams across the organization. It involves building and sustaining trust through integrity, concern for others, consistent behavior, following through on commitments, and promoting open communication.

Vision and Goal Setting
The ability to establish official and operative goals for the organization or teams. It involves setting a clear vision, creating measurable goals, and developing a system for tracking and evaluating the effectiveness of goal attainment. It ensures alignment of team efforts with the organization’s long-term objectives and fosters a results-driven culture. 

If you are interested in applying for this role and meet the minimum selection criteria, please select “Apply Now” and submit your application prior to the closing date. Applicants should review the education and experience listed in the job requisition and clearly articulate how their work experience and skills are aligned with the requirements. Please note, applicants will only be contacted if they are selected to proceed further in the process.