Program Director, Communications

Your Opportunity:
Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL) is seeking an experienced and trusted communications leader to join its Executive Leadership Team as Program Director, Communications. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role offers the opportunity to shape how APL communicates with its people, partners, government stakeholders, and the public during a period of continued integration and system evolution. In this role, you will operate at the enterprise and system level, advising executive leaders on complex, high-impact issues and helping to position APL clearly and credibly within Alberta’s health system. You will influence how organizational priorities are understood, how change is navigated, and how trust is built and maintained through effective, timely, and transparent communications. Working within a complex, multi-entity environment, you will bring a strategic perspective to communications planning and execution, balancing operational realities, policy direction, and reputational considerations. You will be a key contributor to executive decision-making, providing insight and counsel on matters with operational, political, and public impact. This position offers flexibility and may be performed remotely or in a hybrid arrangement within Alberta. APL is the sole provider of publicly funded laboratory services in Alberta, supporting medical decision-making across the continuum of care. As a wholly owned subsidiary of a provincial health agency, APL plays a critical role in improving health outcomes for Albertans through innovation and excellence in laboratory medicine.

Description:
The Director, Communications provides enterprise-wide leadership for Alberta Precision Laboratories’ communications function. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director serves as APL’s senior communications authority and principal advisor on communications strategy, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, and communications risk. The role holds enterprise-level accountability for the development, governance, and execution of integrated communications strategies aligned with APL’s vision, mandate, and strategic priorities. The Director, Communications is responsible for establishing and leading the corporate communications function and ensuring the effective delivery of internal and external communications across the organization. This includes communications governance, strategic narrative development, issues and crisis communications, media relations, stakeholder engagement, and the provision of expert communications advice to support Executive Leadership Team decision-making and system-wide alignment. The Director oversees communications services for APL, ensuring coordinated, high-quality communications across clinical, operational, and system portfolios. Operating within a complex, provincially integrated health system, the Director exercises significant independent judgment in managing reputational risk, advising on high-impact issues, and safeguarding APL’s role, credibility, and public trust.

Classification: Program Director
Union: LAB EXEMPT
Unit and Program: Alberta Precision Laboratories Corporate Office
Primary Location: Manulife Place
Location Details: Eligible to work remotely within Alberta
Employee Class: Regular Full Time
FTE: 1.00
Posting End Date: 12-MAY-2026
Date Available: 25-MAY-2026
Hours per Shift: 7.75
Length of Shift in weeks: 1
Shifts per cycle: 5
Shift Pattern: Days
Days Off: Saturday/Sunday
Minimum Salary: $57.07
Maximum Salary: $100.39
Vehicle Requirement: Not Applicable
Required Qualifications:
A university degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Public Administration, or a related discipline, combined with signficant progressively responsible senior-level experience in strategic communications within a large, complex organization. Demonstrated experience providing strategic communications advice to senior executives, managing reputational and system-level risk, and leading enterprise communications functions including issues management, media relations, internal communications, and stakeholder engagement. Proven ability to lead through subordinate professionals, establish communications governance, and operate effectively in politically sensitive, multi-stakeholder environments. Strong judgment, influencing, and relationship-building skills, with expertise in change communications, crisis response, and aligning organizational communications with broader system or government priorities. Exceptional written, verbal, and strategic communication skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into clear, credible, and decision-ready communications.


Additional Required Qualifications:
As Required.


Preferred Qualifications:
Graduate education in Communications, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field, with continued professional development in leadership or strategic communications. Experience in healthcare, the public sector, or other highly regulated environments. Proven ability to coordinate communications across multi-entity governance structures and support public accountability reporting, executive briefings, and philanthropic communications.


Please note:
All postings close at 23:59 MT of the posting end date indicated.

Security Screening:
A satisfactory criminal record check and/or Vulnerable Sector Search is required prior to your first day of work. Additionally, all employees have an ongoing duty to disclose any charges or convictions that may occur during their employment with APL.