Who Are We?

The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) is the largest school board in western Canada with over 144,000 students and 16,000 employees. Our mission: Each student, in keeping with their individual abilities and gifts, will complete high school with a foundation of learning necessary to thrive in life, work and continued learning. We pride ourselves in the values we hold. Students come first. Learning is our central purpose. Public education serves the common good. The CBE encourages an inclusive and equitable workplace, which supports our diverse student and employee community. We encourage all applicants to join our dynamic, diverse, and collaborative culture and welcome applications from all qualified individuals.

When you apply to the CBE, you can feel good about serving our future leaders and contributing to student success.

Competition Info

Competition Close Date: Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 11:59pm

Calendar: 12 month

Salary: Exempt M2 $147,700 - $180,100 annually

FTE: 1.0 - 35 hours per week

What does this role look like?

The CBE understands the future of work is flexible. In this role, you are eligible to participate in a flexible work program that allows you to work remotely for up to three days a week. A minimum of two days must be in the office. At certain times, you maybe be required to work in the office more then 2 days per week based on operational requirements.

What does this role look like?

The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) is one of the largest and most visible organizations in Calgary. CBE’s Communication & Engagement Services team provides ongoing communication, community engagement and partnership management advice to schools, service units and the Board of Trustees in support of Board priorities and system direction. The department also manages and supports the communication and engagement tools used by schools and service units, including our public, internal, and school websites, social media channels and other platforms. The senior manager, communications is responsible for leading, developing and mentoring a team of communication professionals who provide proactive and on-demand strategic communication advice and execution of strategic communication plans for senior leaders. This position oversees issue and crisis management support for schools, media relations, social media management and government relations. This individual manages and protects the CBE’s brand and visual identity, including managing an in-house design team (videography, graphic design & photography). This position reports to the Chief Communications Officer and is the key point person on major system initiatives. To be successful in this role, the individual must have 12+ years of experience leading teams in high-profile, complex organizations, with the ability to balance the urgent and immediate communication needs with strategic long-term planning.

What will you do?

Accountability

• Every communication is an opportunity to increase public confidence in the CBE. This position connects the day-to-day communication initiatives to what the CBE aims to achieve through its Three-Year Education Plan. The role is accountable for:
• Understanding the CBE’s Three-Year Education Plan and collaborating to build aligned communications strategies and materials;
• Identifying and effectively aligning system initiatives with communications strategies and plans;
• Keeping the chief communications officer apprised of the status of projects and initiatives; client, stakeholder or employee issues; and opportunities for continuous improvement;
• Coaching and providing credible communications and marketing counsel to employees at all levels of the organization and to the Board of Trustees;
• Handling and escalating communication issues and approvals appropriately;
• Maintaining strong working relationships with clients;
• Collaborating with leaders within Communication Services to ensure the overall impact of communications is greater than the sum of the individual parts—always mindful of integrated messages;
• Managing stressful volatile and dynamic situations and crises effectively and with grace under pressure;
• Identifying urgent and emerging issues and initiating responses;
• Modelling exceptional personal communication;
• Ensuring communication is not just written well, but also thoughtfully presented in the best way to achieve objectives, ensuring the quality and accuracy of all work;
• Hiring, coaching, mentoring and developing employees—some of whom are represented by a collective agreement—to ensure we have the right people, with the right skills;
• Modelling CBE Human Resources’ requirements of leaders;
• Ensuring that Administration complies with all governance requirements related to communication; and
• Maintaining the confidentiality of information and adhering to policy, regulatory and legislative requirements (including the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act).

Major Responsibilities

• Counsel, write, coach and delegate work appropriately to best meet internal client needs;

• Provide efficient and effective strategic communications, engagement planning and design support that meets organizational expectations;

• Work closely with other members of the Communication Services team to regularly prioritize and schedule projects and evaluate outcomes;

• Support and build a high-performing group of professionals;

• Provide advice and guidance to communications staff to ensure messages to news media are coherent, well-understood and maintain or enhance the CBE’s reputation;

• Ensure that channels are in place for the CBE to efficiently and effectively communicate to key stakeholders immediately and on an ongoing basis;

• Develop, manage, evolve and maintain many channels by which the CBE communicates to key stakeholders, including but not limited to: video, social media, print, advertising, signage and livery;

• Develop and execute the brand visual identity consistently; becoming a respected and credible brand leader throughout the organization;

• Direct the work of external suppliers in the production and placement of communications;

• Write monthly reports on performance and improvement;

• Budget tracking and management;

• Creative production of various publications;

• Employee recruitment, retention and performance management;

• Ensuring the establishment of benchmarks and forms of measurement to continually evaluate and improve upon both broad-based and targeted communications and engagement plans;

• Hire and promote staff. Monitor and evaluate performance in relation to expected levels of service delivery and conduct. Identify areas of growth and concern as required ensuring concepts of natural justice and fairness for the employee. Carry out disciplinary actions, up to and including termination, as required; and

• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned to meet department and service delivery goals and objectives.

What are we looking for?

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• A post-secondary degree in marketing, journalism or communications;
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in the field of communications including significant experience dealing with news media and/or public engagement in a high-profile public organization;
• Strong understanding of communications fundamentals and brand management;
• Demonstrated management capability within a professional team that operates in a fast-paced, dynamic and highly-visible environment;
• Strong experience in project management and client consultation complemented by a highly developed sense of customer service;
• Experience on both the client and agency sides of the communication partnership;
• IAP2 training is an asset;
• Experience in education is an asset; and
• An equivalent combination of directly related education and directly related experience may be considered.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with and work directly with senior leadership;
• Demonstrated ability to achieve results and to support others;
• Willingness to share ideas and to pitch in where needed;
• Expertise in building and leading teams;
• Initiative to work independently and enjoyment of collaboration;
• Creative and disciplined communications problem solving;
• Openness to accept and drive change;
• Exceptional verbal, written, visual and interpersonal communication skills;
• High integrity for the quality of work and how it is done, including completeness, and accuracy;
• An ability to adapt to changing priorities;
• Flexibility to work outside of regular hours when required;
• Ability to work effectively and with humor in a high pressure environment;
• Constant professionalism required in an organization as visible as the CBE; and
• Capability and aspiration to be a successor for more senior communication roles.

Conditions of Employment

Police Information Clearance: Applicants new to the Calgary Board of Education WHO ARE OFFERED EMPLOYMENT must complete and pass a police information clearance before employment is confirmed.

Be Part of Our Success

A career with the CBE offers incredible opportunities, rewards and supports.

What happens next?

We thank all candidates for their interest in this position however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Land Acknowledgement

The Calgary Board of Education acknowledges the traditional territories and oral practices of the Treaty 7 Nations, including the Siksikaitsitapi Nations, Tsuut'ina Nation, and the Îyârhe Nakoda Nations. We acknowledge the Métis Nation within Alberta, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of southern Alberta. As a learning organization, we are committed to advancing the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action focused on Education for ReconciliACTION.