As a Director of Public Outreach, you play a vital leadership role in shaping how the Department of National Defence communicates with Canadians. You develop and oversee strategic public engagement initiatives that build awareness, understanding, and trust in defence and security matters. This position reports to senior leadership and manages a team of communications and outreach professionals who execute campaigns, events, media relations, and digital engagement across multiple channels.
Your key responsibilities include setting the direction for public outreach strategy, managing stakeholder relationships with media, community organizations, and the public, overseeing budget allocation and resource planning, and ensuring messaging aligns with departmental priorities and government communications standards. You lead the development of innovative engagement approaches, evaluate program effectiveness through metrics and feedback, and adapt strategies to reach diverse audiences including youth, Indigenous communities, and regional populations.
You work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where priorities may shift based on current events, government announcements, or emerging communication needs. Collaboration with other government departments, military leadership, and external partners is essential to the role. This position offers opportunities to influence national conversation around defence, contribute to Canada's security objectives, and develop staff in a meaningful public service context.
Key Responsibilities
Plan and manage the delivery of public outreach services and programs, Supervise and develop staff within the public outreach team, Monitor performance metrics and report on results, Develop and implement operational plans and procedures, Manage stakeholder relationships and ensure service quality
Bachelor's degree or equivalent; significant experience in the relevant discipline with demonstrated leadership
Training
To qualify for this role, you typically need a university degree in communications, public relations, political science, public administration, or a related field. Many successful candidates hold Master's degrees in communications, business administration, or public policy. Professional certifications such as Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) or memberships with professional bodies like the Canadian Public Relations Society are valued.
Ongoing professional development is standard in this position. DND provides training in government communications policy, media relations, digital strategy, and leadership development. You may access courses through the Canada School of Public Service in areas such as strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, project management, and executive leadership. Many directors pursue advanced training in crisis communications, data analytics for public engagement, and emerging communication technologies to stay current in this evolving field.
Entry Plans
Entry to this Director-level position typically occurs through one of several pathways within the federal Public Service. Most commonly, you advance from a mid-level communications or outreach role (such as Manager or Senior Advisor) through internal promotion competitions within DND. These competitions assess your experience, demonstrated leadership capability, strategic thinking, and record of successful public engagement initiatives.
Lateral moves from other government departments are also common, particularly if you hold equivalent management experience in communications, stakeholder relations, or policy implementation. Some candidates enter through external staffing processes when DND seeks fresh perspectives or specialized expertise not available internally. Student or early-career programs such as the Federal Student Work Experience Program or Post-Secondary Recruitment Campaign may provide entry into communications roles within DND, allowing you to build experience toward future director-level positions.
To be competitive, candidates typically demonstrate 8-10+ years of communications or public relations experience, with at least 3-5 years in a management or leadership capacity. A strong portfolio showing successful campaign outcomes, media coverage, audience growth, and stakeholder relationship building significantly strengthens your application.
Part-Time Options
This Director-level position is typically offered on a full-time basis due to the strategic leadership responsibilities and need for regular stakeholder engagement. However, the Government of Canada is committed to workplace flexibility, and accommodations may be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on operational requirements and individual circumstances.
Remote work options have expanded across the Public Service, and many aspects of public outreach work—such as strategy development, team management, digital content oversight, and virtual stakeholder meetings—can be performed effectively outside a traditional office. However, some responsibilities may require in-person presence, such as attending key events, conducting media interviews, or participating in important departmental meetings. Flexible work arrangements, compressed work weeks, or other flexibility options may be negotiated with your manager, subject to operational needs and departmental guidelines. It is recommended to discuss specific flexibility requirements during the recruitment process to determine what arrangements are feasible for this particular role.
Related Careers
No related military careers on file for this position.
