As a Supervisor - Communications in the Department of National Defence, you will lead a team of communications professionals who deliver strategic messaging, media relations, and public information services supporting DND and Canadian Armed Forces objectives. You will be responsible for planning, organizing, and directing communications activities, ensuring consistent and effective messaging across multiple channels and stakeholders. This role requires you to balance operational demands with team development, while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and accuracy in all communications products.
Your day-to-day responsibilities include overseeing the development and distribution of communications materials, managing relationships with media and stakeholders, coordinating with other departments and agencies, and ensuring compliance with government communications policies and guidelines. You will supervise and mentor communications professionals, assign work, assess performance, and contribute to their professional development. You may also represent DND at meetings, events, and media engagements, and provide strategic advice to senior leadership on communications matters.
You will work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where priorities can shift quickly. The role offers the opportunity to influence how Canadians understand defence and security issues, and to contribute meaningfully to public trust and understanding of the Canadian Armed Forces. Your work environment may include both office-based settings and field deployments or special events, depending on your specific posting.
Key Responsibilities
Coordinate and oversee daily general communications operations, Assign work, monitor progress, and provide guidance to team members, Review work products for quality and compliance with standards, Contribute to operational planning and process improvement
Required Skills
Writing and editing, Strategic thinking, Media relations, Digital content creation, Stakeholder engagement, Team supervision, Work coordination, Quality control, Staff development
Typical Education
Post-secondary diploma or degree; experience in the relevant technical or functional area
Training
To qualify for this position, you typically need a secondary school diploma or equivalent, with several years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field. A post-secondary credential in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related discipline is highly valued. Professional certifications from organizations such as the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS), or similar bodies are an asset.
Once hired, you will have access to professional development opportunities including management and leadership training through the Canada School of Public Service, specialized communications courses, and sector-specific briefings on defence and security topics. DND provides mentoring, coaching, and access to learning platforms to support your growth as a leader. Many supervisors pursue advanced credentials or certificates in strategic communications, media management, or public sector governance. Language training in English and French may also be available to support career advancement, as bilingualism is often required for senior positions.
Entry Plans
Entry into the Supervisor - Communications role typically occurs through several pathways within the federal public service. You may be promoted from within DND as a Communications Officer or Communications Specialist after demonstrating strong performance and leadership potential. External candidates can enter through open competitions advertised on the Government of Canada Jobs website and the DND Civilian Workforce careers site.
You may also transition laterally from other federal departments where you have gained relevant communications or supervisory experience. Some candidates enter through the Public Service Commission's staffing pools, which pre-screen qualified candidates for faster hiring. If you are early in your career, you can start as a Communications Officer and work toward a supervisory role as you gain experience and complete required training. Student summer positions and co-op programs in communications can also provide a pathway into the public service for those completing post-secondary education.
Part-Time Options
Part-time and flexible work arrangements are available for this role and are negotiated based on operational requirements and team needs. Some supervisory positions may offer flexible hours to accommodate personal circumstances, though the nature of communications work—particularly media relations and time-sensitive messaging—may require occasional full-time presence during critical events or campaigns.
Remote work options have become more common in federal communications roles, with many routine supervisory duties and communications planning able to be completed from a home office. However, this role typically requires regular in-person presence for team supervision, stakeholder meetings, and media engagement. The specific flexibility available depends on your posting location and operational demands. Discussions about flexible arrangements are encouraged during the hiring process and can be revisited as part of ongoing workplace accommodation discussions. Job-sharing arrangements may be possible in some cases, depending on team structure and business needs.
Related Careers
No related military careers on file for this position.
