Vice President, Strategy, Research & Communications at Travel Alberta

Calgary, Alberta, Canada -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

02 Jan, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

04 Oct, 25

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Leadership, Strategy Development, Stakeholder Engagement, Research, Communication, Performance Measurement, Collaboration, Decision Making, Budget Management, Team Development, Public Sector Expertise, Interpersonal Skills, Presentation Skills, Strategic Thinking, Risk Management, Adaptability, Integrity

Industry

International Trade and Development

Description

About Travel Alberta Travel Alberta is the destination management organization of the Government of Alberta, responsible for driving the growth of the province's visitor economy, creating and promoting must-visit destinations throughout the province. Travel Alberta develops signature products, experiences, and destinations, attracting investment in the sector, and marketing those destinations to the world. In partnership with local communities, regional destination organizations, industry associations, and thousands of Alberta tourism businesses across the province, Travel Alberta is working to grow the value of Alberta's visitor economy to $25 billion in annual spending by 2035. As Alberta’s top service export, tourism is an essential part of Alberta’s economic development agenda. It drives sustainable GDP growth, creates meaningful employment opportunities, and supports infrastructure and amenities that make Alberta a better place to live, work, and visit. The Opportunity Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice President, Strategy, Research & Communications (SRC) will lead a team responsible for Travel Alberta’s corporate strategy, research and insights, and communications. The Vice President will support Travel Alberta’s transition to a destination management organization with a broader mandate that leads a coordinated government approach to responsible and sustainable tourism development and promotion. This role will support the execution of a new 10-year tourism strategy, aligned with Travel Alberta's updated strategic priorities. The Vice President will collaborate and work closely with all business units, the Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors, to set long-term goals, strategies, and plans for organizational growth. The Vice President will be accountable for managing all budgets related to tourism strategy, research, and communications. Responsible for leading three key areas, the Vice President, Strategy, Research, and Communications will: Oversee the execution and performance measurement of Travel Alberta’s strategic initiatives: Ensure strategy development and implementation reflects current and ongoing situational, industry, and government priorities. Monitor and report on corporate performance. Drive a research and insights-led approach to industry development and decision-making: Lead an insights-driven industry by delivering the right research and data to make informed, effective, and intelligent business decisions. Strengthen stakeholder engagement and foster meaningful industry relationships: Develop and maintain collaborative relationships. Oversee the development and implementation of communication strategies with key enterprise stakeholders (Board, Government of Alberta, industry partners, colleagues). Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities Strategy Drive the development of Travel Alberta’s strategies through the annual planning process, ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Facilitate ongoing reviews and updates while actively engaging the Senior Leadership team and board of directors. Provide regular strategy updates to the Senior Leadership team and CEO. Lead the planning, monitoring, and reporting of Travel Alberta’s corporate performance, including the management of the balanced scorecard. Ensure plans and programs are meeting objectives by monitoring performance against established standards and objectives. Oversee corporate reporting to the shareholder, including the development, review, approval, and execution of the organization’s strategic plan and annual report. Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Build and maintain effective business relationships with internal and external stakeholders to further advance key initiatives. Cultivate and maintain relationships with key government officials, policymakers, and other stakeholders to foster open dialogue and alignment between Travel Alberta and its partners. Liaise with the Government of Alberta’s Finance Ministry, Alberta Treasury Board, Office of Auditor General and the Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Innovation, as well as other government stakeholders as required. Build relationships with other destination management organizations, industry partners, groups and associations. Obtain input from stakeholders to support the development of strategies that align programs and policies with Travel Alberta’s strategic objectives. Obtain input from stakeholders to support the development of strategies that align programs and policies with Travel Alberta’s strategic objectives. Represent Travel Alberta at meetings on issues of particular interest or necessity. Research and Insights Drive Travel Alberta’s research and insights function to deliver timely, relevant strategic insights that empower the organization, government, and Alberta’s tourism industry to make informed decisions and optimize investments for rebuilding and growing the visitor economy. Ensure a comprehensive research and insights approach that provides a holistic view of both internal operations and the broader industry and market landscape. Ensure clear and consistent communication of Travel Alberta’s strategy to the team, fostering alignment, engagement, and a shared understanding of organizational goals. Leadership Deliver inspirational leadership and guidance to the Strategy, Research, and Communications teams, ensuring the achievement of organizational objectives. This includes setting clear expectations, recognizing outstanding performance, fostering the development of team competencies, and identifying opportunities for growth and skill enhancement. Provide visionary leadership to inspire and motivate cross-functional teams, fostering accountability for results while promoting innovation, integrity, respect, and collaboration in all endeavours. Support the overall workforce plan, including retaining, attracting and developing talent across the organization. Build and maintain effective business relationships with Travel Alberta’s Senior Leadership team, Board of Directors, board committees and team members. Equip the Senior Leadership Team with the necessary tools to ensure Travel Alberta remains a strategy driven, performance-oriented organization. Contribute to Travel Alberta’s enterprise risk management efforts, providing insights and support for assessing and managing risks within areas of responsibility. Who You Are The ideal candidate for this exceptional opportunity will have a track record that demonstrates an optimal combination of the following education, experience, skills and competencies. The successful candidate will possess a decisive leadership style, adept in both strategy development, execution, and people leadership. Education and Required Experience Undergraduate degree in Commerce, Business Administration or a relevant field of study. A graduate degree would be considered an asset. A minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience, with a focus on strategic management. Expertise in the public sector is preferred. A minimum of three years in a senior leadership role, with experience reporting to the C-Suite. Proven experience developing and driving the implementation of strategies, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and effective execution across teams. Successful track record of converting strategic objectives into actionable plans, clearly articulating strategies, and garnering support from key stakeholders to ensure successful outcomes. Proven ability to make informed, sound decisions with strong judgment, driving results while considering the long-term impact on the organization. Knowledge, Abilities, and Competencies Strong leadership skills, with the ability to lead teams, collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team, and influence stakeholders at all levels. Excels and thrives in a collaborative leadership environment that embraces shared responsibility for driving the overall success and growth of the organization. Results-oriented and highly collaborative, with a positive, proactive attitude that fosters teamwork and drives success across initiatives. Excellent interpersonal skills, with a focus on establishing and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to deliver compelling presentations that engage and inspire diverse audiences. Energized by contributing to broader strategic planning opportunities including business and unit plans, as well as managing resource allocation and budgets. Creative and strategic thinker, encouraging calculated risk-taking to unlock new opportunities and achieve innovative outcomes. Strong adaptability, discretion, tact, and integrity, with the ability to prioritize effectively. Demonstrates agility and the capacity to manage complexity across diverse, multidisciplinary teams and initiatives with strong ethical leadership in meeting Travel Alberta’s mandate and in promoting the organization’s values. Steps in the Selection Process Application Submission If you are interested in being considered for this position, please send your resume and any other relevant application materials. Rest assured, all your personal information will be kept strictly confidential. Evaluating Candidate Resumes After receiving resumes from interested candidates, we assess them based on how well they align with our requirements and qualifications. We also compare them to the profiles of other applicants to ensure we choose the most qualified candidates. Pre-Screen Questionnaire After evaluating the resumes, only those selected for formal consideration will be asked to participate in a pre-screen exercise. This exercise gathers key information about their qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role, which will then be assessed to determine if they meet the position's basic requirements. 1st Level Interview If your skills and experience match our requirements, we will contact you to arrange an initial interview. This interview, conducted by the Travel Alberta Selection Team, is designed to explore your interest in the role, assess your fit for both the position and Travel Alberta, and provide a deeper understanding of your qualifications and experience. It will also help us evaluate how you could contribute to the organization. Discovery Exercise Candidates chosen to progress to the Discovery Exercise stage will be required to complete a challenging task that simulates real-world business scenarios they may face in the role. This exercise is specifically designed to evaluate their problem-solving abilities, practical expertise, and capacity to manage job-specific challenges. It offers critical insights into how candidates will perform in high-pressure, real-world situations, providing a clear measure of their readiness for the position. 2nd Level Interview In this stage, candidates will meet with members of the Senior Leadership Team to assess their technical skills, experience, and overall suitability for the role. The discussion will focus on key competencies and qualifications required for the position. Candidates may be asked to elaborate on their responses from the Discovery Exercise, share their approach to various job-related scenarios, and demonstrate their problem-solving capabilities. This interview will provide an opportunity to engage with executive leaders and showcase the strategic thinking and expertise needed for the role. Final Review After the completion of all scheduled interview sessions, finalists will proceed to the final stage of the selection process. At this stage, reference checks will be conducted to verify the candidates’ qualifications, experience, and professional conduct. The information obtained will support the final hiring decision and ensure alignment with the organization's values and expectations. *We kindly thank all agency partners, we will NOT require support to fill this role. We kindly request no phone calls nor emails*

Responsibilities

The Vice President will lead Travel Alberta’s corporate strategy, research, and communications, ensuring alignment with organizational goals. They will oversee the execution of strategic initiatives and manage stakeholder engagement to promote sustainable tourism development.