Trans Mountain Corporation operates Canada’s only pipeline system transporting oil products to the West Coast. We deliver approximately 890,000 barrels of petroleum products each day through a dual pipeline system of more than 1,150 kilometres of pipeline in Alberta, British Columbia and Washington state.
Trans Mountain also operates a state-of-the-art loading facility, Westridge Marine Terminal, with three berths providing tidewater access to global markets.
As a federal Crown corporation, Trans Mountain continues to build on more than 70 years of experience delivering operational and safety excellence through our crude oil pipeline system.
With our expanded pipeline system now in place, Trans Mountain provides enhanced direct access for Canadian crude oil to world markets. The expansion realizes a world-class system for oil transport, developed to Canada’s high standards within one of the most stringent regulatory regimes in the world, creating long-term economic benefits, enhanced marine protection, enhanced safety and emergency management capabilities, and enhanced skilled-worker capacity building in communities and Indigenous groups.
Our Core Values
Trans Mountain’s core values – Safety, Integrity, Respect and Excellence – guide our every step. Each obstacle we’ve overcome or success we’ve experienced has been the result of a shared commitment to living these values every day. Together, we’re focused on doing the right thing for each other and our communities. If you are looking for an opportunity to apply your strengths in an environment that encourages Safety, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence, we invite you to explore this opportunity with us!
Location: Calgary or Vancouver
Department: Public Affairs, Pacific Link
Reports to: Vice President, External Affairs and Indigenous Relations, Pacific Link
Worker Type: Employee
Schedule Type: Full-time
Trans Mountain is seeking a collaborative, motivated, and values driven individual to join our dynamic team as a Director, Communications, Pacific Link. Reporting to the Vice President, External Affairs and Indigenous Relations, Pacific Link, the Director, Communications provides strategic leadership for the project's communications, reputation, and brand portfolio. In this position, you will play a key role in leading the communications strategy across all phases of the project lifecycle, supporting project objectives, public opinion research, stakeholder intelligence, issues and crisis communications, and development of the master narrative, key messages, and communications framework that support project objectives and stakeholder confidence.
The successful candidate will demonstrate expert communications counsel to executive leadership on emerging risks, opportunities, and external perceptions. This position will serve as the primary communications liaison with Trans Mountain, Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission (APMC), and Pembina Pipeline (PPL), ensuring alignment of communications strategies, messaging, and reputation management activities across the partnership.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Communications Leadership & Project Positioning
- Lead the development and execution of integrated communications strategies across all phases of the Pacific Link lifecycle, ensuring communications programs support project objectives, regulatory priorities, partnership commitments, stakeholder engagement requirements, and business outcomes.
- Provide strategic communications counsel to executive leadership regarding emerging opportunities, risks, and external developments.
Reputation, Issues & Crisis Management
- Lead reputation management, issues preparedness, and crisis communications strategies to protect project credibility and stakeholder confidence.
- Monitor stakeholder sentiment, media coverage, political developments, and emerging risks, directing proactive response strategies and executive communications plans to effectively manage reputational impacts and support informed decision-making.
Strategic Messaging, Brand & Communications Governance
- Oversee the development and stewardship of the Pacific Link master narrative, key messages, FAQs, executive communications materials, and brand strategy to ensure consistency, alignment, and credibility across all communications channels.
- Establish communications standards, governance processes, and approval frameworks that support coordinated communications delivery and effective risk management.
Public Opinion, Reputation & Strategic Insights
- Lead public polling, reputation tracking, stakeholder perception analysis, sentiment monitoring, and communications performance measurement to inform strategy, strengthen project positioning, and support executive decision-making.
- Translate external intelligence and stakeholder insights into actionable recommendations that enhance stakeholder confidence and communications effectiveness.
Partner Communications Integration & Alignment
- Serve as the primary communications liaison with Trans Mountain, APMC, and PPL, ensuring alignment of communications strategies, messaging, reputation management approaches, issues response activities, and major project announcements.
- Foster effective coordination across partner organizations to support consistent project positioning and communications outcomes.
Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness
- Lead a high-performing communications function by establishing strategic priorities, operating plans, budgets, performance measures, and governance practices.
- Foster strong cross-functional alignment across External Affairs, Indigenous Relations, Government Relations, Regulatory, Project Execution, and partner organizations to ensure effective delivery of communications objectives and organizational excellence.
Qualifications and Professional Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Affairs, Political Science, Business, or a related discipline.
- Master’s degree in Communications, Public Affairs, Business Administration, Political Science, or a related field is considered an asset.
- Designation, through IABC, CPRS, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in strategic communications, public affairs, corporate communications, reputation management, media relations, stakeholder engagement, or related disciplines.
- Minimum 8 years of leadership experience leading communications functions within complex, highly regulated, or politically sensitive environments.
- Strong understanding of public opinion research, stakeholder intelligence, communications measurement, media relations, and development of strategic narratives, key messages, executive communications, and advocacy materials.
- Proven ability to develop and execute communications programs across multiple project phases, including planning, regulatory, execution, construction, and operational readiness.
- Demonstrated experience advising senior executives on communications strategy, reputational risk, stakeholder sentiment, and emerging issues, while providing leadership during high-profile issues and crisis events.
- Demonstrated experience working within partnership, joint venture, or multi-stakeholder governance structures.
- A track record of delivering high‑quality work, managing competing priorities, and supporting key business processes or operational functions.
Working Conditions
- Willingness and ability to travel as required.
- May need to provide support outside of regular business hours and/or on the weekend.
At Trans Mountain, we believe in an inclusive, accessible, and barrier free recruitment and selection process for all applicants. If you require an accommodation at any point in the process, please contact us at: Talent@transmountain.com or the designated Talent Acquisition Advisor. Accommodation requests will not affect the assessment of your application or candidacy or the designated Talent Acquisition Advisor. Accommodation requests will not affect the assessment of your application or candidacy.
We Build Careers and Pipelines That Last
Our story is about determination, resourcefulness and resilience. It’s about charting our own course, finding innovative solutions to challenging problems and doing the right thing. It was true when Trans Mountain became a company in 1951 and it’s just as true today. We welcome new members to our team that embrace the qualities in our story, that thrive on the new path and directions we take. Our culture is one of care and taking our responsibilities seriously. If you would like to contribute to our culture, then join our journey.
A Rewarding Opportunity
We offer:
- Valuable experience providing opportunity for professional development and career advancement;
- An opportunity to engage with and learn from some of the most talented and experienced people in the business;
- Competitive compensation;
- Comprehensive benefits programs including flexible benefits, pension and savings plans;
- A place to share a sense of purpose and build relationships;
- Meaningful work that makes a difference;
- An opportunity within the Canadian energy industry.
We value:
- The health, safety and wellness of everyone working in our company;
- Meaningful participation from Indigenous and local communities;
- The commitment and resilience of our people;
- Collaboration and achieving success together.
In keeping with Trans Mountain’s commitment to maximize benefits for communities, priority will be given to qualified candidates from Indigenous, local and regional communities along the Trans Mountain pipeline corridor.
In Alberta, the pipeline system spans the traditional territories of Treaty 6, 7 and 8, and the Métis Nation of Alberta (Zone 4).
In British Columbia, the system crosses the traditional territories of numerous First Nations that are affiliated with the Secwepemc, Dakelh (Carrier), Nlaka'pamux, Syilx/Okanagan, Interior and Coast Salish, Stó:lo, as well as the Métis.
Trans Mountain also operates through 15 First Nation Reserves located within the region spanning the BC interior through Fraser Valley.
Our Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA)
Trans Mountain is committed to fostering inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility. The diverse viewpoints and cultural knowledge that our employees bring to work enrich our organization’s collective cultural understanding, which is reflected in the work we do every day. We strive to create an environment that is free of barriers to promote full participation in the workplace. Trans Mountain welcomes new team members from traditionally underrepresented groups, including but not limited to women, Indigenous Peoples, members of racialized groups, persons with disabilities and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.
