Senior Communications Advisor

Job Summary

We are currently seeking a highly skilled Senior Communications Advisor to join our Strategic Communications & Initiatives team (SC&I) in Mississauga. This is not a marketing position, and we require someone with direct experience and exceptional communications management skills. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing expert-level advice to senior decision-makers, developing communications strategies for high-priority initiatives, and implementing tactics for complex and special projects. This position reports to the Supervisor, PR and City Communications.

As a Senior Communications Advisor, you will be managing communications for a variety of City-building initiatives and community engagement projects. Your responsibilities will include recommending, developing, and implementing external communications along with content development for media, social media, and promotional strategies that align with the City of Mississauga's strategic plan, department action and business plans. The primary focus will be external communications, and some minimal amount of internal communications may be required depending on the nature of the project.

In this role, you will also be providing day-to-day functional guidance and leadership to junior and intermediate staff, as well as freelance and consultant service providers. You will be leading the development and writing of corporate messages on complex issues such as city planning issues, growth and development, and government relations. You will work collaboratively with colleagues to execute complex communication strategies.

If you are an experienced communications professional with a proven track record in delivering innovative ideas, storytelling, narrative building, we encourage you to apply. If you are a pro at providing expert-level advice and managing communications for complex projects and can work in a fast-paced environment with tight timelines, we encourage you to apply. Experience with communications in public transit or economic development is an asset.

This position will be required to work in a hybrid work arrangement (some work from home and some work in the office) for an undetermined period.

Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Develop and implement strategic communication plans within budget.
• Research and analyze target audiences for projects and recommend appropriate strategies to achieve business goals.
• Provide issues management/communications advice and support to senior management as required on matters impacting the reputation of the business areas.
• Collaborate with and assist media relations colleagues in responding to media queries and during critical incidents and issues
• Research and write high-quality content in Canadian Press style (e.g., news releases, key messages, media stories, feature articles, speeches, newsletter copy, staff messages, signage, advertising) that support the business service areas.
• Provide support to City departments for operational communications such as web updates, service alerts, coordination with external vendors etc.
• Lead strategic communications for priority community engagement projects.
• Develop and foster strong relationships with internal business areas to effectively recommend and deliver strategic communications that support work plans.
• Provide strategic communications counsel/advice to Mayor’s Office and to Members of Council as requested.
• Liaise with senior leadership to provide strategic communications counsel on messaging, strategic planning and the development of relevant core materials.
• Understand target audiences and assess appropriate strategic communications needs and provide strong recommendations.
• Work effectively with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Use creative and outside-the-box thinking to ensure that communications are effectively reaching a variety of different audiences.
• Ensure consistency, demonstrate effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance.
• Protect, support and maintain the City’s reputation and vision and support a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Be on top of high-profile opportunities or contentious issues to enable prompt response or action.
• Proactively identify and mitigate potential issues and support the City during crisis management and response.
• Participate in inter-departmental teams and/or act as a representative on committees as required.
• Provide functional guidance to junior staff, contract staff, students, freelance suppliers/vendors, volunteers and consultants.
• Attend City events, workshops and other initiatives to promote further understanding of the business area.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Must be able to attend meetings, events and activities outside of regular business hours and some weekends (e.g. meetings, events, emergencies or to meet deadlines).

Skills and Qualifications

• A post-secondary degree, diploma or certificate in communications, mass media or public relations or related discipline.
• Minimum of seven years of professional experience in communications/public relations/issues management.
• Ability to independently prioritize and manage several competing, complex and evolving projects at the same time.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, writing content for diverse audiences, editing and production skills - familiar with Canadian Press Style.
• Competencies required in all aspects of strategic communications including planning and management, issues management, content writing, media relations, speech writing, community engagement, event co-ordination and management and internal/employee communications.
• Experience providing senior leaders with strategic communications advice, counsel and expertise.
• Has a sound understanding of the media landscape locally, regionally and nationally and experience dealing with media/media inquiries.
• Experience using and strong knowledge of how to develop engaging content and tailor messages for different media, social media channels/platforms and segmented audience groups.
• Comfort with writing various materials that help garner media coverage and story generation.
• Act as an effective collaborator and team player, supporting the Division’s overall goals and vision with a proactive and flexible approach to projects.
• Ability to coach and mentor junior staff.
• Ability to problem-solve and look for creative and viable solutions.
• Ability to communicate with honesty, sensitivity, diplomacy, confidentiality and deal tactfully in an open political environment.
• Ability to work creatively and effectively as a member of a larger team.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to display tact and diplomacy when interacting with Senior Leaders, Mayor and Council and dignitaries.
• Excellent skills and knowledge working with MS Office, databases, spreadsheets, presentation software, Content Management Systems (CMS), social media technology and data analytics.
• Experience in a corporate, PR agency and/or municipal sector is preferred.
• Ability to work flexible hours including weekends (as needed).
• International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) accreditation, Communication Management Professional (CMP), Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP), Accredited in Public Relations (APR) through the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS), Master of Communications Management (MCM) is a desired asset.
• Experience with communications in public transit or economic development is an asset.