Manager, Public and Media Relations

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is a not-for-profit organization tasked with the safe, long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel inside a deep geological repository, in a manner that protects people and the environment for generations to come.

Founded in 2002, the NWMO has been guided for 20 years by a dedicated team of world-class scientists, engineers and Indigenous Knowledge Holders that are developing innovative and collaborative solutions for nuclear waste management. Canada’s plan will only proceed in an area with informed and willing hosts, where the municipality, First Nation and Métis communities, and others in the area are working together to implement it. The NWMO plans to select a site in 2024, and two areas remain in our site selection process: the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation-Ignace area in northwestern Ontario and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation-South Bruce area in southern Ontario.

Reporting to the Director, Corporate Communications, the Manager of Public and Media Relations is responsible for initiating, leading, developing, implementing, managing and measuring public and media relations strategies to achieve business objectives and support the NWMO’s visibility strategy. The Manager will lead public and media relations corporately and co-ordinate with regional counterparts to ensure alignment with corporate objectives, campaigns and messages. The Manager will be accountable for ensuring relevant processes and systems are in place to ensure work is delivered on time and budget. The Manager will actively promote and support a strong safety culture within their department and the organization, and ensure the HSE requirements are met or exceeded.

1. Develop, lead, implement and measure media relations plans and strategies. Ensure alignment with regional and other corporate plans/strategies working closely with Regional and Indigenous Communications Managers to ensure alignment. This requires a deep understanding how to build and leverage media relationships to enhance coverage and reach with the aim of increasing public awareness, understanding and support for the NWMO and Canada’s plan for used nuclear fuel at the provincial, national and international level.
2. Manage the Public and Media Relations work programs. Facilitate the planning and organizing of the work, giving advice, guidance and direction as necessary.
3. Develop, implement and maintain detailed work methods for staff, in a working environment which is consistent with the philosophy and goals of continuous quality improvement. Act as a coach and facilitator to create and sustain a co-operative and supportive team environment, actively working with staff to provide training and empower them to attain optimal work performance with a high level of personal responsibility and self-management.
4. Act as a lead corporate media spokesperson and manage key issues, including contentious issues. This involves nurturing existing relationships with reporters and key influencers and proactively looking for opportunities to create new relationships.
5. Oversee corporate media training, ensuring it continues to meet the needs of the organization and addresses the changing media environment. Provide public and media relations advice and coaching to other NWMO employees as needed.
6. Plan, schedule and run media tours of relevant nuclear waste storage facilities and our Oakville Demonstration Centre to enhance awareness about the NWMO and its work.
7. Review daily media analysis reports to fact check news stories and make swift recommendations to respond, correct and/or adapt to media reports where appropriate to correct misinformation, mitigate emerging issues and continuously enhance the NWMO’s reputation.
8. Proactively identify emerging issues and provide strategic communications and issues management advice to senior leadership. Develop key messages and timely strategies to manage contentious issues, at times on short notice.
9. Work with Digital Team to monitor and respond as needed to issues that emerge on social media and to correct misinformation online.
10. Draft Letters to the Editor, contributed pieces, social media posts and other materials for publication or broadcast in mainstream media or online channels. Develop key messages and fact checks materials to respond to media inquiries.
11. Provide guidance, coaching and strategic input into regional communications media strategies and plans via the NWMO’s Regional and Indigenous Communications Managers.
12. Oversee monitoring and measurement of media relations activities and strategies.
13. Oversee and manage updates to the NWMO’s media relations policy in close co-ordination with social media and other relevant policies, ensuring consistent adherence.
14. Provide input into the yearly corporate advertising plan and budget to ensure alignment with media strategies, in co-ordination with regional and digital counterparts.
15. Develop corporate processes and realistic Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to ensure timely response times for public inquiries being received through corporate email accounts.
16. Manage public email inquiries to ensure they are directed to the appropriate subject matter experts, that they are being answered with appropriate facts and key messages and are going through the appropriate approval process.
17. Manage communications activities through Microsoft CRM, ensuring Corporate Communications Team members are supported to respond to public and media inquiries through the system in a timely fashion.
18. Contribute to plans and strategies led by others on broader Communications team.
19. Develop and manage budgets and co-ordinate with vendors and the finance department as required. Working with the procurement team, ensure appropriate procurement processes are followed. Detailed monthly budget tracking and accruals reporting are required in this role.
20. Develop and deliver briefings and presentations about the NWMO and the project to key audiences, including community leaders, influencers, service groups, representatives of First Nations and Metis organizations, and others. Represent the NWMO at events such as open houses, community fairs, meetings with community groups, conferences, public meetings, sponsored activities, etc. As required, manage on-the-ground communications requirements at NWMO events.
21. In co-ordination with regional counterparts, establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across a number of national and provincial regions, including (but not limited to) small and large media outlets (both traditional and digital), community leaders, communications leads in Industry, and other key influencers.

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and experience; however, those with lesser experience should not hesitate to apply.

• A 4-year university degree in communications, public relations or journalism or by having the equivalent level of education.
• Over 12 years of experience in strategic communications with a strong background in media relations and issues management in a busy corporate environment.
• Strong experience as media spokesperson liaising with community, provincial, national, international and trade media and government stakeholders (all levels) and other public interest groups.
• Strong relationships with journalists within mainstream media outlets in Ontario and across Canada.
• Communications experience related to implementing major infrastructure projects requiring significant public engagement.
• Demonstrated project management skills for complex communications initiatives involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience with corporate public relations including written correspondence on a range of topics and at varying degrees of complexity.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM and best practices for responding to and tracking and reporting insights from a steady influx of public inquiries would be an asset.
• Experience communicating with First Nation and Métis communities and organizations.
• Strong issues management and crisis communications experience and proven track-record successfully managing contentious issues.
• Strong project management skills. Process-orientation and ability to manage detailed budgets.
• Government relations (federal, provincial and municipal) experience would be a strong asset, ideally working with multiple departments and complex policy-related issues.
• Excellent writing and editing skills with outstanding attention to detail.

• The position strongly prefers someone with an established, extensive and relevant network of media relationships.
• Bilingualism (French/English) would be a strong asset.

Must be eligible to work in Canada and must be able to meet security clearance requirements.

NWMO currently operates in a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office (Tuesdays being universal) and 2 days working from home.

We offer a competitive base salary, health care benefits and pension plan.