Manager, Communications

The District Municipality of Muskoka is currently recruiting for a

Manager, Communications

**Posting Date**: Friday October 11, 2024
**Starting Rate**: $108,095 annually
**Salary Range**: $108,095 - $126,456 annually
**Hours of Work**: 37.5 hours per week
**Classification**: Management
**Status**: Temporary full-time - up to 6 months

**The District**:
Muskoka is a great place to live and play, and the District is a four-season municipality passionate about
protecting, servicing and caring for this community. We have opportunities that will allow you to learn, grow and
build your career amongst other ambitious leaders and innovators. We offer a competitive compensation
package and are committed to promoting diversity, accessibility and inclusion. **It’s what we do**

**The Opportunity**:
The Manager, Communications is responsible for facilitating the implementation of a corporate
communications strategy to provide consistent, accurate and timely internal and external communication
activities to a variety of audiences (residents, visitors, Council, internal staff, and other key stakeholders). This
role will work to harmonize all communication and efforts of the District (media and public relations, strategic
communications, crisis communication, public engagement, branding, etc.) to enhance public awareness and
support corporate objectives and Council priorities.

**What you will do**:

- Provide leadership and strategic communications advice/ coaching/ solutions to District staff and Council

regarding communications and the overall Corporate Communication Strategy.
- Collaborate with the Area Municipalities, Hospitals and Health units on a variety of emerging issues and

align communication strategies.
- Lead the development and implementation of internal and external communication and public relation

plans, key messages and materials which set goals and objectives to increase public / employee

awareness and understanding of District programs, services, priorities and emerging issues, and to

encourage public input into Council initiatives.
- Provide strategic media relation/issues management coaching and advice on a variety of issues and

initiatives, including those that may be contentious.
- Establish relationships with media outlets and act as a media contact for the District - this includes

oversight of monitoring and analysis of media coverage, flagging potential opportunities or emerging

issues.
- Participates on the Emergency Control Group (ECG); and acts as the Emergency Information Officer
- Provide expertise and guidance on the creation of communications materials (e.g. speeches, news

releases, key messages, reports, etc.)
- Administer the development and guidance to District staff on corporate branding, visual identity, advertising

and marketing initiatives and opportunities.
- Respond to public inquiries regarding various District initiatives and activities, such as District facilities,

services, plans, programs, special projects and events.
- Develop, recommend and maintain corporate communications policies, procedures and standards

consistent with the communications strategy and comply with relevant legislation (i.e. AODA, CASL, etc.)

related to corporate communication and public engagement activities
- Lead the research into new and emerging communications and public engagement tools, venues and

trends and make recommendations to improve current practices.
- Prepare quotations and requests for proposal (RFP) documents and ensure contractor compliance with the

terms and conditions of contract documents.
- Responsible for the administration of the corporate website, intranet, on-line engagement platform, and

other corporate communication tools to ensure they are current, effective and compliant with District

policies, public relations practices and accessibility standards. Provide support and training to

departmental staff to develop content and approve development of any new content or corporate tools.
- Develop, make recommendations and administer the annual budget for the unit, and ensure that the unit’s

expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations
- Manage employees in a manner consistent with District values, policies and procedures, including selection,

work scheduling, training and performance evaluation.

**What you will need**:

- University degree in public relations, communications, marketing or a related discipline.
- Membership in good standing with an accredited communications and/or public relations

association, organization, and/or institution is considered an asset (e.g. Canadian Public Relations

Society or International Association of Business Communicators)
- Minimum of five (5) years previous experience in media/ public relations/ communications, including

experience in a managerial or supervisory capacity.
- Knowledge of Council and municipal government processes is an asset.
- Superior written and oral communicat