Communications Advisor

ABOUT US

The City of Spruce Grove is a fast growing, dynamic city committed to building and maintaining a fiscally responsible community that serves our residents, attracts visitors, and promotes future growth.

The “Values We Live By” are accountability, communication, leadership, integrity, and respect while we work towards maintaining a work/play balance.

We are an organization that cares, an organization that is committed to our city and committed to you. The City of Spruce Grove is committed to public service, where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best work. We believe that by working together in a spirit of collaboration and respect, we can achieve great things.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Communications Advisor is responsible for the development and implementation of communications that support a wide variety of City initiatives, programs, and services. The position has both strategic and tactical responsibilities, including:

- Communications planning, implementation, and advice
- Developing and implementing communications and marketing/promotional plans
- Writing and editing
- Providing advice and support for public engagement activities
- Media relations
- Issues management
- Project coordination

The position primarily provides support to assigned departments and project teams, but also corporately as required.

This is a permanent full-time position with a salary range of $ 86,486.40 - 102,793.60.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Communications planning, implementation, and advice
- Provides strategic and tactical communications advice and professional communications support to assigned departments and project teams, aligned with City plans and priorities.
- Develops, implements, coordinates, and monitors a variety of communications, promotional and marketing strategies across current and emerging platforms including print, digital, social media, and website content.
- Coordinates photography, graphic design, and video production related to communications, promotional, and marketing strategies.
- Consults and collaborates with all levels of the organization to develop communication strategies and responses to internal and external matters as well as sensitive and confidential issues.
- Develops executive briefings to support Council, leadership, and other internal stakeholders in proactively identifying and mitigating issues.
- Provides support within the organization for communicating between employees and management.
- Conducts research to prepare evidence-based recommendations for communication policies and strategies.
- Supports and advises on public engagement activities when required.

2. Writing and Editing
- Provides writing and editing support involving often complex and/or sensitive information for internal and external audiences.
- Ensures all materials are written in plain language and are effective for the audience and medium.
- Plans, coordinates, writes, and edits a variety of communications including media releases, media advisories, letters, briefings, brochures, website content, social media, reports, speeches, presentations, newsletters, and other publications.
- Develops content for the web (intranet and Internet) and social media.
- Ensures materials targeted to the media are written in Canadian Press (CP) style.

3. Issues Management
- Identifies and monitors emerging issues through environmental scanning and regular meetings with assigned areas.
- Develops clear, effective, and timely communications to proactively address and deal with issues.
- Provides issues management support to leadership and Council.

4. Media Relations
- Identifies media opportunities as part of communications plans.
- Monitors media coverage and provides support for media spokespeople on a variety of topics, including contentious or sensitive issues.
- Develops and coordinates briefings and information to respond to media enquiries.
- Writes, coordinates, and distributes news releases, media advisories, and media notices.
- Assists in preparing for news conferences and media availabilities and coordinates media interviews.
- Proactively profiles programs and initiatives through media relations efforts.
- Supports media and public relations activities during emergencies.

5. Stakeholder Relations
- Develops, builds, and maintains strong, positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Actively participates in Corporate Communications team initiatives and supports the Corporate Communications team when required.

6. Other Duties
- Understands and adheres to City policies, procedures, and standards, whether written or implied, as amended from time to time.
- Contributes to a positive safety culture by always acting in a safe manner and complying with City safety policies and procedures for staff and contractors.
- Acts as a steward of the City's Corporate Culture by following the “Values We Live By”.
- This position may be required to work a flexible work schedule outside of regular ho