Communications & Engagement Consultant

Interior Health is hiring a permanent full-time **Communications & Engagement Consultant **who is passionate about making a difference in healthcare.

Location: This position is flexible within the Interior Health Region.

**What we offer**:

- An attractive remuneration package
- Excellent career prospects
- Employer paid training/education
- Employer paid vacation
- Medical Service Plan
- Employer paid insurance premiums
- Extended Health & Dental coverage
- Work-life balance
- May be eligible to contribute to MPP

Salary range for the position is $74,618 to $107,264. Interior Health establishes salaries within the minimum and maximum of the salary range based on consideration of the qualifications, experience of the applicant, and an internal equity review of the salaries of other employees.

**How will you create an impact**:
The Communications & Engagement Consultant (Consultant) is responsible for carrying out communication duties in accordance with the vision, mission, and strategic direction of Interior Health (IH) with a focus on partner engagement, media and government relations, and issues management in one of two geographic areas within IH (North and South). The Consultant is focused on both internal communications with other IH departments and external communications through a partner relationship-building approach. The Consultant works to build strong relationships with media, government, and other community and partner agencies; provides strategic and tactical media relations and communications and engagement advice to leaders within IH; and is responsible for the development and execution of strategic communication and engagement plans within the respective geographic region and, at times, for the broader IH region. This is a strategic, advisory, and action-oriented position and represents an integral part of the broader Communications & Culture Portfolio.

The Consultant requires an understanding of the many diverse internal and external audiences and unique challenges faced by IH to communicate across diverse sites and audiences. The Consultant is further responsible for identification and management of local issues; is a liaison with the media and Ministry of Health officials; and maintains relationships with key leaders within the organization to coordinate responses to issues that are specific to their geographic area.

In alignment with IH’s Occupational Health & Safety Program, employees shall adhere to all Occupational Health and Safety policies and procedures at all times and attend all required training. Employees are responsible to report any identified hazards, unsafe conditions or incidents to your manager or supervisor immediately.

**What will you work on**:
Communications and Engagement
- Develops communications and engagement plans in collaboration with internal portfolios and advises on appropriate tools, key messages, and visuals to share with targeted audiences.
- Develops and implements engagement and outreach strategies that support Interior Health’s engagement and strategic initiatives, in accordance with best practices and in consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion principles.
- Designs and /or consults on presentations and materials that are intended for the public to ensure the IH brand, mission and values and represented/supported.
- Reviews and repurposes complex concepts and ideas into clear plain language to suit a variety of partner audiences.
- Works with internal IH teams to identify and develop engagement opportunities and advises on key messages, tools and channels to best reach and engage specific audiences.

Media Relations
- Manages media inquiries in a timely manner, determines response, and forwards as appropriate to other communications consultants.
- Arranges for interviews and offers coaching, advice, and messaging to spokespeople as necessary.
- Produces media releases as appropriate.
- Occasionally acts as media spokesperson.

Issues Management
- Monitors and proactively identifies emerging issues, trends, and opportunities in local communities and with media and makes recommendations for appropriate response and/or engagement solutions.
- Creates strategic communication plans, briefing notes, and media materials to manage issues, ensuring messages and tactics are consistent and clear.
- Supports partner relations by maintaining a detailed understanding of IH and its partners, particularly in the local geographic area, in order to appropriately advise on engagement and outreach opportunities.
- Develops internal relationships to stay abreast of projects and initiatives that may require or benefit from communications input.
- Responsible for the distribution of sensitive information to senior management in a timely manner, including feedback from key partners.
- Supports or leads crisis communications response during significant situations, under the guidance of the Director, Communications & Engagement.
- In alignment with IH’s Occu