Communications & Social Media Specialist

The Vehicle Sales Authority builds public confidence in the motor dealer industry in BC by engaging and educating industry and consumers, ensuring a safe and reliable motor vehicle buying experience.

As an independent, non-profit, regulatory agency that oversees the sales of personal-use new and used vehicles, the VSA:

- licenses motor vehicle dealerships, salespeople, broker agents, broker agent representatives, and wholesalers
- provides licensing courses and continuing education for VSA licensees
- offers consumer information and assistance
- investigates consumer complaints and provides dispute resolution
- undertakes compliance action as needed

**What is the Role?**

The Communications & Social Media Specialist is responsible for drafting content for various communications in accordance with branding guidelines and social media. Promoting and protecting the company's reputation by developing and executing media relations and public relations strategies and plans for brand building, innovation, corporate promotions, internal communications, and corporate communications/corporate affairs initiatives through the use of, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. Other duties may be assigned as necessary.

**What You'll Do**:
The key accountabilities and deliverables of the Communications & Social Media Specialist include:

- Assist in developing, implementing, and measuring external and internal social media-based communication plans.
- Manage day-to-day media relations/media requests.
- Develop written materials including FAQs, Q&A, media standby statements, etc. as required.
- Build relationships with key media contacts and identify opportunities to proactively pitch brand and corporate stories through social media outlets as appropriate.
- Assist in the development and implementation of consumer awareness programs to support brand building initiatives/innovation/corporate promotions.
- Help oversee program execution from kick off through to completion.
- Ensure communication is accurate, relevant, and consistent with the VSA’s brand and overall corporate messaging and positions.
- Provide assistance to ensure coordination and communication of messages/news to both internal and external audiences.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of Social Media programs and communicate results back to business.
- Develop and implement online communications strategy ensuring alignment with internal communications strategy and that it includes day-to-day content development strategy and functional enhancements.
- Serve as senior editor and provide communications content.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of internal communications and report results back to business.
- Lead responsibility for bulletins process.
- Liaison and collaborate with employee groups and cross-functional teams as needed and help provide creative solutions to communication problems.
- Lead internal communications resource to all departments.
- Develop and manage internal/external corporate and local community events.
- Monitor external enquiries.
- Other duties, as may be assigned by the Executive Vice President Corporate Services & Risk.

**Your Experience and Educational Background**:

- A minimum of five years’ experience in Communications and/or PR agency experience.
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, English or a related discipline.
- Strong working knowledge of communication principles and practices.
- Must possess excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication with strong writing and editorial abilities.
- Demonstrated success with Social Media tools such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and others.
- Must possess strong project management skills.
- Must be able to meet tight deadlines and execute flawlessly on projects in a fast-paced, often pressured environment and see a project through to completion.
- Must have the ability to be an influential communications consultant within the organization.
- Must be capable of maintaining confidentiality, with a high level of accuracy regarding information.
- The ability to develop and maintain strong professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders and work effectively with all levels of employees is critical.

The VSA will consider a combination of education and experience.

**You Possess the Following Competencies**:

- Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with colleagues and teams.
- Ability to conduct oneself with a high degree of professionalism. and confidentiality.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively - both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and work with mínimal supervision.
- Competence with Microsoft Office.
- Demonstrates analytical, interpretative, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent analytical and organizational skills.
- Strong knowledge of agile software development methodologies.
- Ability to prioritize and balance competing demands a