Issues Advisor

**POSITION**: Issues Advisor

**REPORTS TO**: Senior Communications Manager

**DEPARTMENT**: Marketing & Communications

**LOCATION**: North Bay

**REFERENCE**: 800-29-25

**SALARY**: $69,784 - $82,117

**WHO WE ARE**:
Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) is an Agency of the Province of Ontario that provides efficient and vital transportation services. We employ over 900 skilled professionals and are over 120 years old and proud of our heritage and connection to the communities we serve. We are focused on moving forward with the goal of being a valued leader in transportation. We offer competitive salary, excellent benefits, a defined benefit pension plan, paid vacation, 3 paid personal leave days along with discounted transportation on our bus and passenger rail services.

**ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT**:
The Issues Advisor is responsible for anticipating, identifying, researching and monitoring emerging issues and trends with potential implications for Ontario Northland. This position will provide accurate, timely, and appropriate responses to contentious issues and prepare briefing notes, communications plans, media statements, summaries and executive responses.

**MAJOR DUTIES/ RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Acts as the first point of contact for internal and external stakeholders on a variety of urgent, complex, sensitive and contentious issues
- Adequately captures information from stakeholder groups and recommends appropriate issues management strategies to ONTC’s communications leadership
- Reaches out to operational leads to extract any potential issues or communication risks
- Reviews upcoming service or policy changes with an issues management lens, to determine if additional tactics are required in advance or to support the change
- Monitors longer-term issues management initiatives and adjusts messaging and strategies as required
- Monitors media coverage and highlights emerging issues
- Drafts and shares daily ONTC issues forecast and other reports as needed
- Builds trust by following up and tracking requests
- Drafts issues notes, briefings, correspondence, and communications plans
- Conducts detailed review, editing, tracking of materials prepared by stakeholders ensuring they are consistent, on-brand, clear, accurate and relevant
- Prepares briefing notes or event binders for senior leadership to prepare them for issues, inquiries, etc
- Prepares briefings and Q&As for front line staff in operational roles, working events or engagement activities
- Facilitate cooperation and collaboration as well as discussions and meetings with diverse groups including stakeholders, some of whom may have opposing agendas, positions and/or views
- Takes calls from individuals who may have a complaint and tactfully navigates interaction and escalates issue if needed

**REQUIREMENTS**:

- University degree or college diploma in Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Communications or Business Administration
- 3-5 years’ experience in issues management or communications experience
- Member of Canadian Public Relations Society or International Association of Business Communicators is considered an asset
- Strong ability to gather and synthesize information
- Solid understanding of the Provincial Government and its agencies
- Diplomacy and experience maintaining confidentiality
- Valid G driver’s license
- Experience and knowledge using Canadian Press writing style
- Excellent political awareness, interpersonal and relationship building skills required in dealing with various stakeholders
- Strong analytical thinker, able to recognize and understand complex issues
- Bilingualism is considered an asset
- Must be committed to company health and safety

Ontario Northland is an equal opportunity employer. Accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. Please contact Human Resources.

Les offres d'emploi sont également disponibles en français. Visitez notre site Web sur les carrières ou appelez le 1-800-363-7512, poste 394 pour plus de renseignements.

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