Communication Specialist

**Subsidiary**:Colas Canada Inc.

**Position Overview**:
Make an impact at Colas by helping build the Canada of tomorrow. Colas Canada Inc., part of the Colas Group, is Canada’s leader in the construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure. From roads, to airports, to rail, we’ve done it all. Our subsidiaries operate from coast-to-coast, providing vertically integrated paving products and services to keep Canadians moving.

**Communication Specialist - Colas Western Canada Inc.**

**LOCATION**: St. Albert, AB
**REPORTING TO**:President, Colas Western Canada Inc. (Direct) and Communications Manager, Colas Canada Inc. (Matrix)
**BENEFITS**:Pension, comprehensive benefits, health spending account, annual bonus, employee discount program with national retailers

**Position Summary**:
As Communications Specialist you will play a key role in transforming communications for Colas Western Canada Inc with its internal and external stakeholders, driving employee engagement and brand awareness. This position is responsible for establishing, implementing, and maintaining an operational communications plan.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- In collaboration with Colas Canada Communications team, lead the development and implementation of communications policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines for Western Canada
- Lead media relations activities, managing our social media accounts, particularly working with social media to develop an online presence, inform the public of Colas Western Canada Inc’s practices and values, in a credible and positive way while building our brand reputation
- Facilitate and/or source media training and media response expertise for business leaders
- Develop and manage a strong editorial calendar that informs on key business initiatives, performance and programs, engagement initiatives and activities
- Provide information, advice, and hands-on assistance, to promote best practices in communications planning and implementation
- Serve as communications advisor to leaders at all levels of the company, understanding the dynamics of internal and external communications
- Develop plans and strategies with leaders from across the company, including business leaders, and cross-functional peers, to deliver on the company’s priorities and growth ambitions
- Aid business units on written documents related to request for proposals (RFP’s)
- Promote public awareness of Colas Western Canada Inc. as a responsible corporate citizen and a contributor to the community. Create valuable content to form connections, grow our audience and deliver our story in our local communities
- Publish regular e-newsletters and traditional newsletters to reinforce news content posted on social media, and the company Sharepoint site to ensure employee engagement
- Observe and respond to conversations within our brand community. Monitoring tweets, responding to Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram posts and engaging with brand advocates. Professionally and creatively responding to online provocateurs and negative feedback
- Coordinate and/or assist in the organization of public and private events
- Participate in other projects and activities as required by providing effective communications support to Colas Western Canada Inc.’s priorities
- Sustain and fuel dynamic ways to engage with employees - through digital, virtual and in-person channels
- Partner with Executive Leadership, HSE and HR on the development of internal crisis communications tools and resources
- Generate and utilize analytics to execute and refine programs for maximum return on investment and track key performance metrics. Regularly report on key indicators to objectively show the impact of strategy.
- Overall website design strategy, support and data analytics for Colas Western Canada Incs businesses and divisions

**Requirements / Experience**:

- Bachelor’s degree or Post-Graduate degree in Communications, Journalism, English, or related field
- 5+ years of internal communications experience
- Computer proficiency - Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Outlook)
- Demonstrated capability to manage confidential information and sensitive materials with utmost discretion and professionalism
- Strong computer skills, photo, video/audio editing and publishing skills
- Significant experience managing and utilizing internal communication tools
- Exceptional writing/editing, presentation, and verbal communications skills
- Ability to work independently with a diverse and sometimes remote team
- High level of customer service orientation

**What You Bring**:

- Highly organized and detailed oriented with demonstrated expertise in administrative coordination.
- Able to work independently and take the initiative where needed.
- Demonstrated ability to take complex ideas and translate them into key messages and creative executions that resonate with employees and/or other stakeholders
- Ability to challenge traditional thinking and c