Senior Manager, Strategic Communications

Are you a seasoned communications professional with demonstrated strategic leadership experience?

The Corporate Communications Bureau invites you to consider these unique and rewarding opportunities where you will support large-scale communications and media relations planning and delivery.

About Us:

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is one of North America's largest deployed police services with more than 5,800 uniformed officers, 2,600 civilian employees and 600 Auxiliary officers. We provide essential services that ensure the safety and security of the people of the Province of Ontario. The OPP is a division of the Ministry of the Solicitor General, the largest operational ministry in the province with a presence in every community across Ontario. We are the largest police service in Ontario and the second largest in Canada.

Corporate Communications Bureau supports the OPP with our team of dedicated communications and strategic planning experts who provide internal and external strategic communications and organizational change products.

Our office is a full-service, dedicated and skilled team of strategic communications advisors, media relations officers, public information advisors, social media developers, issues advisor and Correspondence Unit. We provide communications services and support to our internal and external audiences, key partners and stakeholders. We are responsible for providing timely and accurate information to the public, via the media and social media. We provide the OPP with proactive, high-level communications services and address sensitive and/or contentious issues, particularly during times of crisis when the potential impact on public safety and security is high.

The OPP Values promote always doing the right things for the right reasons, by:

• Serving with PRIDE, PROFESSIONALISM and HONOUR.

• Interacting with RESPECT, COMPASSION and FAIRNESS.

• Leading with INTEGRITY, HONESTY and COURAGE.

About the job

Create the work environment

In the Ontario Provincial Police, we hold our leaders to the highest standards, expecting them to embody authenticity, accountability, and courage in every action and decision. It will be your responsibility to create a work environment and team culture that ignites innovation, nurtures collaboration and champions inclusivity by creating a diverse, anti-racist and accessible workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment.

Deliver on Business Goals

Your leadership will be crucial in guiding the team towards the achievement of its business goals. It will be your responsibility to inspire and motivate your team to deliver their best performance and align the team's daily actions with the strategic vision of the Bureau.

In the role of
Senior Manager, Strategic Communications,
you will:

• Manage the full range of communications functions, including strategic communications, issues management and media relations, digital/social media, marketing/public education, correspondence, and translation/editorial services.

• Lead a team of communications professionals to provide communications advice and expertise during the policy development process.

• Develop, implement, evaluate and support strategic communications planning for OPP and corporate projects.

• Provide strategic communications expertise and advice to OPP executives, Bureau Commanders, senior management, and staff on communications strategies, options, products, recommendations, risks, and issues management.

What you bring to the team

Mandatory requirements

• Ability to pass an OPP background/ security investigation.

Leadership Experience

• You can develop, build and lead organizational capacity through positive and values-based leadership, inclusive and engaged teams and partnerships.

• You know human resources theories, principles, policies and collective agreements to develop organizational capacity including succession planning, talent management, organization and job design and labour relations management.

Strategic Communications Expertise

• You have demonstrated experience in strategic communications planning, media relations and issues management methods, techniques and principles, typically acquired through a degree in communications, media studies or public relations, or equivalent work experience.

• You can lead communications and issues management, provide strategic advice on communication issues and the implementation of new or revised communications and technologies.

• You have applied knowledge of communications theories, practices, standards and strategies to coordinate the preparation and review of executive correspondence and briefing or background materials.

Analytical and Strategic Thinking Skills

• You have political acuity and strategic thinking skills to provide advice and recommendations to senior organizational leaders on strategies and approaches to mitigate risk.

• You can identify, analyze and advise on potential and emerging issues and media relation strategies that have potential impact on organization objectives and public and political implications.

Project and Relationship Management

• You know project management approaches and techniques to provide strategic advice and guidance on project planning and management, and ensure that objectives, quality and time-line targets are met.

• You can assess and develop strategies to de-escalate issues and maximize the organization's ability to respond to complex issues.

• You have demonstrated experience leading and managing issues and executive communication to meet diverse and competing demands and collaborate with internal and external stakeholder groups.

Additional information

Address:

• 1 English Permanent - Full Time, 777 Memorial Ave, Orillia, Central Region, Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (Fingerprint Based)

Compensation Group:

Management Compensation Plan

Understanding the job ad - definitions

Schedule:

6

Category:

Management and General

Posted on:

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Note:

• About security checks:
• A criminal or other federal offence record
  does not automatically disqualify you
  from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities.
• If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in.
• Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.
• The information that you provide for the purpose of this competition and the results from this competition may be used to fill other positions. These positions may be of various tenures including short-term assignments. Your information and the results from this competition will be retained for the purpose of filling vacancies in accordance with the applicable collective agreement or policy provisions.

How to apply:

1. You must apply online.
2. Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.
3. Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.
4. Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.
5. OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.
6. If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please Contact Us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember:

The deadline to apply is
Monday, November 3, :59 pm EDT
. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.