Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer

Position Title Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer

Position Type Full-time Regular/Union this position is represented by OPSEU

Location Mississauga, ON

Job Band 10

Salary Range $43.39 to $56.67/hour

Hours of work 36.25 hours/week

Reporting to Manager, Corporate Communications

This posting is applicable to Internal/External Applicants

Skilled Trades Ontario (STO) is a Crown agency responsible for skilled trades certification in Ontario, which includes:

Establishing apprenticeship programs, including training standards, curriculum standards and certification exams.

Administering apprenticeship programs, including approving apprentices and sponsors, registering training agreements and assessing applications for apprenticeship program completion.

Issuing certificates of apprenticeship to completed Ontario apprentices.

Assessing experience and qualifications of individuals who have not completed an apprenticeship program in Ontario.

Administering exams, including certifying exams, in all trades subject to certifying exams.

Issuing Certificates of Qualification in all trades with certifying exams.

Renewing Certificates of Qualification in compulsory trades.

Maintaining a Public Register of people authorized to work in compulsory trades.

Researching apprenticeships and the trades.

The Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer provides strategic communications

, media relations, and issues management

support to Skilled Trades Ontario (STO). The position

leads media outreach and response activities, develops proactive story opportunities, prepares senior leadership for media interactions, and manages reputational issues in a fast-paced public-sector environment.

The role is responsible for developing communications products,

media materials, issues management strategies , stakeholder communications, and public affairs initiatives that support STO's mandate, strategic priorities, and reputation. Working collaboratively across the organization, the Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer provides expert communications counsel, identifies emerging issues, and ensures communications activities are aligned with organizational objectives and approved messaging.

Responsibilities

Lead STO's media relations function, managing media inquiries, interview requests, and proactive outreach to support organizational priorities and reputation.

Build and maintain strong relationships with reporters, editors, producers, trade publications, and media outlets, and proactively identify, pitch, and secure earned media opportunities that advance STO's strategic priorities and enhance its public profile.

Provide strategic communications and media relations advice to management and subject matter experts on emerging issues, media opportunities, stakeholder engagement activities, and reputational considerations.

Monitor media coverage, stakeholder activities, and emerging issues to identify opportunities, anticipate risks, and provide strategic recommendations to leadership.

Lead the development of media materials, including news releases, media advisories, backgrounders, statements, key messages, Q&As, and spokesperson briefing materials. Lead the writing, editing, and delivery of communications products including briefing notes, issues notes, speeches, presentations, correspondence, website content, and other materials as required.

Develop and implement communications and media relations strategies that support organizational priorities, announcements, initiatives, events, and thought leadership opportunities.

Conduct research, environmental scans, and stakeholder analysis to support communications planning, issues management, and executive decision-making.

Support stakeholder engagement initiatives through the development of communications materials, key messages, presentations, and engagement strategies.

Lead and coordinate communications projects, including planning, approvals, stakeholder consultation, and implementation.

Ensure communications products are accurate, accessible, aligned with organizational messaging, and consistent with communications best practices.

Qualifications

University degree or diploma in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Political Science, Marketing, Public Affairs, or a related discipline.

Minimum three (3) to five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, media relations, public affairs, stakeholder relations, journalism, or a related field.

Demonstrated experience developing strategic communications plans and delivering complex communications initiatives.

Experience providing com