Manager Strategic Communications

Location and Work Model

• The position is based in Thorold, Ontario.
• The position currently follows a hybrid model, typically requiring at least 50% of working time at the regular work location and 50% at home.
• Hybrid arrangements may vary based on operational needs, business requirements, and customer service expectations.

Job Summary

Education and Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least eight years of professional experience in issues management, internal communications, public relations, public affairs, social marketing, community consultation, and media relations.
• Experience managing relationships with elected officials at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
• In-depth knowledge of communications technologies and practices, social media, web, and multimedia approaches.
• Knowledge of communication, media relations, public involvement, and public opinion research strategies, tactics, techniques, formats, and platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to lead strategic communications functions including issues management, crisis management, and public relations.
• Excellent judgment, discretion, political awareness, and ability to manage confidential matters.
• Excellent written communication skills for diverse audiences, with the ability to communicate strategically and build understanding and commitment.
• Professional accreditation in public relations or another communications-based professional organization is preferred.
• Public sector or municipal experience is preferred.
• At least five years of experience leading people in a large, complex organization is preferred.

Strategic Partnership and Advisory

• Serve as the primary communications partner to Commissioners, Directors, and departmental leadership.
• Advise on communications strategies, stakeholder considerations, organizational impacts, reputational risk, and approaches for complex initiatives.
• Represent Strategic Communications on corporate committees, project teams, and cross-functional initiatives.

Internal and External Communications

• Lead organizational change communications, employee engagement, executive communications, and internal communication planning.
• Provide strategic leadership for public communications, reputation management, public engagement communications, and issues management.
• Work with elected officials to prepare Regional Councillors and the Regional Chair with effective communications materials and positioning.

Complex Initiatives and Media Relations

• Lead communications planning for complex, high-profile, politically sensitive, and enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Develop communications approaches for organizational change, emergencies, crises, and major corporate priorities.
• Lead public engagement and research initiatives, including large-scale public surveys.
• Lead media relations strategies, spokesperson support, media response protocols, media training, and media monitoring.

Operations and People Leadership

• Lead communications intake, prioritization, resource allocation, workload planning, and quarterly forecasting.
• Monitor communications performance, project outcomes, service levels, analytics, and stakeholder feedback.
• Direct, coach, and develop staff, including assigning work, managing performance, recruiting, and resolving people-related issues.
• Manage capital and operating budgets and authorize goods and services under procurement policies.
• Ensure occupational health and safety policies, programs, and practices are implemented and maintained.

About Niagara Region

Special Requirements

• The employee must be able to travel in a timely manner to other offices, work locations, or sites for business reasons.
• The employee may be required to support emergency operations under the incident management structure.
• Salary is pending review.