ABOUT US
The City of Spruce Grove is a fast growing, dynamic city committed to building and maintaining a fiscally responsible community that serves our residents, attracts visitors, and promotes future growth.
The “Values We Live By” are accountability, communication, leadership, integrity, and respect while we work towards maintaining a work/play balance.
We are an organization that cares, an organization that is committed to our city and committed to you. The City of Spruce Grove is committed to public service, where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best work. We believe that by working together in a spirit of collaboration and respect, we can achieve great things.
THE OPPORTUNITY
We’re hiring a Communications Advisor to support Mayor and Council in sharing their vision with the community they serve! The successful candidate will work directly with Mayor and Council to craft compelling narratives to share news, updates, and information that clearly resonates with Spruce Grove residents and helps strengthen the connection between Council decisions and the impact to the community. This individual will also support the Mayor and Council through the development of communications materials, such as speaking and briefing notes. Excellent storytelling skills, creative and critical thinking, flexibility, and a high degree of political acumen will all be needed to succeed in this newly created position. This professional apolitical role will sit within the Corporate Communications Department and report to the Director of Corporate Communications but will also work directly with the Mayor, Council and City Manager.
The Communications Advisor is responsible for the development and implementation of communications that support a wide variety of City and/or Council initiatives, projects, programs, and services. The position has both strategic and tactical responsibilities, including:
- Communications planning, implementation, and advice
- Developing and implementing communications and marketing/promotional plans
- Writing, editing, and storytelling
- Developing compelling narratives to share City and/or Council information with the community
- Providing advice and support for public engagement activities
- Media relations
- Issues management
- Project coordination
The position primarily provides support to assigned departments/areas and project teams, but also corporately as required.
This is a full-time, permanent position with an annual salary of $89,507.60-$106,397.20
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Communications planning, implementation, and advice
- Provides strategic and tactical communications advice and professional communications support to assigned departments/areas and project teams, aligned with City and/or Council plans and priorities.
- Develops, implements, coordinates, and monitors a variety of communications, promotional and marketing strategies across current and emerging platforms including print, digital, social media, and website content.
- Coordinates photography, graphic design, and video production related to communications, promotional, and marketing strategies.
- Consults and collaborates with all levels of the organization to develop communication strategies and responses to internal and external matters as well as sensitive and confidential issues.
- Develops executive briefings to support Council, leadership, and other internal stakeholders in proactively identifying and mitigating issues.
- Provides support within the organization for communicating between employees and management.
- Conducts research to prepare evidence-based recommendations for communication policies and strategies.
- Supports and advises on public engagement activities when required.
2. Writing and editing
- Provides writing and editing support involving often complex and/or sensitive information for internal and external audiences.
- Ensures all materials are written in plain language and are effective for the audience and medium.
- Plans, coordinates, writes, and edits a variety of communications including news releases, media advisories, letters, briefings, brochures, website content, social media, reports, speeches, presentations, newsletters, and other publications.
- Develops compelling narratives to share City and/or Council information with a variety of audiences.
- Incorporates a storytelling approach to communications when appropriate to share information with the intended audience(s).
- Develops content for the web (intranet and Internet) and social media.
- Ensures materials targeted to the media are written in Canadian Press (CP) style.
3. Issues Management
- Identifies and monitors emerging issues through environmental scanning and regular meetings with assigned areas.
- Develops clear, effective, and timely communications to proactively address and deal with issues.
- Provides issues management support to leadership and Council.
4. Media Relations
- Identifies media opportunities as part of communications plans.
- Monitors media coverage and provides support for media spokespeople on a variety of topics, including contentious or sensitive issues.
- Develops and coordinates briefings and information to respond to media enquiries.
- Writes, coordinates, and distributes news releases, media advisories, and media notices.
- Assists in preparing for news conferences and media availabilities and coordinates media interviews.
- Proactively profiles programs and initiatives through media relations efforts.
- Supports media and public relations activities during emergencies.
5. Stakeholder Relations
- Develops, builds, and maintains strong, positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Actively participates in Corporate Communications team initiatives and supports the Corporate Communications team when required.
6. Other Duties
- Understand and adhere to City policies, procedures and standards, whether written or implied, as amended from time to time.
- Act as a steward of the City's Corporate Culture through empowerment and support to staff.
- All employees shall act safely at all times and will report any unsafe conditions, procedures, or acts for the benefit of the City. Continual adherence to the City Safety Policy is mandatory.
- Employees are expected to stay current on WHMIS and other safety-related procedures.
- Perform other job-related duties.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Qualifications:
- Post-secondary education in Communications or Public Relations supplemented with 5-6 years of experience.
- Municipal government communications experience preferred.
- Extensive knowledge of best practices as they relate to communications, marketing and promotions, issues management, and media relations.
- Proven ability to develop, produce, and deliver a high volume and wide variety of communications initiatives.
- Skilled writer and storyteller with strong interpersonal skills and a detail-oriented work style.
- Demonstrated high-level communication (verbal/written) and presentation skills.
- Exceptional organization skills with the ability to prioritize work within specific timelines.
- Excellent project management skills for leading the overall development and implementation of communications initiatives.
- Sound interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport, effectively interact, and maintain positive relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
- Strong political acumen.
- Active team member with the ability to work under minimal supervision.
- Capable of working in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong customer service focus.
- Proficient skills in Microsoft Office, social media tools, and web content management systems.
Asset Qualifications:
- Membership in the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) or Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) is considered an asset.
- IAP2 accreditation is considered an asset.
- Knowledge of public participation best practices is considered an asset.
- Knowledge and experience using public engagement systems, tools, and techniques is considered an asset.
- Knowledge and experience using Adobe Creative Suite is considered an asset.
Competencies:
Thinking & Acting Strategically – Forward-thinking. Sees the big picture and imagines the future. Links long-range visions, strategies, and concepts to daily work. Aligns personal actions and initiatives with customer needs, and with organizational priorities and direction. To think and act strategically requires an understanding of our organizational direction, as well as the internal and external factors that influence decision-making.
Building Influential Working Relationships – Strengthening and developing working relationships and strategic alliances that are founded on ethics, trust, and guided by our corporate values of respect, leadership, accountability, communication, and integrity.
Optimizing Performance & Results – Reaches for excellence for oneself, one’s team, and the organization. Determined and focused on achieving outcomes that align with organizational goals. Creates goals and priorities that maximize resources while using an enterprising, resourceful approach to deliver outcomes and achieve customer expectations. Maintains accountability for results.
Growing Talent & Workforce Capacity – Honouring the individual differences that make each person unique. Being curious and committed to listening, reflecting, and learning. Developing individual and workforce capabilities to enhance the organization’s capacity to accomplish strategic goals, enhance program and service delivery, and provide an exceptional customer/client experience. Contributes to a learning and teaching culture.
Fostering Innovation & Steering Change – Creates an environment for transformation. Advances the City through improvement based on innovation and guides the associated change. Uses the skills, attitudes and behaviours needed to produce new or improved programs and services to meet current and future needs of our customers, our organization, and our community.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Class 5 Driver’s License.
Working Environment:
- Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- This position may be required to work a flexible work schedule outside of regular hours including weekends and evenings.
- Overtime may be required.
- Travel may be required.
- Working remotely and in an office environment.
- Exposure to noise levels that may exceed 85 decibels.
NEXT STEPS
- You must apply through this portal to be considered. We do not accept applications through other forums.
- Only those candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.
- Candidates may be interviewed as applications are received.
WHY WORK FOR US?
- Competitive annual salary
- Pension
- Medical & Dental Benefits
- Life Insurance
- Wellness Initiatives
- Work/Life Balance
- Recognized General Holidays
- Leave Options
- Flexible Work Arrangements
- Positive Work Atmosphere
- Employee Awards
- Volunteer and Fundraising Opportunities
