Communications Manager - Media & Issues

Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, reconciliation, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

Main Purpose and Function

The Communication Manager – Media & Issues is responsible for delivery of corporate media relations and event support, issues management, oversight of the City’s social media channels and external communication planning for key files.

The Manager leads in the development and implementation of proactive communication programs and strategies from both a corporate and client group perspective. They provide leadership and direction to a team of communications staff to meet emerging needs and support the delivery of the City’s strategic priorities. This position requires a proactive and strategic approach to respond to new developments and demands as they evolve.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

1. Develops, builds and maintains excellent working relationships with the team and across the organization, and maintains an ongoing understanding of the various internal clients and stakeholders.
2. A strategic partner to the assigned business units and leads the development of communications strategies addressing complex and varied organizational projects, priorities and issues.
3. Ensures that team members understand the departments/organization’s priorities and goals and how their roles link to these priorities and goals.
4. Provides leadership, direction and supervision in the development and execution of communications strategies, and uses data to drive decision-making and inform strategic insights.
5. Manages budgets and processes to successfully execute initiatives in a timely manner.
6. Provides positive leadership and inspires, motivates and guides staff through coaching and ongoing two-way information sharing to discuss policies and administrative issues to solve problems and manage stakeholder relationships.
7. Manages cross-functional teams to execute the communications strategies and plans for the City’s major initiatives including the development of tools and tactics.
8. Proactively identifies emerging issues and opportunities, and recommends appropriate communications approaches.
9. Responsible for the development, handling and distribution of sensitive information to senior management in a timely manner.
10. Fosters trust and credibility through clear, accurate, open, timely two-way communication with external audiences.
11. Guides the team in delivering cross-corporate media events, overseeing event planning and management.
12. Other duties/responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications or a related discipline is preferred. Minimum 8 years of experience in progressively senior communications roles including 5 years experience managing employees, project teams and contractors, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent knowledge about local government operations and processes.
• Extensive knowledge in developing and executing strategic communications plans.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to see the big picture and anticipate emerging issues and trends, and then identify communications strategies and tactics to address them.
• Extensive knowledge of corporate and media issues management.
• Experienced with social media channel strategy, development and oversight.
• Experienced with social media marketing and content strategy development.
• Strong working knowledge of media and social media monitoring, scheduling and evaluation platforms and content generation tools.
• Ability to communicate effectively; foster high standards; coach; inspire and manage multi-disciplinary teams in a fast-paced, performance-focused environment using excellent interpersonal, visual design, presentation and written skills.
• Ability to manage, prioritize, and execute multiple projects and teams.
• Strong and valued individual contributor as well as an integral collaborative member of the communications team.
• Strong relationship building skills and ability to provide strategic advice to senior executives.
• Ability to make decisions and organize thoughts under time and budget constraints.
• Able to diplomatically ask questions, challenge and suggest alternative strategies and approaches.

Where operationally appropriate and subject to change, the City of Vancouver has a Flexible Work Program. This program allows staff to work remotely 1 – 4 days a week from locations that are a daily commutable distance from their work at a City worksite. At this time this position is eligible to be part of the Flexible Work Program.

Business Unit/Department:

Office of the City Manager (1010)

Affiliation:

Exempt

Employment Type:

Temporary Full Time

Position Start Date:

May, 2025

Position End Date:

June, 2026

Salary Information:

Pay Grade RNG-091: $111,139 to $138,924 per year

Application Close:

April 20, 2025

At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons including all genders and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.