Nearly 5,500 City employees in the City Operations Department keep Edmontonians working, moving and thriving every day. The department includes four essential branches: Edmonton Transit Service (ETS), Fleet and Facility Services (FFS), Waste Services, and Parks and Roads (PARS). The City Operations Department is looking for a collaborative and inclusive Senior Communications Advisor who can lead a team within the Parks and Roads branch supporting the Safe Mobility and Technical & Regulatory Services portfolios.

As a Senior Communications Advisor, you will be responsible for leading and supervising a team of communications professionals, providing day-to-day communication services, and offering strategic communication advice and planning. This involves developing and supervising staff, overseeing the creation and delivery of high-quality communications products, and providing strategic counsel to business partner leadership teams. The role requires a proactive approach to issues management, strong collaboration skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

What will you do?

• Develop, supervise and motivate a team of high-performing communications and marketing professionals to produce excellent work for business partners and the people of Edmonton
• Responsible for staff, onboarding, offboarding, and resource planning
• Assess skills and training needs of team members
• Accountable for approving time entry, conducting formal and informal performance reviews and evaluations, resolving conflicts, and guiding staff to appropriate internal resources
• Provide ongoing coaching and mentorship
• Manage staff schedules and priorities to ensure consistent support to respective client group
• Ensure proper processes and approvals are followed and implemented by team members
• Oversee the development, coordination, and delivery of high quality communications products that promote and enhance the City's image, brand, and reputation
• Provide guidance to staff in the areas of communications strategy and plans, messaging, tactics, and challenges
• Coordinate and approve responses to public, Council, and media inquiries
• Provide strategic communications consultation and advice to business partner leadership teams
• Provide direct strategic and tactical communications support for complex and/or high profile projects, initiatives or programs

Qualifications:

• University graduation in a communications, public relations, or related field
• Supplemented by a minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in a designated public relations, public affairs, or public information position
• Minimum (2) years of communications experience in a similar organization
• One (1) year of experience in a related supervisory capacity
  -or-
• Diploma in a communications, public relations, or related field
• Supplemented by a minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in a designated public relations, public affairs, or public information position
• Minimum two (2) years of communications experience in a similar organization
• One (1) year of experience in a related supervisory capacity

Assets:

• Accreditation in the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) or Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS)

Skills required for success:

• Extensive knowledge of the requirements of mass communication media, internal and external communications planning and public relations principles and practices
• Demonstrated experience in a supervisory role supplemented by demonstrated collaborative and team building skills
• Experience in successfully creating, developing, Implementing and evaluating communication plans
• Extensive traditional media relations understanding and experience
• Digital and social media understanding and experience
• Superior issues identification and management skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple projects and competing deadlines
• Alignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies ( https://bit.ly/4brRrXm )
• Embracing a culture of equity, diversity, reconciliation and inclusion.

Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants may be tested

Work Environment:

• Note: This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement with the flexibility to work from both home and the worksite as per the Letter of Understanding between the City of Edmonton and Civic Service Union 52.
• The weekly hours of work for this position are currently under review and may change at a future time. Any changes will be made in accordance with the City of Edmonton/Civic Service Union 52 collective agreement and the incumbent will be notified in advance.

1 permanent full-time position

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week

Salary Range: $49.531 - $62.247 (Hourly); $103,420.73 - $129,971.74 (Annually)

Recruitment Consultant: SM / RF

Edmonton rests in the heart of Treaty Six territory in Alberta and the homelands of the Metis Nation.