HDR is seeking a
Strategic Communications Team Lead, Western Canada to lead and grow our Strategic Communications services across Western Canada. This role will provide leadership in strategic communications, stakeholder and public engagement, and Indigenous engagement while supporting projects across HDR's engineering, architecture, environmental, planning, and advisory disciplines.
The role will provide three key functions:
- Lead Strategic Communications project delivery across Western Canada, including communications strategy, stakeholder and public engagement, issues management, facilitation, and project communications.
- Grow HDR's Strategic Communications practice in Western Canada by developing client relationships, identifying opportunities, supporting strategic pursuits, and building a strong multidisciplinary team.
- Provide Indigenous engagement leadership and expertise to clients and project teams, including Indigenous consultation, relationship-building, Indigenous rights and interests, and the evolving legal and regulatory environment.
We are seeking an experienced professional who combines strong communications and engagement expertise with demonstrated leadership, business development, and project delivery capabilities. The successful candidate will be comfortable advising senior clients and project teams, leading complex and potentially sensitive engagement programs, developing and mentoring staff, and working across a diverse portfolio of major infrastructure and development projects.
Primary Responsibilities- Lead the delivery and growth of HDR's Strategic Communications services across Western Canada, supporting projects across transportation, water, resources, energy, architecture, environmental, planning, and other infrastructure sectors.
- Develop and implement strategic communications, stakeholder and public engagement, and project communications strategies tailored to project objectives, audiences, risks, and regulatory requirements.
- Provide strategic counsel to clients and project teams on communications, stakeholder relationships, public perception, emerging and contentious issues, and project risks and opportunities.
- Lead stakeholder and public engagement programs, including meetings, workshops, open houses, advisory groups, and other engagement activities, and oversee the development of supporting communications materials and deliverables.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, government agencies, stakeholders, community organizations, Indigenous communities, and other project partners.
- Function as a Project Manager or Strategic Communications Lead, with responsibility for scope, schedule, budget, quality, resourcing, client relationships, and multidisciplinary coordination.
- Lead, mentor, and provide technical direction to Strategic Communications professionals while collaborating with engineering, architecture, environmental, planning, and advisory teams across HDR.
- Lead and support Indigenous engagement and consultation, including relationship-building with Indigenous communities and providing advice on the Duty to Consult and Accommodate, Aboriginal and Treaty Rights and interests, Indigenous Knowledge and land use, UNDRIP, FPIC, cultural protocols, and relevant regulatory frameworks.
- Maintain awareness of emerging communications, stakeholder, regulatory, and Indigenous relations developments across Western Canada, particularly British Columbia, and apply relevant developments to HDR's projects and services.
Business Development and Practice Growth- Contribute to the growth of HDR's Strategic Communications practice across Western Canada by developing client relationships, identifying market opportunities, and building a strong pipeline of work.
- Lead and support proposals, capture planning, scopes, fee development, interviews, and strategic pursuits across HDR's engineering, architecture, environmental, and advisory markets.
- Identify opportunities to expand Strategic Communications and Indigenous engagement services within existing and prospective client relationships and multidisciplinary projects.
- Develop strategic relationships with clients, industry partners, Indigenous communities and businesses, and subconsultants to strengthen project delivery and market opportunities.
- Collaborate with HDR leadership and professionals across Canada to strengthen capabilities, share resources, and build HDR's market presence through industry participation, conferences, professional associations, and thought leadership.
Preferred Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, planning, Indigenous Studies, environmental studies, social sciences, public policy, or a related field. A Master's degree is considered an asset.
- A minimum of ten years of relevant experience in strategic communications, stakeholder and public engagement, Indigenous engagement, infrastructure, planning, or a related field, preferably within consulting or the A/E/C industry.
- Demonstrated experience leading strategic communications and engagement programs for complex infrastructure, environmental, planning, architecture, or development projects.
- Strong capabilities in communications strategy, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, issues and risk management, strategic messaging, and translating complex technical information into clear and effective communications.
- Demonstrated project management, business development, client relationship, and team leadership experience, with the ability to lead multidisciplinary assignments and strategic pursuits.
- Strong understanding of Indigenous engagement in Western Canada, including Indigenous rights and Treaty contexts, the Duty to Consult and Accommodate, UNDRIP, FPIC, and relevant federal and provincial frameworks, particularly within British Columbia.
- Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships, navigate complex or sensitive issues, and work effectively with clients, stakeholders, Indigenous communities, regulators, and multidisciplinary teams.
QualificationsRequired Qualifications - A minimum of 10 years relevant industry experience
- Demonstrated "self-starter" with a history of completing projects with limited oversight
- Deep knowledge of the A/E/C industry's standard approach to procurement of professional services
- Demonstrated ability to motivate and inspire others
- Demonstrated ability to build a network of clients and industry partners
- Experience in sales and developing effective win strategies
- Strong financial acumen and negotiation skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Ability and desire to travel and engage with others in-person
- Demonstrated experience in writing compelling content based on information from technical staff
