Communications Advisor - Transportation Services contract

Job Number: 24368

1 temporary position up to 6 months

From roads to rails, from potholes to snowplows, from buses to bikes, from safety enhancement to LRT expansion, the City of Edmonton is taking a robust and diverse approach to transportation.

As Communications Advisor supporting Transportation Services, you will embrace the challenges of a client-driven, multi-faceted portfolio devoted to the principles of building a sustainable city, with a particular focus on transportation projects and issues. You will provide direct communications support for implementing The Way We Move and various attendant files ranging from roadway maintenance and construction, LRT construction and traffic and transit issues.

In the City of Edmonton’s fast-paced environment you will be responsible to:

• Build strong relationships with senior and mid-level Transportation officials as a trusted advisor and grow stakeholder understanding and support
• Create, develop, implement and evaluate strategic communications plans
• Provide communications support to public engagement initiatives, where citizens are involved in the development and implementation of Transportation projects and initiatives
• Manage media relations (proactively and reactively) and potential issues to support the sharing of timely and accurate information, including planning and managing media events, developing strategies and messaging, coaching spokespeople and serving as a spokesperson
• Lead the creation and development of communications projects, including managing resources and timelines
• Write news releases, public service announcements, media advisories, brochures, newsletters and other communication products
• Work with clients, designers and suppliers to help create effective communication and advertising products
• Support marketing and education initiatives
• Edit and develop web content in support of Transportation programs, projects and initiatives
• Use social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter) to advance business goals and enhance internal and external communication efforts
• Provide internal communications support to help inform colleagues across the organization about Transportation programs, projects and initiatives

• Degree in a communications, public relations, or related field, supplemented by a minimum of 2 years progressively responsible experience in a designated public relations, public affairs or public information  position

OR

• Diploma in a communications, public relations or  related field, supplemented by a minimum of 4 years progressively responsible experience in a designated public relations, public affairs or public information position

• Accreditation with the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) or Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) would be an asset

• Knowledge of the requirements of mass communication media and specialized publications along with experience in fields such as advertising, printing, graphic design, traditional media, social media and other web-based communications

• Awareness and understanding of effective public engagement tactics and strategy

• Experience in successfully creating, developing, implementing and evaluating communication plans

• Experience working with an essential component of city building, such as transportation planning or other urban planning, would be an asset

• Graphic design experience is an asset

• Demonstrated experience with traditional media relations, coaching spokespeople and acting as a spokesperson

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite is required; familiarity with Google Applications and Gmail is an asset; familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite programs is an asset

• Demonstrated experience related to project management

• Superior issues identification and management skills along with proven client consulting and relationship building skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Hours of Work: 33.75 Hours per week, Monday - Friday. On occasion after hours and on-call work will be required
Salary: $39.791- $50.144 (Hourly)
Classification Title: Public Information Officer II
Closing Date: Oct 16, 2015, 10:59:00 PM
Number of Openings (up to): 1 - Temporary Full-time
Union: CSU 52
Department: External Communications (Office of the City Manager)
Work Location(s): Century Place, 14th Floor, 9803 - 102A Avenue   Edmonton T5J 3A3