Responsibilities:

• Develop, coordinate, implement and evaluate corporate communications plans, messages and tactics in line with the communication strategies for media and public relations activities.
• Review daily media analysis to identify emerging and time-sensitive issues arising from traditional media and social media coverage and make swift recommendations to respond, correct and/or adapt to media reports where appropriate to correct misinformation, mitigate emerging issues and continuously enhance the organization’s reputation. 
• Develop and implement measured media relations and communications plans and tactics through responding to media requests, drafting news releases, media pitches and key messages, correcting misinformation in the media, developing media strategies and other assignments. 
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, columnists and citizen journalists. May serve as a spokesperson as required. 
• Keep up with trends in issues management, and public and media relations. Develop communications strategies and tactics to appropriately adapt activities and drive progress toward the organization’s goals. Support brand and reputation risk management by utilizing issues management processes and digital communication best practices to help manage emerging issues and crises, including but not limited to developing and deploying reactive media and social media responses/posts.
• Track and monitor media and social media while developing appropriate KPIs and performance measures for media monitoring and issues tracking. Ensure insights are recorded, tracked and applied to improve and inform future direction and strategies.
• Assist in facilitating media training and coaching sessions for subject matter experts (SMEs) in advance of media interviews, staffing/moderating media interviews and provide constructive feedback following media interviews.
• Project management activities for a customer relationship management (CRM) tool for the Communications team, including setting up the infrastructure, inputting key messages for issues management and training.  
• Provide strategic communications support for organizational objectives and milestones and support on emerging issues by developing materials and plans. Develop key messages and timely strategies.  
• As a member of the Communications team, contribute to plans and strategies led by others on the team, including but not limited to, such as government relations, digital communications, corporate and regional communications, internal communications, and creative services/brand management.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• A college diploma or university degree in communications, public relations, journalism or a related discipline.
• 8 to 10 years of professional public relations, media relations, and communications experience.
• Experience in the energy sector or working on major infrastructure projects would be an asset. 
• Membership and volunteer experience with the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) or the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) is preferred.
• Sound experience in media relations and issues management, including contentious issues.
• Excellent writing and editing skills – preferably in English and French - including writing media releases and pitches that translate into news coverage and developing communications materials. 
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complicated messages to various audiences with a focus on media and the public in the context of issues management and media relations. Specifically, the ability to take complex, technical material and synthesize it for the general public to consume.
• Demonstrated history of paid and earned media strategies, including facilitating sponsored content, advertorials, etc.  
• Experiencing serving as a spokesperson.
• Requires strong organizational skills to manage workload with competing priorities and tight timeframes and to work effectively under pressure. Experience using project management software is an asset.
• Strong relationship management skills to develop and maintain positive relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, including the media. Someone with existing media relationships or a demonstrated history in journalism is preferred. 
• Experience using and managing a CRM for social media and/or public inquiries.
• Experience managing budgets, vendors and procurement protocols and processes.
• Experience with media and social media monitoring tools, tracking, and developing appropriate KPIs and performance measures for media monitoring and issues tracking across channels.
• When necessary, represent the organization at events such as open houses, community fairs, meetings with community groups, conferences, public meetings, sponsored activities, etc.