Coordinator, Strategic Support (BSS)
Requisition ID: 19380
Department: Transit Services Dept.
Service: Transit Strat Comm&External Rel Service
Branch: Transit Strategic Communications Branch
Employment Type: 1 Full-time Temporary - Up to 2 years
Work Hours: 35.00 hours per week
Affiliation: MPE
Salary Information: $95,127.76 - $120,309.28 annually (2025 rates of pay)
Location: Transit Service, 1500 St.Laurent
City: Ottawa, ON
Job Category: Transit Services - OC Transpo
Application Close: 16/10/2025
JOB SUMMARY
You are responsible for working with the media to inform the public about OC Transpo's mission, practices, programs and policies in a manner that is positive, authentic and consistent. You oversee all engagements with media partners, identifying opportunities to enhance the OC Transpo brand, and proactively identifies areas of risk requiring strategic communications support. You collaborate with media partners to empower customers with the information they need to make OC Transpo their number one transportation choice. You lead the creation of content, including but not limited to earned media, videos, or other external communications products while overseeing the department’s media monitoring program. You also collect data and provide analysis of sentiment and public perception through key performance indicators and develop media strategies to support campaigns, customer service improvements, or organizational initiatives.
In addition, you prepare spokespeople for media engagements and public appearances through media training, mock interviews, and the development of key messages, manage communication with the media during crises or sensitive situations and organize press conferences, media briefings, events, and interviews.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Completion of 4 year university degree in business or public administration, communications, social sciences or related field
Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience leading strategic planning and business support initiatives/projects of increasing complexity; positions that are responsible for supervising employees and/or project teams require related experience in a lead role
KNOWLEDGE
- Strategic planning, communications planning, project management, program evaluation, performance measurement, and policy development concepts, theories, principles and methodologies
- The City of Ottawa’s organizational, governance and administrative structures
- Legislation, regulations, policies, standards and guidelines relevant to the work
- Corporate policies, guidelines and practices
- Departmental business requirements as well as understanding of the programs/services and operations of other departments, and the inter-relationships between them and own work area
- Audit protocols and procedures and fraud and waste investigations
- Legislative rules and procedures
- Change management principles/practices/supports
- General knowledge of a range of HR initiatives
- Financial and budgeting practices as required
- Industry trends and developments
- Must be familiar with all applicable health and safety legislation, have knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the work place, and have knowledge of appropriate actions to be taken in order to ensure the health and safety of staff in accordance with applicable legislation and City policies and procedures
COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Lead and manage projects and project teams to achieve the desired results of assigned initiatives on time and on budget
- Provide strategic leadership and support department leaders toward achievement of organizational goals
- Prepare communication products - key messages, news releases, event scenario, etc.
- Influence and facilitate change within the department
- Work collaboratively and build rapport with others
- Perform effectively in a multi-disciplinary work environment by demonstrating professionalism, initiative and enthusiasm for each assignment
- Understand client/business needs, conduct research, gather and analyze complex information/data, develop innovative solutions based on results, and effectively present recommendations
- Creative problem solving skills with a focus on continuous improvement and enhancing the client experience
- Excellent written and verbal communication and listening skills
- Proficiency in MS Office to support the production of documents, spreadsheets, reports and presentations
- Demonstrates the City’s core values of integrity, transparency, impartiality, respect and accountability at work
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact cooperatively, effectively and efficiently with staff and the public as required
- Ability to work effectively in a team environment to achieve corporate, departmental and branch goals
- Demonstrates tact, diplomacy and discretion, and maintains strict confidentiality
- Highly organized with the ability to prioritize, set schedules, meet deadlines, handle multiple projects/activities and competing demands, and deliver results in a changing work environment
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES for Supervisory Positions
The key competencies that describe the skills and behaviours expected to be demonstrated by managers and supervisors at the City of Ottawa are available on Ozone. The seven Leadership Competencies, which align with Servant Leadership, are:
- Strategic Leadership - Sets/implements the strategic direction, understands internal and external trends, the political sensitivities of the organization and applies this knowledge to support the long-term vision and success of the City
- Demonstrates Business Sense – Understands the impact of decisions on the business and the ability to strive to improve business performance; requires an awareness of business issues, processes and outcomes as they impact the community, the City’s reputation and strategic direction
- Builds Collaborative Relationships - Proactively communicates, builds and utilizes professional relationships and partnerships with all internal and external stakeholders
- Fosters Innovation and Change - Develops an environment that embraces innovation and efficiently integrates change into the organization
- Engages Employees - Leads, coaches, mentors and develops an engaged, diverse workforce of individuals and teams, where work is performed in a safe, respectful environment and successes are recognized and celebrated regularly
- Delivers Results - Creates effective plans and performance measures, holds themselves and others accountable for measurable, high quality, timely and cost-effective results
- Client-centric Focus - Serves the client interest through focusing individual, team and organization effort on identifying and meeting key and diverse client needs (the term “client” includes both internal and external clients)
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Language Requirement: Designated Bilingual – specific level of language proficiency: French: oral, reading, writing English: oral, reading, writing Candidates who do not meet language requirements will be required to participate in training.
- Experience and formal training combined with demonstrated performance and ability may substitute for stipulated academic requirements.
- Please save a copy of the job poster. Once the closing date has passed, it will no longer be available.
We wish to thank all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
The City of Ottawa promotes the principles of diversity and inclusion and adheres to the tenets of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women and non-binary persons, persons of all ethnic origins, religions, sexual orientations, classes, gender identities and expressions.
Candidates are encouraged to self-identify as a member of one or more designated employment equity groups in the self-identification questionnaire.
The City of Ottawa provides accommodation to applicants during all parts of the hiring process, upon request. If contacted to proceed to the selection process, please advise us if you require any accommodation.
Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. Please contact the Employee Service Centre at 613-580-2424 extension 12211 or via email at esc-cse@ottawa.ca.