Chief Communications Officer

JOB SUMMARY

You are responsible for shaping how the City of Ottawa communicates and engages with Council, the media, and Ottawa residents.  You deliver critical information on priorities, programs, services and issues that are paramount to citizen participation and quality of life. You are accountable for the Service’s strategic plan, for providing vision and leadership to the Service, and for planning, organizing, directing, controlling, evaluating and improving the development and delivery of its priorities, services, programs and operations, including:

• Public Information: oversight of the annual corporate communications plan, the public engagement strategy, the corporate visual identity standards and departmental communications plans to ensure communications efforts are aligned with the City’s priorities, plans and communications policy.
• Media Relations and Outreach: oversight over media inquiries, events, engagement strategy, media training for staff, and communications leadership for urgent and emergency situations to safeguard residents’ trust and confidence in the City.
• Brand and Social Media Strategy: management of the City’s brand and social media strategies by providing a strategic framework to the City Manager and Senior Leadership Team, delivering tools and resources to support departments while ensuring alignment across corporate platforms and initiatives.
• Content Development: oversight over the production and/or coordination of communications related frameworks, tools and products related to news releases, public service announcements, media advisories, speeches, advertising campaigns, and design services.
• Legislative Communications: guidance and positioning on key files for Committee Chairs and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), development of communications products, and training of staff in support of the legislative agenda and special projects.

You are also accountable for the effective management of the Service’s human and financial resources, as well as the standing offer list for communications services.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of 4 year university degree in Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Business Administration or other related field

Masters Degree is preferred

Minimum of 10 years of related experience in strategic communications and media relations, including a minimum of 5 years managing human resources, external contract resources, operating and capital budgets in a complex public organization or private sector corporation

KNOWLEDGE

• Development of strategies, frameworks and plans related to corporate communication, crisis communication, media relations and public engagement
• Principles, practices, procedures, techniques, laws and regulations pertaining to public information and media relations functions, programs, services and operations
• The workings and organization of local and national media outlets
• Emerging trends in web-based technologies, social media and rich media
• The City of Ottawa, its operations and corporate governance structure
• Public private partnerships and other alternate service delivery models
• Principles and methods of economic, financial, social and political risk analysis
• Principles and practices of public policy and business administration
• The City of Ottawa’s current social, political, business and economic climates
• Project management principles and practices
• Human resource management practices in a unionized work environment
• Must be familiar with 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

Core Behaviours
Core behaviours define the City's expectations of the behaviours employees should demonstrate in performing their work.  They are reflective of the City's culture and values and guide all our present and future activities.  Every employee is encouraged to learn, embody, and demonstrate these core behaviours.

Review the Core Behaviours.

Leadership Competencies
The City has defined key competencies that leaders are expected to embody and demonstrate to successfully move the organization towards achieving its strategic objectives and create an organizational culture that supports and empowers employees to excel, grow and reach their full potential. These leadership competencies and associated behaviours are expected to be demonstrated by leaders at all levels of the organization. 

Review the Leadership Competencies.