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Requisition ID: 38711

Organization

Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable cities and is working towards being the greenest city in the world. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, decolonization, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

Main Purpose and Function

The Communication Manager is the lead communicator for the Park Board in all matters of communications activity, and is responsible for driving content generation and distribution across all platforms including digital, social, and traditional media channels, leading best practices in media relations / news sharing, proactive issues management and storytelling, and external communication planning for key files. The Manager also supports the integration of earned and organic communications with marketing staff for Park Board revenue-generating assets. The Manager also supports and ensures the promotion of civic engagement and participatory processes across the Park Board with high levels of collaboration with teams leading those efforts, and will innovate in the development of internal communications standards and practices.

The Manager supports the development and implementation of proactive communication programs and strategies from both a corporate and a client-group perspective and provides leadership and direction to a team of communications staff, external contractors and suppliers to ensure program continuity and flexibility to meet emerging needs, including hiring, termination, evaluation, discipline, support, coaching, professional development and representing the employer in the grievance process. The Communications Manager works closely with the Senior Manager of Marketing, Communications, and Engagement at the Park Board, as well as the City’s team (CEC) to deliver, implement and support an integrated and complimentary approach to all communications efforts within the City of Vancouver.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops, builds and maintains excellent working relationships and possesses an understanding of the various internal clients and stakeholders.
• Acts as a strategic partner to all business units within the Park Board and leads the development of communications strategies, addressing complex and varied organizational projects, priorities and issues.
• Ensures that team members understand the Department’s/organization’s priorities and goals and how their roles link to these priorities and goals.
• Brokers/coordinates required marketing and communication services from communications centres of expertise or external sources as required.
• Ensures emergency communications and 24/7 coverage on public communications for all facilities and public spaces and is the lead with the City’s coordinated emergency management programs.
• Leads on focus areas of support including Access and Inclusion, Reconciliation and Decolonization, Encampments and Houselessness.
• Provides leadership, direction and supervision in the development and execution of communications plans and initiatives in support of the Park Board’s priorities and initiatives, including an annual communications plan for the organization.
• Builds, develops, maintains and manages strong working relationships within the team and across the organization.
• Works closely with the Senior Manager of Engagement, Marketing and Communications to support engagement activities and outcomes with strategic communications deliverables.
• Directs communication strategies and execution, and uses data to drive decision-making based on evaluating successes/learnings and strategic insights.
• Manages budgets and processes to successfully execute initiatives in a timely manner.
• Manages administrative functions related to suppliers including procurement, contracting, invoicing, and supplier delivery.
• Develops and oversees the design and implementation of complex and specialized corporate communications initiatives.
• Provides leadership and supervision to staff, including hiring and termination, discipline, performance and attendance management, coaching, training and development. Inspires, motivates, guides and directs all staff.
  • Provides coaching on a timely basis; develops goals and expectations, identifies training and development for subordinate staff;
  • Meets with employees to resolve disputes and administers appropriate collective agreements, hears grievance meetings at step one of the grievance process, and in consultation with superiors has the authority to resolve grievances at that step;
  • Establishes and maintains communication with staff to discuss policies and administrative issues; shares information, program plans and problem-solves around difficulties encountered while working in a challenging environment;
  • Sets performance goals and coaches employees to achieve desired results
• Responsible for developing and implementing an integrated content strategy, with overall responsibility for the Park Board’s social media strategy and execution.
• Manages cross-functional teams to execute the communications strategies and plans for the Park Board’s major initiatives, including the development of tools and tactics.
• Utilizes all existing communication tools and tactics and implements new methods as well, to ensure messages are communicated effectively.
• Proactively identifies emerging issues and opportunities on a regular basis and recommends appropriate communications approaches.
• Responsible for the development, handling and distribution of sensitive information to senior management in a timely manner.
• Fosters trust and credibility through ongoing, clear, accurate, open, timely and two-way communication with external audiences.
• Provides regular instruction to junior communications staff to ensure consistency in the services provided by the communications department.
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications is preferred and a minimum of 8 years’ experience in progressively senior marketing and communications roles in organizational or internal employee communications portfolios, including 5 years’ experience managing employees, project teams and contractors, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent knowledge about local government operations and processes.
• Extensive knowledge in developing and executing strategic communications plans.
• Demonstrable work with cultural communities including culturally specific media and social strategies in multiple languages.
• Demonstrable work with First Nations partners and Urban Indigenous Partners on communications efforts.
• Demonstrable work with equity-deserving communities.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) skills.
• Ability to see the big picture and anticipate emerging issues and trends, and then tailor communications tactics to address them.
• Strength in brand-building and insight into brand strategy and go-to-market campaigns.
• Extensive knowledge of corporate and media issues management.
• Experience with digital content management systems is considered an advantage.
• Ability to demonstrate a basic understanding of Search and Social Media Marketing, and how it affects the larger online strategy
• Ability to communicate effectively; foster high standards; coach; inspire and manage multi-disciplinary teams in a fast-paced, performance-focused environment using excellent interpersonal, visual design, presentation and written skills
• Ability to manage, prioritize, and execute multiple projects and teams
• Strong and valued individual contributor as well as an integral collaborative member of the communications team
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to provide advice to senior executives
• Ability to make decisions and organize thoughts under time and budget constraints
• Ability to speak a second language is an asset
• Able to diplomatically ask questions, challenge and suggest alternative strategies and approaches
• Self-starter and critical thinker

Where operationally appropriate and subject to change, the City of Vancouver has a Flexible Work Program. This program allows staff to work remotely 1 – 4 days a week from locations that are a daily commutable distance from their work at a City worksite. At this time this position is eligible to be part of the Flexible Work Program.

The City’s COVID-19 vaccination policy is currently suspended and as a result, vaccination against COVID-19 is not required at this time. However, should circumstances change and the City deem it necessary to re-introduce such policy, you may be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be eligible to continue performing your duties.

Business Unit/Department: Board of Parks & Recreation (1400)

Affiliation: Exempt

Employment Type: Regular Full Time

Position Start Date: July, 2023

Salary Information: Pay Grade RNG-091: $106,345 to $132,936 per year

Application Close: June 14, 2023

At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. Indigenous applicants, people of colour, all genders, 2SLGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

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