📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Communications Manager - Media & Issues
🔹 Company: City of Vancouver
🔹 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
🔹 Job Type: Temporary Full Time
🔹 Category: Government Administration
🔹 Date Posted: April 4, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (Flexible Work Program eligible)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading a team to deliver corporate media relations and event support
- Managing the City's social media channels and external communication planning
- Developing and implementing proactive communication programs and strategies
- Providing strategic advice to senior executives and managing cross-functional teams
- Handling sensitive information and managing budgets
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a proactive and strategic approach to respond to new developments and demands as they evolve.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develops, builds, and maintains excellent working relationships with the team and across the organization, and maintains an ongoing understanding of various internal clients and stakeholders.
✅ A strategic partner to assigned business units, leading the development of communications strategies addressing complex and varied organizational projects, priorities, and issues.
✅ Ensures that team members understand the departments/organization's priorities and goals and how their roles link to these priorities and goals.
✅ Provides leadership, direction, and supervision in the development and execution of communications strategies, using data to drive decision-making and inform strategic insights.
✅ Manages budgets and processes to successfully execute initiatives in a timely manner.
✅ Provides positive leadership and inspires, motivates, and guides staff through coaching and ongoing two-way information sharing to discuss policies and administrative issues to solve problems and manage stakeholder relationships.
✅ Manages cross-functional teams to execute the communications strategies and plans for the City’s major initiatives, including the development of tools and tactics.
✅ Proactively identifies emerging issues and opportunities, 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 clear, accurate, open, timely two-way communication with external audiences.
✅ Guides the team in delivering cross-corporate media events, overseeing event planning and management.
✅ Other duties/responsibilities as assigned.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high level of responsibility and requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Communications or a related discipline is preferred.
Experience: Minimum 8 years of experience in progressively senior communications roles, including 5 years of experience managing employees, project teams, and contractors, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Required Skills:
- Excellent knowledge about local government operations and processes
- Extensive knowledge in developing and executing strategic communications plans
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Ability to see the big picture and anticipate emerging issues and trends
- Extensive knowledge of corporate and media issues management
- Experienced with social media channel strategy, development, and oversight
- Strong working knowledge of media and social media monitoring, scheduling, and evaluation platforms and content generation tools
- 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 ability to provide strategic advice to senior executives
- Ability to make decisions and organize thoughts under time and budget constraints
- Able to diplomatically ask questions, challenge, and suggest alternative strategies and approaches
Preferred Skills:
- Fluency in additional languages
- Experience with specific communication software or tools
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in strategic communications, excellent leadership skills, and a deep understanding of local government operations.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: CAD 111,139 to CAD 138,924 per year
Benefits:
- Flexible Work Program (remote/hybrid work arrangements)
- Competitive benefits package (details not provided)
Working Hours: 40 hours per week
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on the City of Vancouver's pay grade for this position. The benefits package is competitive and may include health, dental, and retirement benefits, as well as other perks.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Government Administration
Company Size: 5,001-10,000 employees
Founded: 1886
Company Description:
- Do your best work here.
- At the City of Vancouver, we're looking for great people who want to make a real difference in their communities.
- Join us to be part of a smart, innovative team looking to build a great city today and tomorrow.
Company Specialties:
Company Website: vancouver.ca
ASSUMPTION: The City of Vancouver is a large government agency responsible for various services and operations within the city. It values diversity, inclusion, and community impact in its hiring practices.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior Managerial role with significant responsibility and leadership
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Office of the City Manager (1010)
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (Flexible Work Program eligible)
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential advancement within the communications department or related fields
- Expanding leadership and management skills
- Gaining experience in local government operations and strategic communications
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the City of Vancouver's communications department and local government sector.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid (Flexible Work Program eligible)
Office Location(s): 453 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1V4, CA and 2675 Yukon St, Vancouver, BC V5Y 3P9, CA
Geographic Context:
- Vancouver is a coastal city in British Columbia, Canada, known for its mild climate, natural beauty, and cultural diversity.
- The City of Vancouver's offices are located in the downtown core, offering easy access to public transportation, amenities, and attractions.
Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (with flexibility for hybrid work arrangements)
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement allows for a flexible balance between working from the office and remotely, with core hours for team collaboration and meetings.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening
- In-depth interviews with hiring manager and team members
- Background check and reference checks
- Job offer and onboarding
Key Assessment Areas:
- Communication skills and presentation
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving
- Leadership and management style
- Cultural fit and alignment with City of Vancouver's values
- Knowledge of local government operations and communications
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions focusing on leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Research the City of Vancouver's organization, values, and recent projects to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm for the role
ATS Keywords: Strategic Communications, Media Relations, Event Planning, Issues Management, Social Media Strategy, Team Leadership, Budget Management, Data-Driven Decision Making, Project Management, Coaching, Interpersonal Skills, Verbal Communication, Written Communication
ASSUMPTION: The City of Vancouver's ATS system may prioritize candidates who include these keywords in their resumes and application materials.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer)
- Media monitoring and analysis tools (e.g., Mention, Brand24)
- Content creation and design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite)
- Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello)
- Communication and collaboration platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack)
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have experience with relevant communication, project management, and design tools, as well as familiarity with social media platforms and analytics.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Excellence
- Integrity
- Accountability
- Respect
- Collaboration
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and responsive to changing priorities
- Data-driven and strategic in approach
- Committed to continuous learning and improvement
- Diverse and inclusive in perspective
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do your personal values align with the City of Vancouver's core values?
- Describe a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in priorities or direction. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?
- How do you approach building and maintaining strong, productive relationships with team members and stakeholders?
- Can you provide an example of a strategic communication plan you've developed and executed? What was the result?
ASSUMPTION: The City of Vancouver values candidates who demonstrate a strong cultural fit, alignment with the organization's values, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and teams simultaneously
- Working with tight deadlines and competing priorities
- Navigating a large, complex organization with diverse stakeholders
- Adapting to changes in communication strategies and priorities
- Balancing the needs of various internal clients and stakeholders
ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong leadership, organizational skills, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other communications manager roles, this position offers a unique blend of strategic, operational, and leadership responsibilities within a large government organization.
- Unlike private sector roles, this position requires a deep understanding of local government operations, public sector communications, and stakeholder management.
- Career progression may differ from private sector roles, with opportunities for advancement within the City of Vancouver's communications department or related fields.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a distinct blend of responsibilities, requiring a unique skill set and experience background tailored to the public sector and local government communications.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive communication strategy for a major city infrastructure project
- Managing a team to deliver a large-scale community event, such as a festival or parade
- Creating and implementing a social media content strategy to raise awareness about a city-wide initiative or campaign
- Collaborating with other departments to create and distribute informative content about city services, programs, or policy changes
ASSUMPTION: These projects demonstrate the breadth of responsibilities and the strategic, operational, and leadership skills required for this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the broader communications strategy for the City of Vancouver?
- What are the most pressing communication challenges facing the City of Vancouver, and how can this role address them?
- How does the City of Vancouver support the professional development and growth of its communications team members?
- What is the City of Vancouver's approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its communications strategies and initiatives?
- How does the City of Vancouver measure the success of its communication campaigns and strategies?
ASSUMPTION: These questions help candidates understand the role's context, priorities, and the City of Vancouver's commitment to its employees' professional growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences for this role
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions focusing on leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Research the City of Vancouver's organization, values, and recent projects to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm for the role
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
