Manager, Communications & Community Engagement (Engineering & Environmental Services)

The Role

As a key member of the Region’s Communications Leadership Team, helps deliver on Council’s vision by promoting the regional brand on local, provincial, and national levels. 

Manages strategic communications and engagement across a diverse departmental portfolio. Works with departmental staff, Corporate Communications, and interest holders to build and implement meaningful communications, outreach, and engagement strategies on key initiatives, and supports and drives the development of the Region’s integrated brand, media, and social media strategies. Provides strategic expertise to the Commissioner and Directors to identify communications issues and risks. 

Leads storytelling on the meaningful, impactful, and critical community building work undertaken by departmental staff every day. Collaborates with staff to identify opportunities to explain the department’s vital contribution to the Region’s overarching plan to create a world-class community. 
 

Duties/Responsibilities

• Develops a departmental strategic communications plan to deliver on Council’s vision. Develops and monitors metrics to track the efficiency and effectiveness of the plan, and adjusts as necessary. Supports and drives the development of the corporation’s integrated brand strategy within the Department. Collaborates with staff across the Department to identify strategic communication needs, promotional opportunities, key messages, and channels. 
• Leads communication and outreach initiatives and planning under the leadership of the Director, Strategic Initiatives and Asset Management, working closely with departmental and divisional leadership, the corporate strategic communications team, and others. 
• Develops a strong understanding of departmental, divisional, and corporate goals and strategies, and ensures they are integrated into communications and outreach activities.
• Develops an understanding of short- and long-term Department/Division goals and planned initiatives.
• Develops content and assists the Department/Divisions to create content execution to provide consistent, targeted, impactful messaging and engagement.
• Supports daily communications through digital and other channels. Develops and oversees the Department’s social media communication processes and protocols, including for urgent communications.
• Designs campaigns to target specific and/or broad audiences, placing an emphasis and discipline on campaign performance to help with recommendations for future programs. Contributes ideas for new programs, and researches and recommends innovative branding techniques.
• Develops standard operating plans and templates for communications across the Department. 
• Identifies and presents opportunities for consistency in messaging and resident experience across medium channels (e.g., signage, digital, print).
• Directs in-house and external graphic designers, photographers, and other media-production specialists.
• Provides strategic advice to the Commissioner and Directors to identify communications issues, risks, and opportunities. Advises departmental management and staff on public-facing issues and items. Supports the Department Leadership Team during crisis/emergency communications. 
• Mentors and supervises Department/Division communications staff. 
• As a key member of the Region’s Communications Leadership Team, works closely with corporate communications regarding media strategy and issues management. Develops media relations plans and integrated communication approaches in response to requests/issues, as needed. Manages media issues and requests for the Department. 
• Manages the planning and coordination of media, public, and consultation events.
• Develops a comprehensive evaluation and reporting framework to measure the effectiveness of engagement tactics and demonstrate accountability.
• Attends Committee meetings, Council meetings as required, and significant media and communications events. 
• Demonstrates the Region’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, transparency, and accountability. Fosters and demonstrates a workplace of creating opportunity, serving others, building trust, innovation, and exceeding expectations.
• Conceptualizes, designs, and implements meaningful and creative engagement strategies to ensure residents of Waterloo Region are aware of the critical work undertaken by the Department.
• Performs related duties as required.
   

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skills are normally acquired through a degree in a related field (e.g., journalism, communications, marketing, media studies, political science, business administration, public administration) plus progressively responsible related experience
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in strategic communications and community relations practices, planning, media relations, and social marketing tools/technologies,. 
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, collective agreements, legislation (e.g., freedom of information, privacy, accessibility), and standards (e.g., Canadian Press). 
• Analytical, problem solving, research, and continuous improvement skills to oversee day-to-day communications activities and issues; assess and respond to/manage daily media issues and requests for the Department; and stay informed of industry developments in the field of marketing and communications to foster ideas and innovation.
• Ability to collaborate with staff to lead the identification of compelling stories within the Department, with strong ability to tell those stories in impactful ways. Ability to work with staff to drive meaningful community engagement through various consultation opportunities, leading to a better understanding of the work undertaken by the Department.
• Leadership skills to supervise, train, develop, motivate, and support staff. 
• Human relations, public relations, and presentation skills to establish and maintain strong working relationships; advise and support corporate leaders and others on public-facing issues; clearly convey information; negotiate media buys; and participate as an effective team member. 
• Ability to write clear, concise media releases, communications plans, reports, procedures, key messages, and correspondence. Ability to translate complex/unclear information into clear, concise statements for audiences with varied understanding of government issues and services. 
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office, social media platforms, and digital communications software.
• Ability to travel within and outside Waterloo Region. 
• Ability to participate in an official standby/on-call rotation to respond to legislated or time sensitive demands beyond regularly scheduled work hours.
• Ability to adjust schedule to attend evening meetings.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.