Communications Manager - Arts, Culture and Community Services

Requisition ID: 41032 

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, reconciliation, 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 City of Vancouver is seeking a bold, innovative and service-oriented communications leader.

Reporting directly to the Chief Communications Officer and working closely with senior City staff, the Communications Manager, Arts, Culture and Community Services (ACCS) will provide leadership and direction to a team of communications staff to deliver, implement and support integrated communications projects and planning for the ACCS department.

This role is a great opportunity for a strategic and forward-thinking communications leader to join the City’s communications team:

• You are an exceptional, storytelling leader who will help shape communications for the City that resonate with citizens and are reflective of City priorities.
• You will lead and inspire our team toward high performance, creativity and quality, bringing a commitment to Reconciliation, diversity, equity and inclusion to all our work.
• You will help position the team as the nexus of communications expertise within the City, collaborating with business partners across the organization toward creating and implementing creative, integrated communications solutions.
• You don’t shy away from a challenge—and you confront problems with balance and curiosity. You lead in a way that builds your team up, even in challenging times.

The ACCS portfolio encompasses a diverse array of work including Homelessness Services, Vancouver Civic Theatres, Non-Market Housing Operations, Social Policy, Tourism, Public Art and Cultural Services. The Manager leads in the development and execution of proactive communication programs and strategies including on issues of high reputational risk to the City including homelessness and encampments, mental health and addictions, cultural redress, Reconciliation, the Healthy City Strategy, and the planning of public art and social infrastructure. The manager also works closely with the City’s engagement staff on complementary strategies to support community engagement.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

The Communications Manager, ACCS will deliver these core duties:

• Leads a team in communications planning. Lead the development, implementation and management of integrated, multi-channel citizen-centric communications planning to support ACCS priorities for both internal and external audiences, maximizing public awareness and understanding of benefit of City priorities and initiatives.
• Acts as a strategic partner. Seen as a strategic partner to the assigned business unit—one who understands the complex and varied organizational projects, priorities and issues in order to develop communications advice.
• Proactively manages issues. Proactively identifies emerging issues and opportunities on a regular basis, and recommends appropriate communications approaches.
• Works with media. Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with local and domestic media, determine key audiences and lead a proactive approach to media relations.
• Manages a budget and contractors. Effectively manage budgets and processes to execute initiatives in a cost-effective, timely fashion to support strategic objectives. Manage external contractors, including through the RFP process, including but not limited to agencies, freelance designers and writers.
   

To be successful in these activities, the Communications Manager, ACCS will:

• Prioritize relationships. Develops, builds and maintains excellent working relationships and understanding within their team, internal clients and stakeholders. Create an environment of trust and credibility through clear, accurate, open and timely two-way communication with staff and stakeholders.
• Use sound judgment. Leads with a high level of political acuity, judgment and diplomacy, including the handling of confidential, sensitive subject matter. Recommend appropriate communications response, staying calm even in moments of crisis.
• Use evidence. Prioritize evaluation and adjustment to inform an evidence-based approach to communications planning and ensure plans are working against set objectives, and evaluates plans to apply learning to future work.
• Lead and mentor. Leads and mentors staff with courage and heart by providing clear direction, a safe space for questions, and provide ongoing feedback so they can perform to their highest level. This includes coaching, training and development, hiring and termination, discipline, performance and attendance management.
• Stay on top of current trends. Stay abreast of the municipal landscape and pulse of Vancouver, particularly as it may have reputational impact on the City, its programs and policies.
• Ask questions. Diplomatically challenge the status quo, ask questions and suggest alternate strategies and approaches, always keeping a strategic outlook.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public affairs, political science or a related discipline, or clear demonstration of related experience.
• Five (5) years’ experience leading a team in mid-level strategic communications roles that encompass strategic communications planning, issues management, media relations, digital communications and corporate communications.
• Work in diverse and complex private, public sector or agency experience, ideally within a unionized environment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• A specific track record implementing communications strategies and making evidence-based decisions to support your organization’s goals.
• A specific track record implementing communications strategies that prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion and communicating with diverse communities.
• Strong, trusted, demonstrated relationships with local and domestic media, including multilingual and beat media.
• Demonstrated experience with and passion for dealing with multiple, high-profile and complex issues on a daily basis.
• Reputation as an avid learner and self-starter who follows emerging communications trends for the joy of it, including channels and tools, using data and nimbly keeping pace with change.
• Experience leading, managing and influencing diverse and multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated budget experience, including creating and managing a budget in a lean environment.
• Knowledge of local government operations and processes, intergovernmental relations and roles and responsibilities of orders of government is an asset.
• Experience in the arts and culture, community services, social infrastructure, or housing operation spaces is an asset but not required.
• Familiarity with public and stakeholder engagement development and implementation is an asset but not required.

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.

Business Unit/Department: Office of the City Manager (1010) 

Affiliation: Exempt 

Employment Type: Temporary Full Time 

Position Start Date: July, 2024 

Position End Date: August, 2025 

Salary Information: Pay Grade RNG-091: $111,139 to $138,924 per year

Application Close: May 5, 2024

At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons including all genders 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. 

Before you click Apply now

Once you start your application you can save your work and leave the applications page, however please remember to submit your profile to the specific job requisition before the posting closing date.

In addition to uploading your cover letter and resume, part of the application process may include answering application questions related to the preferred requirements of the role which may take approx. 5-10 minutes. Cover letters should express interest and highlight additional information relevant to the position and resumes should include a summary of skills and experience related to the position.