Communications Advisor

Halton Healthcare’s vision of exemplary patient experiences, always, goes beyond just the patient experience; it has shaped our entire culture and remains at the core of every interaction in our organization, from our patients & families to our staff, physicians, volunteers and visitors. We believe in exemplary PEOPLE experiences always!

At Halton Healthcare you will thrive in a healthcare culture and environment that embraces inclusion, diversity and belonging with ‘exemplary patient care, always’ at the heart of everything we do.

We empower our people to be the very best they can be so they can make a difference for our patients and the communities we serve.

Halton Healthcare takes great pride in providing quality, compassionate healthcare services to our rapidly growing communities of Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills. As a progressive and vibrant healthcare organization, we are committed to being an innovative center of excellence in community hospital care.

As part of Halton Healthcare’s Communications and Public Affairs team, the Communications & Public Affairs Advisor is responsible for the implementation of communication strategies and all supporting products and materials such as key messages, speaking remarks, news releases, FAQs, creative assets and more and helps with the coordination of events, campaigns and engagement opportunities.

Working closely with all members of the team, this role is a go-to specialist for the implementation of hospital-wide initiatives and communications strategies, both internally and externally.

This role requires an organized, energetic, multi-tasker who is a relationship builder both inside and outside the hospital and can execute on deadline, while managing any issues and competing priorities that may arise.

The Communications Advisor is a creative, skilled and energetic communicator and collaborator with a passion for growing professionally and bringing new ideas and tools to the organization and team.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, execute and measure strategic communications plans for a large, diverse portfolio of clients.
• Work closely with the executive lead and department/program leaders and staff to support priority initiatives and proactively identify communications opportunities.
• Build relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and prepare all elements of a successful communications plan including all communications products, such as tactics, messaging, budget management, creative assets, approvals and more.
• Provide strategic counsel and advice on various issues and opportunities to internal clients and community partners as appropriate
• Contribute to the development of the corporate communications strategy, including immediate and long-term goals and priorities.
• Proactively identify issues, potentially negative and/or positive, that may have an impact on the organization’s reputation or relationships and develop strategies manage the impact including preparation of messaging/ positioning statements.
• Provide support to corporate initiatives, events, engagement opportunities and campaigns as assigned, including marquee celebration events for Halton Healthcare staff and professional staff.
• Write key messages, stories, speeches, presentation materials, opinion pieces, briefing notes, advertising copy, social media, media releases and other communications materials for client portfolio.
• Prepare and distribute media monitoring clippings, internal newsletters and other relevant products.
• Support the brand and management of content to the website and employee portal, as well digital screens
• Work closely with the digital communications team and communications team and manager to execute on various aspects of communications plans, including creative assets.
• Ensure all communications products and materials are on brand and explore opportunities to strengthen brand awareness internally and externally through templates, videos, events, and more.
• Ensure all materials are viewed with a lens of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and support EDI initiatives as required.

• Post-secondary diploma in a related field (Communications, Journalism, Public Affairs, Marketing Communications, Digital Communications), and experience working in a similar capacity within a hospital, public health or government.
• Bachelor’s Degree and/or professional designation, e.g., ABC, APR, preferred but not required.
• Must have minimum (3) years experience in communications or public affairs role
• Ability to motivate creative people and lead the contracting and supervision of external creative suppliers and agencies.
• Solid knowledge of marketing and public relations principles and practices.
• Strong media relations skills and working knowledge of print, broadcast, online and social media.
• Ability to influence, negotiate, and manage contentious issues to resolution.
• Highly developed strategic communications planning skills.
• Superior project management skills and ability to balance and work to multiple production deadlines.
• Strong understanding of branding, visual identify and graphic design.
• Excellent critical thinking and judgement skills.
• Superior storytelling skills using words, images, audio and video and a keen understating of how to create content to inspire engage and educate.
• Ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization in a fast-paced, high profile, deadline-oriented environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish effective working relationships with a broad range of internal and external partners, creative communications professionals both internal and external.
• Highly articulate with strong verbal communications and presentation skills.
• Experience working with a variety of technologies and platforms including social media, website and intranet content development and management.
• An understanding of Ontario’s healthcare sector and/or best practices in public sector communications would be an advantage in this position.
• Highly proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, Access, Outlook, MS Teams, Canva, hootsuite, social media channels.
• Must have a valid Ontario driver’s license and a reliable insured vehicle to travel between all hospital sites.
• Independent worker.
• Flexibility to be on call outside of normal business hours.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 7.5 hour day shift

Salary: $31.75 to $39.73 per hour

Date Posted: October 18, 2024

Applications due by: November 1, 2024

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Halton Healthcare is an equal opportunity employer who is committed to integrating diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our operations, policies and culture. If you are passionate about what you do, motivated by a job well done, and as committed to excellence, quality and patient satisfaction as we are, we'd like to hear from you. Please attach your current resume directly to this posting.

We thank all those who apply but only those individuals selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Halton Healthcare is committed to providing accommodations for applicants with disabilities. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code, Halton Healthcare will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs to ensure your equal participation.

All new hires must be fully compliant with our Vaccination Policy as a condition of employment with Halton Healthcare. Successful applicants will be required to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a documented medical exemption as part of the hiring process.

All personal information is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.