The Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT) is a highly specialized adjudicative tribunal that hears appeals of final decisions of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. The WSIAT is currently seeking a highly motivated professional to lead, the development and implementation of communications plans, strategies, tools and tactics and provide communications advice and support to internal and external systems partners and participants.
About the job
Working under the direction of the Counsel, Compliance and Strategic Initiatives, the Communication Specialist will:
• Provide strategic communications advice, services and products to the Senior Management Team, including WSIAT executives and other internal and external systems partners and participants to ensure consistency with approved strategy and messages.
• Lead the planning, development and implementation of communications strategies, plans and projects to increase the profile and role of WSIAT.
• Develop and adapt key messages for chosen media and determining appropriate communications tactics and tools.
• Participate in tactical planning to inform and engage WSIAT system partners and participants and increase awareness of WSIAT programs and initiatives.
• Ensure plans and strategies are consistent with WSIAT's overall strategic plan and communication objectives.
• Advise on issues likely to receive media attention, communications requirements related to specific policy initiatives, methods of communications and the type of information appropriate to individual groups or media.
• Direct a range of print, broadcast and internet-based media, conduct media analysis and prepare briefing notes to summarize findings and make recommendations.
• Coordinate the identification and assessment of emerging issues and trends impacting the WSIAT, including on program delivery and effectiveness and provide advice and recommendations to senior management on potential impact of emerging issues and trends.
• Respond to media inquiries in a timely and accurate manner in accordance with the WSIAT's adjudicative role and privacy obligations.
• Write, edit and formulate a wide variety of internal and external communications materials to support the development of community outreach, special engagements, public education.
• Adapt communications for relevant audiences and translate complex and technical language into plain yet impactful messaging.
• Develop processes and policies related to all communications activities of the WSIAT, including organization wide consistent branding and accessible formats.
• Contribute to the establishment and implementation of performance standards and processes to measure the success or effectiveness of communications plans, programs and services.
• Develop and manage budgets for materials and services contracted to meet commitments on specific communication projects.
• Identify target audiences and consult with clients to develop messaging appropriate to the initiative or audience.
• Assess likely public response/reaction to proposed initiatives and prepares appropriate responses.
• Work with French language translator to develop appropriate communications materials, as required.
• Work collaboratively with WSIAT librarians and WSIAT departments to provide ongoing advice and support to assist in developing department communication plans and strategies that promote and communicate their initiatives, activities or other opportunities.
• Ensure timely and appropriate delivery formats with distribution to widest possible audience where appropriate.
• Create, promote and maintain cooperative working relationships with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, the Minister's Office and other government agencies and external relations to coordinate activities.
• Liaise with photographers, translators, illustrators, graphic designers and printers during production of WSIAT communication materials to ensure accuracy of formats and content.
• Maintain internal and external website postings, including information on events and meetings, such as OIC appointments, special announcements, committee meetings and more.
What you bring to the team
Knowledge and Technical Skills:
Knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of contemporary communications to provide specialized advice and expertise.
• Ability to develop, plan and implement communications plans and strategies.
• Experience in coordinating communications services and applying new technologies and approaches to communications.
• Strategic communications planning practices and methods to develop and propose communications plans and strategies, and to apply new technologies and approaches.
• Experience in information gathering and dissemination techniques with experience in developing communications tools and products for a variety of media in support of programs across WSIAT, and a familiarity with e-print, internet and graphics design processes.
• Knowledge of the role, program areas, organizational structure, services, activities, programs, policies and relevant legislation of WSIAT to provide strategic communications advice.
• Understanding of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and other relevant legislation, as well as WSIAT's communication objectives and branding standards.
• Assess quality and relevance of information prepared for communication strategies.
• Ability to identify emerging issues and trends to make recommendations to address issues.
• Project management skills to plan and manage communications projects and collaborate with the Manager and/or SME to determine project requirements and deliverables.
• Interpersonal, collaboration and relationship building skills to interact well with all system users and community partners, maintain effective linkages with all levels of contacts
• Strong written communication and editorial skills to prepare a wide variety of materials for a range of audiences and convey information and WSIAT messaging in a clear, concise and accessible manner.
• Possesses organizational and planning skills to determine priorities and plan activities while performing a variety of different responsibilities with conflicting and tight timeframes in a fast-paced environment.
• Efficiently produce materials, with great attention to detail, to review documents for accuracy and completeness.
• Analytical, problem solving and evaluation skills to develop, implement and evaluate communication plans and strategies.
• Proficient with various computer systems and software programs (MS Office) including database management, word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications.
Organizational and Analytical Skills:
Robust communication and presentation skills to provide explanations on communication options and strategies to WSIAT Senior Management Team, program management, and other internal and external systems partners and participants.
• Strong judgement, tact and diplomacy to deal with urgent and highly sensitive matters and to handle confidential matters with tact and discretion.
• Ability to determine priorities and plans activities while performing a variety of different responsibilities with conflicting and tight timeframes.
• Experience in efficiently producing materials, with great attention to detail, to review documents for accuracy and completeness.
• Ability to coordinate communication services including the preparation of communications materials and tools.
• Coordinates the identification and assessment of emerging issues and trends and provides advice and recommendations to senior management on next steps as a result the potential impact of emerging issues and trends.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills:
Possess interpersonal and collaboration skills to provide WSIAT Senior Management Team and WSIAT departments with advice and support to assist in developing department communication plans and strategies.
• Strong communication and presentation skills to provide explanations on communication options and strategies.
• Ability to work with WSIAT librarians and researchers in other WSIAT departments to support the development of communication materials and content and provide strategic communications advice.
• Strong judgement, tact and diplomacy to deal with urgent and highly sensitive matters and to handle confidential matters with tact and discretion.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with key partners at the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, the Minister's Office and other government agencies and external relations/contacts.
• Experience in negotiation and leadership to guide multi-disciplinary groups working on implementation of communications strategies and programs.
Additional Information:
Background Check:As a precondition of employment, the WSIAT requires that the final candidate for this position, prior to commencing employment, is required to undergo both a criminal record and social media search. Other types of background checks may also be requested such as education verification and professional credential validation.
Address: 505 University Avenue, TorontoPosted on: April 25, 2025For
INTERNAL candidates, please follow these directions:
1. Please log onto your ADP account and select Myself>Talent>Career Centre.
2. Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, please show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. If you require accommodation for a disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please notify us, confidentially, at
Recruitment@wsiat.ca. Recruitment staff will contact you within 48 hours.
For
EXTERNAL candidates, please follow these directions:
1. Please submit your resume and cover letter through our online
WSIAT Careers Centre2. Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, please show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job.
3. If you require accommodation for a disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please notify us, confidentially, at
Recruitment@wsiat.ca. Recruitment staff will contact you within 48 hours.
Remember: The deadline to apply is May 9, 2025 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted. We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal is an inclusive employer.All Ontario Public Service external job advertisements are posted in English and French. To confirm the language requirements of a job, check the "language of position" information at the top of each job ad. For all positions, candidates will be assessed in English, the business language of the Ontario Public Service. For English/French designated bilingual positions, candidates will also be assessed through French-language proficiency testing.
How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility
We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.
Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's
Human Rights Code and the
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer
accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please
contact us.Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace: