Communications and Public Relations Officer

Are you an experienced communications professional with strong public relations and creative communications planning skills? If you are, consider joining a dynamic communications team with the Ontario Science Centre (OSC) to provide expertise, advice and specialized technical guidance related to public relations.

Since 1969, the Ontario Science Centre has welcomed more than 50 million visitors, with an interactive approach that has become the model for science centres around the world. Guided by our mission to inspire passion for the human adventure of discovery, the Centre engages visitors in lifelong learning, is a vital link in the education and innovation ecosystems and a convener of public dialogue about science, technology and society. The Centre welcomes 900,000 visitors each year, and offers hands-on experiences and insights into science and technology that help visitors of all ages understand and contribute to the world around us.

What can I expect to do in this role?

You will:
• Lead and execute communications activities to ensure successful internal and external communications strategies that promote the Ontario Science Centre's exhibitions, events and films to the public and media.
• Act as the OSC's lead spokesperson and as the main point of contact for media inquiries.
• Identify, plan, organize and evaluate proactive and creative opportunities to create and foster relationships with media and influencers to enhance the reputation and brand of the OSC.
• Coordinate the OSC's participation in major media events, preparing and periodically giving presentations to the media as a representative of the OSC.
• Provide professional writing services for a variety of communications materials including key messages, news releases, issues management plans, promotional background for exhibits/programs, publicity materials, and social media copy.
• Monitor mainstream media, identify news segments relevant to the Science Centre and develop daily media clippings reports for the organization.

How do I qualify?

MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS KNOWLEDGE

You have knowledge of and demonstrated experience with:
• Communication planning, theory, methods and techniques, including print, broadcast, social media and electronic communications to provide strategic advice on communications issues and plans.
• Journalism, media relations, public relations and issues communications techniques, practices and processes to ensure that related communication materials reflect the OSC's commitments, position and messaging.
• Issues management to effectively identify and anticipate emerging issues and events that may generate public or media attention.
• Writing, editing and proof reading techniques to research, edit and develop strong communication plans and strategies.

COMMUNICATION, INTERPERSONAL AND ORGANIZATION SKILLS

You have:
• Strong oral communication and interpersonal skills to act as spokesperson at media related events, to manage client/stakeholder relationships and to form effective external partnerships.
• Experience communicating effectively with the media as well as stakeholders on important and occasionally sensitive issues.
• Advanced writing skills to develop a wide range of communication related products, briefing notes, plans and strategies in a concise and plain language manner.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to meet deadlines and prioritize internal and external client requests.

ADVISORY AND ISSUES MANAGEMENT SKILLS

You have:
• Experience managing communications strategies to provide input and advice towards achieving desired outcomes.
• Experience providing strategic communications expertise and advice to senior level management.
• Political acuity to assess and manage sensitive and potentially contentious issues.
• The ability to use judgement to assess the urgency of contentious and sensitive situations and ensure they are dealt with appropriately.

ANALYTICAL AND EVALUATIVE SKILLS

You have:
• The ability to evaluate client program objectives, as well as business and operational priorities and develop and execute communications plans/strategies in alignment with those priorities.
• An understanding of issues research and analysis techniques, and the development of issues management strategies.
• Skills in identifying, evaluating and weighing issues, trends and opportunities in order to support decision making.

Please be advised that the results of this competition may be used to form an eligibility list of qualified candidates to potentially fill future vacancies represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). In accordance with the Collective Agreement, eligibility lists are shared with OPSEU representatives. By applying to this competition, you are providing consent that your name may be shared with OPSEU representatives.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Friday, February 26, 2021 11:59 pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.