Director, Communications

Elections Ontario is a non-partisan agency of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Our mission is to uphold the integrity and accessibility of the electoral process and to manage elections in an efficient, fair and impartial manner.

What can I expect to do in this role?

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Communications Division, seeks an experienced and innovative leader to direct the development and implementation of strategic communication initiatives, marketing & advertising, public education and electoral outreach programs. You will:

• lead the development and implementation of programs and policies that engage, inform and educate all stakeholders, including electors, special interest groups, media, political parties, candidates and the general public on the electoral process;
• direct the administration and tactical components of outreach programs, media, Internet, marketing & advertising, production and internal communications;
• direct, develop and implement public education and information programs;
• act as a key spokesperson for Elections Ontario in public facing communications;
• direct and oversee the development of policies, procedures and protocols for the communications function including issues management, media relations, public education, outreach programs and internal and external communications vehicles;
• direct the design, development and implementation of all aspects of media management including media briefing materials, providing advice, media training, responding to inquiries, anticipating and managing contentious and emerging politically sensitive issues;
• develop and oversee communications channels such as the Election Ontario's public call centre, EO's web and social media;
• provide strategic communications advice and executive level support to the Chief Electoral Officer and senior management;
• manage division staff and budget; and
• sponsor multi-disciplinary corporate projects.

How do I qualify?

Qualifications:

• minimum of 5 years' senior experience in a leadership role in communications; highly developed leadership and decision-making skills;
• thorough knowledge of media, mobile and multi-media, print production and graphic design and information technology systems;
• ability to identify issues and translate into communication strategies;
• capable of complex analysis of social, economic, political climate and trends along with the ability to identify and respond quickly to issues of public interest as it relates to elections;
• ability to act as a trusted advisor, manage key stakeholder expectations, concerns and to identify and mitigate risks as required;
• expert written communication skills, reporting skills, and advanced skills in conceptual editing, copy editing, and proofreading;
• excellent interpersonal and communication skills to counsel, advise, coach, train, develop and motivate staff;
• superior communication and presentation skills both written and oral;
• accreditation through the IABC or CPRS is considered an asset;
• advanced fluency in French (oral and written) is considered an asset;
• sound knowledge of outreach/public education program and partnership development methodologies and practices;
• strategic planning and analytical skills;
• leadership, management and teamwork skills;
• stakeholder relationship and partnership development skills;
• demonstrated project management skills; and
• demonstrated financial management and budgeting skills;

How to Apply

Position location: 95 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto ON.

Please submit your resume with a covering letter as one attachment to https://hrassociates.wufoo.com/forms/k1a880g60dp8nvb/ quoting File # EO-2016-48 to be received no later than Wednesday, October 12, 2016. Attachments must be in MS Word (.doc), PDF (.pdf) or Rich Text (.rtf) format.

If you require a disability related accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please email us. We will accommodate your needs under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

While we appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. We thank all applicants for their submissions.

Collection of Information

Your personal information is being collected and will be used to determine your qualifications for employment with the Ontario Public Service, and for recruitment modernization initiatives. OPS Careers is an authorized common service in accordance with s. 6 of the Ministry of Government Services Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.25 and this collection of personal information is necessary to the proper administration of OPS Careers.

Please do not provide more personal information than what is asked of you. For example, do not include your social insurance number, photograph, or banking information, etc. with your application. We strongly encourage you not to provide us with information beyond that which is requested in the job posting.

If you have any questions about the collection, use, disclosure, or retention of your personal information, please contact us.

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 Wednesday, October 12, 2016 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.