Description
The South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink) is one of Canada’s most innovative transportation authorities, founded in 1999 to plan and manage transportation within Metro Vancouver. We’ve achieved success not only in improving the transportation network of the region, but helping maintain the enviable lifestyle of residents and the viability of local businesses. TransLink and our family of companies (Coast Mountain Bus Company, B.C. Rapid Transit Company and Transit Police) are proud to be one of BC’s Top Employers.
PRIMARY PURPOSE
Oversees the development of media and issues strategies, plans and activities ensuring alignment to TransLink's over-arching communications strategy.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Acts as TransLink's primary contact and key spokesperson for media.
Promotes and develops strong relationships with provincial, regional and local media.
Leads reputational and operational issues management for the entire organization by working with members across the Communications team to ensure coordinated and consistent messaging is aligned to company objectives.
Proactively works with senior leaders across the enterprise to identify story opportunities and manage public facing issues as they emerge. This includes providing support and direction to senior executive team.
Writes and edits a wide variety of external communications material including news releases, information bulletins, backgrounders, key messages and briefing notes.
Supports division in preparing the appropriate media and communication materials to implement company initiatives to enhance the perception of public transit by encouraging ridership, stakeholder engagement and TransLink's brand awareness.
Collaborates and leads communications resources in the operating companies and TransLink-related projects to ensure consistent and timely implementation and communications strategies and plans. Leads/ participates in initiatives that support other subsidiaries.
Manages and leads staff, including recruitment, selection, training, coaching, development, performance management and all other people management practices.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
The requirements for this job are acquired through a university degree or diploma in communications, public relations or a related discipline, and 7 years of progressively responsible communications and/or media relations experience, ideally in the public sector.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Prior experience as a media and/or corporate spokesperson.
Solid knowledge of the concepts, principles, practices and techniques pertaining to communications and issues management with prior experience working with media.
A team player with strong leadership and analytical skills who can demonstrate sound judgement when dealing with issues that may impact public confidence in the organization.
Advanced communication and interpersonal abilities with demonstrated written and oral communications skills.
Flexibility in providing media services on an on-call/after work hour basis as needed.
Strong problem solving, mediation and decision making skills to carry out a key role in issues management, and to act decisively and independently in high pressure and time sensitive situations.
To learn more, visit https://www.translink.ca/en/About-Us/Careers.aspx.
