Description
Media Relations and Public Affairs Advisor
(Temporary, 18 months)
Communications and Education
Centrally located in downtown Vancouver, the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) strives to make the investment markets benefit the public – enabling people to achieve their financial goals, enterprises to grow, and British Columbia to thrive. Through smart rules, diligent oversight, strong enforcement and reliable guidance, we act as guardians of the province’s investment marketplace, striving to make BC a place where people can invest with confidence and companies can flourish. We are an independent agency accountable to the provincial legislature and the public through the Minister of Finance.
You will be part of a communications team, providing strategic media relations and issues management advice to the Commission. Reporting to the Manager, Media Relations and Public Affairs, you will write news releases, respond to media inquiries, prepare Commission staff for interviews, track media coverage, prepare briefing notes for government, and assist with special projects involving both external and internal communications, including executive communications. You are a seasoned and skilled communicator with the ability to respond quickly, identify emerging issues and help to manage complex topics and issues. Your ability to draft press releases and communications materials, and to write clearly about finance-related subjects is as important as your ability to support a wide variety of communications projects.
The successful candidate will have the following qualifications:
- A university or college degree, preferably in the humanities, or post-degree certification in journalism, communications, or public relations
- Minimum of five years of experience in journalism or communications, with extensive experience producing content for wider audiences (submission of writing samples welcomed)
- Ability to translate legal and financial language into clear, comprehensible and interesting prose, often for a general audience, while maintaining utmost accuracy
- Attentive to detail and accuracy, especially in writing news releases and in responses to the news media
- Ability to manage multiple, simultaneous assignments and to prioritize them to ensure on-time delivery
- Appreciates the nuances inherent in writing; eager to wordsmith communications materials with the Manager, Media Relations and Public Affairs, and to view the editing process as an opportunity for long-term development
- Experience or an interest in the financial sector and investing, as well as public policy
- Ability to provide useful advice and feedback about effective communication techniques
- A facility with building relationships across business units to enable effective communication
- Excellent knowledge of computers and automated office systems in a Windows environment including Word, PowerPoint and Excel, and comfort with using a content management system for posting to the web
- Ability to use photo and video editing programs for creating collateral assets, including video clips and social media posts
The ideal candidate is an intensely curious self-starter who seeks to learn about a complex field, and also is willing to seek guidance in grey areas.
Finalists will be asked to take a test of writing and media relations skills.
We offer a challenging and rewarding work environment including a hybrid work model, and a competitive compensation package that includes four weeks of annual vacation. Visit https://www.bcsc.bc.ca/about/careers to explore this exciting opportunity and apply online by April 4, 2022. Competition #22:118.
The Commission has adopted a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy that went into effect on November 1, 2021.
Candidates must be authorized to work in Canada. Investment restrictions apply. We are an equal opportunity, merit-based employer.
