Description
The Vancouver School District is an exciting, progressive, and dynamic school district, offering a wide range of educational opportunities for more than 50,000 learners from kindergarten to adults. Vancouver schools have an excellent reputation as being diverse and inclusive, and for providing outstanding, student-centered, choice programs. Our diverse school district employs almost 9,000 employees which are represented by 14 bargaining units as well as exempt management staff. The District has 110 educational sites, and a $640 million operating budget with major capital projects underway. The District has a high-profile stature in the British Columbia K-12 education system, and many of our stories speak positively of student success and innovative practice; we work to keep these stories at the forefront when sharing what is happening in our classrooms, schools, and District.
We are currently seeking a Communications and Engagement Advisor to join our valued team of storytellers who shape the narrative about public education in Vancouver. Our communications team is integral the District’s mission, vision and guiding principles of collaboration, engagement, excellence, inclusion and transparency. As Communications and Engagement Advisor you will work alongside educators and administrators in an exciting, progressive and dynamic school district.
As the District’s Communications and Engagement Advisor you are an energetic and self-motivated communications professional with a background in strategic communications, internal communications, issues management, community engagement and government relations. Under the direction of the District’s Manager of Communications, you will develop, implement, and evaluate external and internal communications plans and public engagement initiatives. You will work closely with the senior leadership and district management teams as well as school-based staff, community partners, stakeholders, media, and government/public sector agencies to ensure messages, stories and initiatives of Vancouver public schools receive the attention they deserve.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development of communication planning, strategies, and tactics for internal and external communications, ensuring the communication plans support and advance District initiatives.
- Advise and support the senior and district management team in the pursuit of public engagement guided by the IAP2 spectrum.
- Provide concise and professional writing and storytelling, including contributions to key messages, issue notes, briefing notes, speeches, feature stories, social media content, community letters, presentations, collateral materials, etc.
- Consistently utilize strong critical thinking skills to assess a situation, propose appropriate response/next steps for district initiatives and matters, as well as possess exceptional political acuity.
- Support crisis management and media relations activities through advising district and school-based staff about frequent and sensitive issues garnering public attention.
- Liaise with media and communications counterparts from other school districts, the Ministry of Education, provincial and federal agencies, and other key stakeholders to facilitate requests for information, and collaborate with partners on joint initiatives and events.
- Contribute to the team's graphic design, photography and video production efforts.
- Manage multiple projects and deliverables under tight deadlines.
Education and Experience
- A university degree in Communications or related field.
- A minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in corporate communications or public relations within a large public organization.
- IAP2 certification is considered an asset
- Previous experience in complex, multi-union, Public Sector environment is also considered an asset.
The successful candidate must also be available to work some evenings and weekends. A class 5 driver’s license is considered an asset.
The District welcomes qualified applicants who value equity and diversity as essential to excellence. The district makeup of the VSB strives to support all voices and fosters a community where all members feel a sense of belonging, security, and acceptance. The VSB community is for everyone, and you may wish to share some lived experiences that demonstrate your connections to our diverse student community.
To be considered for this position, please apply via https://bit.ly/3fqpWC6 and include a cover letter and resume along with your application to this competition. The closing date for this competition is THURSDAY, February 10, 2022 at 8:30 a.m.
