Manager Public Health Communications and Engagement - Jobs in Niagara, ON

Job Description

DivisionOrganizational and Foundational StandardsTemporary DurationApproximate Duration: 9 to 12 monthsOpportunity for this position to transition to permanent at the end of the contract.About UsServing a diverse urban and rural population of more than 430,000, Niagara Region is focused on building a strong and prosperous Niagara. Working collaboratively with 12 local area municipalities and numerous community partners, the Region delivers a range of high quality programs and services to support and advance the well-being of individuals, families and communities within its boundaries. Nestled between the great lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara peninsula features some of Canada’s most fertile agricultural land, the majesty of Niagara Falls and communities that are rich in both history and recreational and cultural opportunities. Niagara boasts dynamic modern cities, Canada’s most developed wine industry, a temperate climate, extraordinary theatre, and some of Ontario’s most breathtaking countryside. An international destination with easy access to its binational U.S. neighbour New York State, Niagara attracts over 14 million visitors annually, as well as a steady stream of new residents and businesses.Please note that the Niagara Region requires that all newly hired employees are to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of being hired and provide proof of full vaccination, or provide proof of a bona fide medical or Human Rights Code exemption on a form issued from and approved by Niagara Region.Job DescriptionJob SummaryReporting to the Director of Organizational & Foundational Standards, the Manager, Public Health Communications and Engagement makes an impact on health and health equity by influencing the population’s health-related behaviours, motivating stakeholders around Departmental priorities, and leading an engaged and cohesive team of Public Health communicators and engagement professionals. The Manager is a key member of the Public Health Senior Leadership Team, responsible for developing and implementing Public Health & Emergency Services’ external health communication and branding strategies, internal communications and culture-building efforts, and leading community and stakeholder engagement. The role enhances departmental objectives by leading strategic communications counsel and tactical support to internal clients. This role also provides senior advisory support to the Medical Officer of Health/Commissioner, the Chief of Emergency Medical Services/Director of Emergency Services, and the Senior Leadership Team.Education

• University degree in communications, public relations, journalism, health sciences or related discipline
• Master’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, health sciences or related discipline required.

Knowledge

• Eight (8) years’ professional experience in issues management, internal communications, public relations, public affairs/relations, social marketing, community consultation and media relations; experience in public health or a health care setting is preferred
• Five (5) years’ experience in leading people in a large, complex organization is preferred
• Demonstrated experience in managing relationships with elected officials at various levels (municipal, provincial and federal).
• Knowledge of project management, social marketing, communications marketing, health communications, issues management and public relations theory, special events planning and speech writing, crisis communications, risk communications and change management
• In-depth knowledge of communications technologies and practices, social media, web and multi-media approaches.
• Knowledge of the principles underpinning health behavior change is preferred
• Professional accreditation in Public Relations or other communications-based professional organization is preferred

ResponsibilitiesProvides leadership and management direction to staff responsible for the external communications and engagement activities of the department. This includes but is not limited to media relations, social media, digital engagement, community, primary care and stakeholder engagement, public health branding, and reputation management. (30% of time)

• Establishes the vision and strategy for communications and engagement to enable Public Health & Emergency Services to achieve its goal of impact on health and health equity
• Leads the development and implementation of external communication strategies, conducting research, analysis, environmental scans and testing of new communication channels and tools to support and manage Public Health & Emergency Services’ external communications
• Establishes Public Health & Emergency Services’ brand and monitors resonance and reputation in the community
• Leads the development of Public Health & Emergency Services’ digital engagement and media relations strategies, conducting ongoing media relations activities for Public Health & Emergency Services, including preparing media products, organizing media conferences, and identifying and encouraging opportunities for positive media coverage
• Leads the development and implementation of Public Health & Emergency Services’ media relations program, which includes proactive and reactive engagement
• Works closely with municipal, provincial or federal communication counterparts to deliver joint announcements at media events or special events that involve or impact the Niagara Region
• Formulates and implements strategic communications plans to support Public Health & Emergency Services in building effective relationships with its external clients and stakeholders
• Monitors trends, issues and legislation that affect Public Health & Emergency Services or its stakeholders and recommends approaches or responses to address issues identified
• Researches, analyzes, plans, develops and implements communications plans and strategies designed to assist Public Health & Emergency Services in building positive relations with the public
• Advises the Medical Officer of Health, the Chief of Emergency Medical Services, and the Senior Leadership Team on political and reputational risk management
• Contributes to Public Health & Emergency Services’ government advocacy efforts through liaising with the Strategic Communications and Public Affairs team
• Leads alignment of the department’s community outreach activities and provides department leadership to all health promotion activities
• Leads staff responsible for outreach and collaborations with primary care and the health care sector and physician recruitment

Manages people resource planning for the division or operating unit, determining ideal organizational structures, identifying desirable role and skill mix requirements and ensuring ongoing work quality and deliverability of results. (30% of time)

• Enables results with the organization’s human capital strategy to foster employee engagement.
• Directs and provides leadership for the activities and coaching of direct reports, providing work direction, setting priorities, assigning tasks/projects, determining methods and procedures to be used, resolving problems, ensuring results are achieved, and managing staff recruitment, performance, and skill development activities
• Ensures alignment and coordination of activity and quality of output between teams under their direction
• Ensures focus is service excellence, communication/transparency, innovation, and data integrity and work flow integration.
• Ensures staff has the information and resources to make successful plans and decisions.
• Ensures all people related issues, including recruitment, grievances and labour relations issues, are aligned to HR and Corporate standards and practices.
• Helps to break down barriers to employee success, ensuring collaboration and cooperation with other teams within their division and department
• Ensures Occupational Health & Safety policies, programs and practices are implemented, and maintained. This includes workplace inspections, monitoring, accident reporting and investigations, and ensuring any observed hazards or lapses in the functioning of OH&S processes, and other OH&S concerns are responded to promptly.
• Ensures all individuals under supervision have been informed of hazards and instructed on the necessary risk control and emergency response measures;

Leads internal communications in Public Health. Enables Public Health & Emergency Services leadership with building engagement, supporting culture and disseminating information across all levels of Public Health through communication strategies, creative services employee engagement expertise. (20% of time)

• Leads the development and implementation of communication plans and strategies to support strategic business and operational activities and ensure consistency in key messages
• Leads the Public Health & Emergency Services employee engagement activities through the development and implementation of the department’s internal communications strategy, identifying engagement opportunities for staff at all levels.
• Ensures the implementation and evaluation of relevant elements of the Public Health & Emergency Services strategic plan
• Participates in Senior Leadership Team meetings, advising the Medical Officer of Health, Associate Medical Officers of Health, Chief of Emergency Medical Services, and Directors on strategic business decisions, and confidential or sensitive issues
• Member of the Organizational and Foundational Standards Management team, assessing, developing and implementing activities that align with the broader Public Health & Emergency Services priorities
• Ensure all policies and standards related to communications, community outreach, and employee engagement are successfully incorporated, understood, and communicated
• Develops and prepares reports, briefs, and Regional Council committee reports as required
• Identifies and implements ongoing and issue-specific internal communications strategies for Public Health & Emergency Services to ensure that department and corporate strategic goals are being met.
• Anticipates potentially contentious issues that could face the Corporation or department and advises on best methods of proactively and positively addressing them
• Reviews and advises on major initiatives and measures undertaken within Public Health & Emergency Services
• Ensure ongoing communications and effective relationships with the Strategic Communications and Public Affairs team

Leads crisis and outbreak communications for Public Health & Emergency Services, identifying and monitoring potential risks to the Department and Corporation, and developing contingency plans to respond. (15% of time)

• Member of Public Health & Emergency Services Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)
• Backup communications member of the Niagara Region Emergency Operations Centre (REOC) unless the emergency is a health crisis or outbreak where Public Health is the lead for communications and information
• Provides leadership to anticipate and address potential controversial, politically-sensitive obstacles and/or conflicts that may impact Niagara’s success and reputation; assessing potential risks; developing strategies to address issues and remove barriers.
• Leads the development of the outbreak communications strategy, which includes risk communications, key message development, media relations, multi-modal digital engagement, internal communications, stakeholder relations and evaluation. Provides direction to Communications and Engagement staff, as well as other Public Health staff in the implementation of the strategy.
• During health-specific crisis or outbreak, provides counsel to the CAO, REOC, and Council
• During health-specific crisis or outbreak, directs local area municipality communication strategy and works in collaboration with communication counterparts.
• During health-specific crisis or outbreak, directs communications strategies for stakeholders including school boards and post-secondary institutions.

Financial Management (5% of time)

• Develops, manages, and administers annual and multi-year Capital and Operating budgets for the operating unit ensuring support of Council’s objectives, financial transparency and accountability, monitoring budget adherence, identifying and explaining variances, and financial reporting is effectively managed in compliance with corporate financial policies
• Ensure goods and services are acquired in accordance with the procurement policy. Authorize the acquisition of goods and services for the operating unit and direct reports in accordance with the procurement policy and procedures

Special Requirements

• An annual influenza vaccination is recommended.
• Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values of service, honesty, choice, partnership and respect.

Closing StatementUncover the wonder of the Niagara Region and join a team dedicated to meeting tomorrow’s challenges TODAY!Let us know why you would be an excellent team member by submitting your online application.We thank all candidates for their interest however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.Quick Apply

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