Advisor, External Communications and Media Relations

Title: Advisor, External Communications and Media Relations

Location: CA-AB-Calgary

Department: Professional

Category

Professional

Position type

Full-Time

Hybrid

Eligible

Job Description:

Our organization

The Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) is the industry-funded regulator responsible for administering the province's securities laws. It is entrusted with fostering a fair and efficient capital market in Alberta and with protecting investors. As a member of the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), the ASC works to improve, coordinate and harmonize the regulation of Canada's capital markets.

The Communications & Investor Education (C&IE) division provides strategic communications advice and support to all areas of the ASC in a manner that encourages a fair and efficient capital market and meets the ASC’s organizational objectives. The division’s award-winning CheckFirst.ca website, materials and ongoing consumer education are focused on providing Albertans with relevant information about investing and how they can protect themselves from securities fraud. Through internal communications, media relations, digital communication, investor and industry education and stakeholder engagement, the team promotes transparent, relevant and timely information to support intelligent securities regulation and investor protection in Alberta and throughout Canada.

The opportunity

Reporting to the Manager, Communications & Investor Education, and working with all members of the Communications & Investor Education team, this role is a critical member of the communications and investor education effort. This role will contribute to building and maintaining a professional representation of the ASC, and relationships with key external audiences, including the media.

Key responsibilities include

• Providing senior-level writing and editing for a variety of communications products and tactics for diverse audiences.
• All aspects of media relations, including:
  • Drafting and distributing all news releases, briefing notes, Q&As, and other media products.
  • Building relationships with journalists, maintaining an understanding of how the media landscape is changing, and managing and coordinating media interview requests.
  • Handling media inquiries and working closely with the Communications & Investor Education team, and senior management to determine appropriate responses.
  • Coordinating media products and responses within the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA).
  • Media monitoring, including tracking coverage and measuring the impact of communication initiatives and compiling daily and monthly media clippings packages.
  • Identifying emerging issues, reputation risks and industry trends to inform key messaging and strategic planning.
• Manage organizational annual and market insights reports, including developing communications plans and production management.
• Developing and implementing communications strategies and assisting with external initiatives and events, including ASC Connect, and other industry education webinars and stakeholder engagement events.
• Building and maintaining high-trust relationships and partnerships with a variety of stakeholders including internal partners, external vendors and agencies, members of the CSA and other organizations.
• Co-representing the ASC and CheckFirst externally at conferences and other public activations.
• The ideal candidate will possess
• A minimum of five to seven years’ experience in communications with knowledge of communications strategy, media relations, media monitoring and tracking, and project management and production processes.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with proven success in interpreting, synthesizing and translating complex information into simple, compelling language.
• A post-secondary degree or diploma in public relations, communications, journalism, or marketing.
• The ability to work proactively, efficiently, independently and as a collaborative team member to create and drive new initiatives or enhance existing programs and partnerships.
• An understanding of how to manage, utilize and leverage data analytics.
• Proficiency with Cision (media monitoring and Newswire) is preferred.
• Familiarity with website management/maintenance (WordPress, Sitecore and SharePoint) is preferred.
• Intermediate-level computer skills (Excel, Word, etc.) and Adobe design programs (Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator).