Job Description

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 160836
Department/Program: Communications & Public Relations, Communications & Public Affairs
Location: Halifax
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE) x 1 position(s)
Start Date: September 2023
Union Status: Non-union, Management/Non Union Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $38.7875 - $48.4843 /hour
Closing Date: August 1, 2023 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across . People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other\xe2\x80\x99s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our , and enjoy access to enhanced and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi\xe2\x80\x99kma\xe2\x80\x99ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi\xe2\x80\x99kmaq people. Working in Mi\xe2\x80\x99kma\xe2\x80\x99ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the manager, as part of the portfolio of the Chief, Communications, Engagement and Change, the Senior Communications Advisor is responsible for developing and maintaining a strategic, integrated approach to communications and engagement activities in support of IWK\xe2\x80\x99s strategic plan and health transformation initiatives. This position works with colleagues in the communications portfolios at Nova Scotia Health, IWK Health, Department of Health and Wellness as well as other government and external partners. The role supports many projects and initiatives that are provincial in nature. This requires an understanding of the health care system, programs and services, and the capacity to apply this knowledge in developing successful communications strategies. This position helps build and support a culture of internal and external communications and engagement that is time and politically sensitive, consistent, and reflective of the goals and objectives of IWK Health.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a strong team helping to advance health transformation at IWK.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of strategic communications and engagement plans encompassing annual priorities aligned with strategic and corporate goals.
• Contributes to the overall leadership of special projects, including participation in strategic planning processes and priority initiatives at the regional, provincial, and local levels.
• Develops and implements a change management program in support of health services planning and health system transformation.
• Develops and implements an engagement strategy with two-fold objectives: (1) building relationships, enhancing connections, and enhancing reputation; and (2) supporting organizational strategy, health services planning and health system transformation.
• Develops key messages, news releases and FAQs related to special projects in support of the team\xe2\x80\x99s media relations program, ensuring that messages support strategic goals and objectives.
• Uses a project management approach to track, manage, and coordinate all activities under the responsibility of the Senior Communications Advisor and participates in the project management office as a member of the provincial team.
• Oversees and manages the development, evolution and evaluation of current communication tools and engagement strategies.
• Produces information notes/briefing notes and communication materials on behalf of the leadership team for Executive Leadership Teams as required.
• Acts as the government relations lead with government communications colleagues on issues that relate to transformational and organizational priorities, developing trusting relationships, and anticipating and responding to requests for information related to high priority topics.
• Leads online engagement and social media contributions as they relate to special projects, in partnership with IWK\xe2\x80\x99s online team, including building capacity in staff to actively engage in social media to promote programming and messaging to citizens, physicians, and other providers.
• Leads the development of website content related to special projects.
• Leads advertising strategies and campaigns as they relate to special projects following brand guidelines to bolster IWK\xe2\x80\x99s reputation.

Hours of Work

Monday to Friday, 75 hours bi-weekly. Evening and weekends may be required occasionally.

Your Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree and/or post-secondary study in mass communications, marketing, public relations, journalism or a related field, or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Minimum of five years\xe2\x80\x99 experience working in the communications and public relations sector.
• Knowledge of best practices related to communications, public relations, marketing, social marketing, social media, engagement, media relations, government relations, crisis communications and online engagement.
• Strategic and system-focused thinking; strong analysis, judgementand decision-making skills.
• Recognition of, and experience using, principles of physician engagement and working collaboratively with physicians to achieve communications objectives.
• Understanding of interprofessional practice to enable multidisciplinary focus to all communications materials.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships internally and externally; proven ability to build consensus and work effectively with many partners/audiences and the ability to work effectively within cross-departmental teams
• Experience managing high-profile public relations issues and in reputation management.
• Experience in government relations, building and maintaining relationships and influencing decisions and actions related to high priority topics.
• Experience in public engagement, and facilitating community engagement events.
• Human resource and financial planning experience is an asset.

Assets include:

• Professional communications designation (e.g. CMP or APR)
• Change management certification
• Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation
• Knowledge of IAP2 principles and practices
• Experience in the health sector including primary health care and working with family physicians
• Competencies in other languages an asset
• Knowledge of website platforms an asset (html, Drupal, CMS, Intranet, Adobe Creative Suite)

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Management/Non Union bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials. Additionally, as per Nova Scotia\xe2\x80\x99s COVID-19 Vaccine mandate, any offer of employment will be conditional upon submitting proof of full vaccination status. Medical exceptions or any other kind of requested exception based upon the Health Centre\xe2\x80\x99s obligations pursuant to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Code will be considered on a case-by-case basis

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.

Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health