Job Description

Union: Non-Union

Job Number: J0123-0933

Job Title: Senior Media Advisor

Job Type: Permanent Full Time

City, Province, Country: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Location: Toronto

Job Category: Communications / Media

Job Classification: SPG2

Role Designation: Flexible Hybrid - In person days can be flexible from week to week subject to manager approval and operational requirements.

Open Positions: 1

Posting Date: June 1, 2023

Closing Date: June 21, 2023

Salary: $80,372.00 - $104,524.00/Year

Legal Aid Ontario employees are committed to making a difference in the lives of our clients.

As an integral partner in the Justice system, working at Legal Aid Ontario is more than just a job. It\'s an opportunity to help people who need it the most; to ensure each client receives the access to justice afforded to them under the law.

If you are looking for a new challenge in your already meaningful career with a team dedicated to justice, and innovation in a flexible and supportive work environment consider this opportunity below.

Primary function

Legal Aid is seeking a senior media advisor with government experience to support Legal Aid Ontario\'s (LAO\'s) media relations, issues management and public awareness programs.

The senior media advisor will look for opportunities to increase the profile and visibility of LAO\'s services with the public. They will use digital and traditional media channels to engage with multiple audiences including people experiencing an urgent legal crisis or seeking general information about LAO services, clients, lawyers, and service providers. Using data and analytics to understand LAO\'s audiences and their needs, the senior media advisor will look for opportunities to improve the public\'s awareness and understanding of LAO\'s services, mission, vision and values.

The senior media advisor will coordinate all media inquiries on behalf of the organization, and will provide ongoing media training, strategic advice and support to all spokespeople within LAO. They will also work to proactively identify and train multi-lingual spokespeople throughout the organization and develop a roster of speakers who are able to contribute on a wide range of issues and topics. The senior media advisor will also be prepared to act as a spokesperson on behalf of LAO as needed.

Working closely within the communications team, the senior media advisor will utilize skills within the team to creatively approach new ways to promote LAO and its services and initiatives.

Home Location: Provincial Office - Toronto
Secondary Location: Not applicable

Reporting to: Director, Communications

Key accountabilities

• Develops and executes media plans, pitches, stories and campaigns to advance LAO\'s mission, goals, and strategic priorities and promote its services and initiatives
• Liaises with subject matter experts to gather information and formulate responses to media inquiries
• Seeks opportunities to generate positive coverage of LAO using traditional and digital media platforms
• Monitors daily news coverage to identify public interest issues that could affect LAO\'s reputation and the public\'s perception
• Maintains a strong knowledge base of trends and issues, particularly in the justice, legal, social, and political sectors, that could impact LAO
• Creates and implements tactical communications strategies and plans to respond to and mitigate high-visibility and high-risk matters
• Writes, edits and reviews media and external-facing content (e.g., media releases, backgrounders, op-eds, fact sheets, web and social media content)
• Acts as a media spokesperson as required
• Delivers media training and builds and maintains a register of multi-lingual trained spokespeople
• Prepares material for those who are publicly representing LAO (e.g., speeches, speaking points, frequently asked questions)
• Leads the preparation of public/media announcements, interviews, and events
• Monitors, tracks and reports on engagement and earned coverage of LAO-generated and LAO-mentioned public content
• Builds working relationships with targeted media partners, and legal and justice sector writers and content producers
• Compiles and disseminates daily news clippings
• Manages media contact list

Required skills & experience

• College/university degree or diploma in journalism, public relations, corporate communications or related field.
• A minimum of 5 to 7 years of related media and public relations experience, or government issues management.
• Experience working in government is strongly preferred
• Demonstrated expertise in media relations and communication practices.
• Superior writing, research and interviewing skills when responding to service providers or justice partners.
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Excellent knowledge of CP style
• The ability to independently problem-solve and present solutions to identified issues
• Strong project management skills for developing and implementing events, programs and evaluating results within a timely manner
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization
• Demonstrated experience in planning, and managing and providing support for events
• Ability to be as effective when working independently as well as in a team setting
• Must be able to manage multiple competing project priorities with shifting timelines and deadlines
• Ability to communicate in French is an asset

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be notified.

All applicants are encouraged to provide a valid email address for communication purposes. Applicants may receive written correspondence regarding this job posting directly to the email address provided on their resume or to the one used to set up their Candidate Profile if applying on Njoyn. As an applicant, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check your email regularly.

First time applying to LAO? You will need to create a profile AND then apply for the position. Already have an Njoyn account? Just sign in and select "my jobs" to apply. Once you have successfully applied you will receive a confirmation email. Trouble applying? For telephone support please call 1-877-427-7717 or email: candidate.njoynhelp@cgi.com.

Legal Aid Ontario values integrity, respect, responsiveness, excellence, independence, accountability, openness and consistency. Our recruitment process reflects our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Accommodations are available upon request.

Legal Aid Ontario encourages applicants from equity seeking groups, including but not limited to individuals who are First Nations, Inuit or M\xc3\xa9tis descent, persons with disabilities, women, members of racialized communities and the 2SLGBTQ+ community. We recognize the value of diversity, equity and inclusion and are committed to addressing systemic barriers, and attracting and retaining diverse staff. All interested and eligible people will be considered, with due consideration to all protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Legal Aid Ontario