Advisor, External Communications and Media Relations

Alberta Securities Commission; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Health and dental benefits

Travel insurance

Paid vacation time

Flexible spending account

Professional development

Job summary

The Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) seeks a seasoned communications professional to lead senior-level writing and editing for diverse communications products. You will manage media relations, draft releases and Q&As, and build relationships with journalists to support investor education and regulatory messaging.

You will coordinate media activities across the CSA, monitor coverage, and identify emerging issues to guide strategic planning.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five to seven years of experience in communications.
• Ability to translate complex information into simple, compelling language.
• Post-secondary degree in public relations, communications, journalism, or marketing.
• Ability to work proactively, independently and as part of a team to drive new initiatives.
• Understanding of data analytics and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level writing and editing for diverse communications products.
• Lead media relations: draft and distribute news releases, briefing notes, Q&As; build journalist relationships; manage requests.
• Coordinate media activities with CSA and monitor coverage with regular clippings reports.
• Identify issues and trends to inform messaging and strategic planning.
• Manage annual and market insights reports and communications plans for external initiatives and events.
• Build partnerships with internal/external stakeholders and co-represent ASC at conferences and public activations.

Skills

Media relations

Editing

Strategic communications

Project management

Data analytics

Public relations

Education

Public relations/communications/journalism/marketing degree

Tools

Cision

WordPress

Sitecore

SharePoint

Excel

Word

Photoshop

InDesign

Illustrator

Job description

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).

This position will work out of the ASC office located in Calgary, Alberta. More information about working at the ASC including our comprehensive Total Rewards package can be found on our website at www.asc.ca.

We offer a hybrid work environment and flexibility, a competitive total rewards package consisting of 100 per cent employer-paid benefits, comprehensive health and dental; travel insurance; paid vacation time, flex and sick days; an employee family assistance program; transportation allowance, generous flexible spending account and professional development through subsidized courses, conference, workshops, seminars and in-house training. We also encourage fun and giving back to the community with initiatives offered through our ASC Social Club and annual United Way Campaign.

The ASC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals. We celebrate diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive work environment where every employee feels valued and respected.