Communications Consultant

City of Red Deer; Red Deer; On-site; CAD 107,130,000 - 113,443,000; Part time

Job summary

The City of Red Deer is seeking a Communications Consultant to guide internal and external messaging, media relations, and public engagement. Reporting to the Corporate Communications Manager, you will work with portfolio departments and the Community and Public Relations Department to implement strategic plans.

You will develop content, uphold corporate identity standards, and lead digital communications including website governance.

Qualifications

• Degree in Communications or related area, plus a minimum of two years’ experience in writing or communications.
• Experience in a large or municipal organization is an asset.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize duties and workload efficiently.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to multitask and meet deadlines.
• Superior writing, editing, proofreading, and attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences using various methods.
• Experience leading task teams.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience with web content management and Adobe Creative Suite programs, particularly InDesign.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive material.
• Commitment to The City’s Cornerstone Values.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the City's Communications Advisor and liaison to departments, senior leadership, Council, and stakeholders.
• Develop and execute internal and external communications plans to support corporate objectives.
• Manage media relations including news releases, media kits, and responses.
• Coach designated spokespersons for media interviews and public appearances.
• Lead corporate messaging and content development for reports, publications, speeches, web content and promotional materials.
• Protect and enhance the City's reputation and brand through consistent messaging.
• Coordinate multiple communications projects, ensuring timely delivery within budgets.
• Oversee website governance and digital communications, promoting the website as a key tool.
• Support public engagement through surveys, open houses, workshops and community outreach.
• Provide executive-level briefings and issues management for Senior Management and Council.

Skills

Communications writing

Editing

Proofreading

Project management

Microsoft Office

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Creative Suite

Web content management

Stakeholder engagement

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

InDesign

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Web CMS

Job description

About Red Deer

Red Deer sits at the heart of Central Alberta along the QEII corridor, perfectly positioned between Calgary and Edmonton. With more than 100,000 residents and a regional reach of over 300,000, it’s a growing hub for business, services, and opportunity.

Here, big-city amenities meet small-city ease. Enjoy abundant parks and trails, vibrant arts and culture, excellent recreation and education, and a strong sense of community.

With easy access to lakes, outdoor adventures, and the mountains, plus a thriving economy and high quality of life, Red Deer is an inviting place to live, work, and grow.

About The City of Red Deer Municipal Government

The City of Red Deer is a dynamic municipal organization with a $480M operating budget, a $60M capital program, and a workforce of nearly 1,700 employees. It is focused on growing with purpose by attracting talented, community-minded people who want to make a difference.

Guided by the vision “Our City, One Voice,” Red Deer is building a thriving, inclusive, and connected community, with priorities centered on a vibrant economy, community wellbeing, and strong engagement.

At its core, the City values its people, embracing diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared success.

The Opportunity:

The City of Red Deer is currently recruiting for a Communications Consultant. Reporting directly to the Corporate Communications Manager, the Communications Consultant works closely with their assigned portfolio departments, in addition to the whole Community and Public Relations Department. Responsibilities include developing and implementing internal and external communications plans, providing communications expertise and support, championing web communication, and upholding corporate identity standards. Actual duties may vary. Communications Consultants may also be hired for specific projects or to focus on specific corporate priorities.

Top Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the City's Communications Advisor and Liaison - Provide strategic communications counsel to departments, senior leadership, Council, and stakeholders. Act as the primary communications resource for corporate initiatives and issues.
• Develop and Execute Strategic Communications Plans - Lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of internal and external communication strategies that support corporate objectives.
• Manage Media Relations - Create and approve news releases, media kits, public service announcements, and media backgrounders. Coordinate media responses and support media-facing activities.
• Coach and Support Organizational Spokespersons - Prepare and advise designated spokespersons for media interviews, public appearances, and communications issues.
• Lead Corporate Messaging and Content Development - Oversee the development, editing, and approval of written communications including reports, publications, speeches, web content, and promotional materials.
• Protect and Enhance the City's Reputation and Brand - Provide leadership for corporate identity standards and ensure consistent messaging across all departments and communication channels.
• Manage Complex Communications Projects - Coordinate multiple communications projects simultaneously, providing project management expertise and ensuring successful delivery within timelines and budgets.
• Lead Website Governance and Digital Communications - Oversee website content, architecture, standards, and enhancement initiatives. Lead web governance teams and promote the website as a key communications and customer service tool.
• Support Public Engagement and Community Outreach - Develop communications strategies for public consultation activities such as surveys, open houses, workshops, trade shows, and community engagement initiatives.
• Provide Executive-Level Briefings and Issues Management - Prepare communications briefings and updates for Senior Management and Council. Anticipate, manage, and respond to issues with significant public impact, ensuring clear and timely communication with residents.

As our preferred candidate, you will have:

• Degree in Communications or related area of study plus a minimum of two years’ experience in writing or communications. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Experience in a large or municipal organization is considered an asset.
• Ability to work independently using initiative to complete projects and prioritize duties and workload efficiently.
• Ability to work in a multi-task and multi-deadline environment with strong project management skills. Ability to plan and attain short and long-term goals.
• Skilled in communications writing, editing, designing and proofreading. Superior writing skills essential.
• A demonstrated ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences using a variety of communication methods.
• Proven success in providing leadership in task teams.
• Strong attention to detail.
• A strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Previous experience in web content management considered an asset.
• Requires working knowledge of graphic design principles and desktop publishing software. Must have practical desktop publishing experience and with Adobe Creative Suite programs, particularly Indesign.
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality when working with confidential material and subject matter.
• Commitment to The City’s Cornerstone Values.

Affiliation:

Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 417

Status:

Term Part-time

Remuneration:

$39.88 to $42.23 per hour

Hours of Work:

37.5 hours biweekly as scheduled; Monday to Friday, some evening and weekend work may be required.

Additional Information:

The term of this position is anticipated to be 12 months.

The City of Red Deer does not permit the use of unauthorized internet resources or Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (for example, Copilot, ChatGPT or any other form of AI) during interviews or any supervised or timed assessments. Any violation may be investigated and result in serious consequences, including the rejection of your application.

We thank you for your application. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.