Communications Specialist

Vancouver Airport Authority; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous vacation days

Extensive health benefits

Retirement savings matching

Wellness programs

Community engagement

Commuting support

Continuous learning & development

Job summary

Vancouver Airport Authority is seeking a Communications Specialist to partner with the Communications team and drive corporate communications plans aligned with YVR’s goals. The role includes media relations, crisis support, events, and stakeholder engagement, with a rotating on-call schedule and on-site four days per week.

We welcome candidates from internal and external backgrounds. The successful candidate will craft messages, monitor outcomes, and contribute to strategic initiatives while

Qualifications

• Three years of experience in communications with an agency or corporation.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear audience-focused messages.
• Strong project management, organizational, and deadlines discipline.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement communications plans for initiatives, campaigns and events.
• Create materials usable across formats (newsroom, press releases, newsletters, briefs, presentations).
• Support media relations, issues/crisis management, and 24/7 coverage on-call tasks.

Skills

Stakeholder relations

Writing & editing

Media relations

Crisis communications

Strategic communications

Education

Public relations certificate/diploma

Communications

Marketing

Journalism

Job description

YVR is a place of connection, bringing together people, places, and cargo while ensuring a safe and efficient experience for everyone. Communications is an integral part to making that happen. We are looking for a proven communications professional who is keen to take initiative and contribute to the high performing, award-winning YVR Communications Team, which is responsible for promoting, protecting, and enhancing YVR’s reputation and advancing our strategic plan in service of the community and economy that supports it.

Position Overview

We have an exciting permanent, full-time opportunity for a Communications Specialist. Reporting to the Manager, Communications, this role serves as an embedded strategic partner within the Communications team, delivering corporate communications plans, activities and materials that support YVR’s business and operational goals. While also supporting our media relations and issues management functions as well as events, stakeholder engagement, and other broader communications team functions as required.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Collaborate with colleagues, including from other departments, to proactively develop and implement communications plans for initiatives, campaigns and events that advance YVR’s strategy and priority areas.
• Deliver programming of the department, including key one-time, annual and multi-year initiatives.
• Develop communications materials, adhering to CP Style and YVR’s style guide, that are usable across multiple formats and audiences, such as editorial for YVR’s Newsroom, news releases and newsletters, briefing documents, and presentations.
• Manage the project calendar to ensure activities are scheduled and coordinated across the department.
• Monitor, measure and provide analysis on communications activities, including producing data-driven wrap reports on completed plans.
• Contribute to crisis and issues management, including participation in the Emergency Operations Centre and Communications Operations Centre to support response activities such as evaluating and responding to operational and reputational matters and providing communications support during business hours and while on call.
• Share responsibility of 24/7 media and social media coverage with key members of the team.

Key Qualifications Include

• Three years of experience in communications with an agency or corporation, supplemented by a two to three year technical or community college certificate or diploma in Public relations, communications, marketing or journalism or a related field; or an equivalent combination of training/experience.
• Proven ability to build working relationships with colleagues, business partners and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing communications plans, including a clear understanding of how effective communications methods can advance business goals.
• Proven ability to translate complex or sensitive information into clear, audience-appropriate communications and apply sound judgment when handling confidential or time-sensitive information.
• Solid project management, organizational, planning, and logistical skills with the ability to meet tight deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience supporting media relations and issues or crisis communications is considered an asset.

To support the Communications team’s 24/7 issues management and media relations efforts, this position will be required to participate in a rotating on-call schedule, ensuring they remain in town and accessible to respond as needed. Employees scheduled for on-call duty will be eligible for standby compensation during this period.

Although not required, French language skills are an asset as we are committed to providing bilingual services to our visitors and passengers.

This position is open to both Vancouver Airport Authority employees and external applicants.

Previous job performance will be taken into consideration for all internal candidates that apply for this position. As part of our recruitment process, short-listed candidates may be required to participate in an assessment process.

Salary Range :

$69,645 to $91,022 per annum, based on 37.5-hour work week. This is individually tailored to reflect your unique experience, qualifications and internal equity.

At YVR, your work experience goes beyond the paycheck. We support your personal and professional development, well-being, and a thriving work culture with

• generous vacation days
• extensive health benefits
• retirement savings matching
• wellness programs
• community engagement
• commuting support
• continuous learning and development opportunities

This role allows for flexible working and a hybrid schedule, requiring on-site presence 4 days per week.

Learn more at https://careers.yvr.ca/benefits

Who We Are

YVR is more than just an airport. We connect our beautiful province and all it has to offer to the world. We are all leaders and trailblazers for change and innovation, so no matter the department or team you’re a part of, the work you do matters.

At YVR, we are flexible in everything we do. We will work together to find ways to deliver customer excellence that helps us all thrive.

Whatever your background and wherever you’re from, you belong at YVR. If you have any questions about accessibility or require any assistance applying, please reach out at [e-mail].