Senior Communications Advisor, Media Relations

Uhnresearch; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in healthcare is seeking a Senior Communications Advisor to lead media relations strategies. This role offers the chance to craft compelling narratives and enhance the organization's presence in the media landscape. You will collaborate with talented professionals, manage media interactions, and contribute to impactful communication strategies that promote groundbreaking research and clinical care. With a hybrid work model and a commitment to employee development, this position promises a fulfilling career path in a supportive environment. Join a team dedicated to making a meaningful difference in healthcare across Canada.

Benefits

Competitive offer packages

Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)

Close access to Transit

Flexible work environment

Opportunities for development

Corporate discounts

On-site gyms

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of experience in media relations, ideally in healthcare.
• Proven history of building strong relationships with media contacts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement media relations strategies for UHN.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for media inquiries.

Skills

Media Relations

Strategic Communication

Media Monitoring

Relationship Building

Creative Thinking

Education

Degree in Journalism

Diploma in Media Relations

Tools

Meltwater

Job description

Senior Communications Advisor, Media Relations

• Full-time
• Department: Other (Not Listed)

UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

www.uhn.ca

Union: Non-Union
Number of vacancies: 1
Site: Toronto General Hospital
Department: Communications and Brand Strategy
Reports to: Manager, External Communications
Work Model: Hybrid
Hours: 37.5 per week
Status: Permanent Full-Time
Closing Date: May 23, 2025

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced, creative, and dynamic Senior Communications Advisor to develop and implement media relations strategies as part of University Health Network's (UHN) integrated communications and brand strategy. Reporting to the Manager, External Communications, and as part of UHN’s Communications and Brand Strategy team, the ideal candidate will be media and healthcare savvy who knows the fundamentals and how to apply them in a fluid media landscape.

You will:

• Contribute to integrated communications and marketing strategies that support and promote UHN’s vision, goals, and objectives.
• Have the unique opportunity to share exciting stories of clinical care, groundbreaking research, and innovative education at Canada’s #1 hospital.

Plus, through your media relations expertise and talents, you will make a meaningful contribution to UHN and healthcare in Ontario and across Canada.

Candidates invited for an interview will be asked to provide samples of their media pitches and monitoring reports and complete an at-home exercise.

Duties

• Develop and Implement Media Relations Strategies: In collaboration with the Manager, External Communications create and execute comprehensive media relations plans that align with UHN’s goals and objectives. This includes identifying key media outlets, crafting compelling narratives, and ensuring consistency with messaging across all external and internal channels.
• Manage Media Interactions: Serve as the primary point of contact for media inquiries, facilitating interviews, press conferences, and other media engagements. Ensure timely and accurate responses to media requests and maintain strong relationships with journalists and media representatives. Additionally, build and nurture relationships with key news outlets in Canada and internationally to enhance UHN's media presence and ensure broad coverage of our initiatives and achievements.
• Media Pitching: Write and deliver strategic pitches that support UHN’s goals and objectives and showcase the organization as Canada’s No. 1 hospital and an innovative leader in global healthcare.
• Monitor Media Coverage: Conduct regular media monitoring to track coverage of the organization and its initiatives. Analyze media trends and provide insights to senior leadership on public perception and potential areas for improvement.
• Collaborate with Internal Teams: Work closely with other areas of the Communications and Brand Strategy department, including social media, corporate communication, and internal communication on cohesive and integrated strategies. Establish strong collaboration with UHN’s government relations experts and the President and CEO’s office.
• Prepare Media Toolkits: Draft and distribute press releases, media advisories, backgrounders, and other communication materials. Ensure that all materials are well-written, accurate, and aligned with the organization's messaging.
• Build Relationships with SMEs: Identify key subject matter experts and nurture relationships with them, ensuring they are appropriately prepared for any interaction with media.
• Stay Informed: Be well versed in current events as they relate to healthcare in the city, province, and country and well informed about key media outlets in Canada and around the world.
• Collaborate effectively with media peers at UHN Foundation, Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, West Park Foundation, and other related organizations
• Serve as an internal subject matter expert on media relations best practices, trends, and strategies
• Leverage data and analytics to help shape pitching and media coverage strategies, storytelling, and content creation and optimization for the organization
  Facilitate and supervise media interactions
• Hold a degree or diploma in Journalism, Media Relations, or related field.
• 5-8 years of experience in media relations, ideally in healthcare, government, or a large, brand-forward organization.
• 3-5 years playing lead role in planning media events.
• 3-5 years preparing monthly and ad hoc reports with insights that contribute to ongoing integrated communications and marketing strategies.
• Proven history of building strong and effective relationships with media contacts and internal subject matter experts.
• Track record for strategic media pitching with outcomes that contribute to the organization’s narrative and brand value.
• Experience facilitating media training for subject matter experts.
• Familiarity with Meltwater.
• Have excellent understanding of media best practices.
• Be a creative thinker with excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Adapt quickly to changing landscapes and in response to shifting priority.

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/ )
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates. Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.