Senior Communications Specialist

Building Ontario Fund; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Building Ontario Fund seeks a Senior Communications Specialist to enhance their outreach and amplify investment in critical infrastructure. The ideal candidate will manage media relations, develop strategic communications for high-impact projects, and contribute to internal employee engagement initiatives. This role requires strong writing skills, a degree in a related field, and over 8 years of relevant experience in fast-paced environments, aimed at ensuring the Fund's objectives are clearly communicated to both internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in communications or public relations.
• Experience with high-profile communication plans.
• Knowledge of inclusive communication practices.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategy for external project announcements.
• Manage media relations and respond to inquiries.
• Support executives at speaking engagements.

Skills

Communication

Media Relations

Crisis Communication

Project Management

Interpersonal Skills

Analytical Thinking

Education

Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or Journalism

Tools

MS Office

Social Media Content Tools

Job description

The Opportunity

Headquartered in Toronto, the Building Ontario Fund (BOF) is a new independent, board-governed agency that will facilitate investment by trusted institutional investors in critically needed large-scale infrastructure projects within the province.

The agency’s mandate is to invest in, and seek to attract investment from, qualified institutional investors, public sector entities, governments, and Indigenous communities in Ontario infrastructure projects that will generate revenue and are in the public’s interest. BOF will do this by:

• Investing in infrastructure and appropriately allocating risks amongst the Corporation and other investors
• Structuring proposals and negotiating agreements with investors in infrastructure projects
• Receiving and assessing unsolicited ideas and proposals for infrastructure
• Providing advisory services with respect to financing infrastructure projects

Reporting to the Head, Communications, the Senior Communications Specialist role plays a key part in amplifying the Building Ontario Fund’s work to catalyze investment in priority infrastructure across Ontario. It focuses on external communications that showcase high-impact projects, public announcements, media relations, and executive engagement at events and conferences. At the same time, it supports the organization’s talent strategy by contributing to internal communications that boost employee engagement and continue to make BOF an employer of choice. The ideal candidate is a compelling writer who thrives in a fast-paced, growing organization and navigates changing priorities with ease across both internal and external communications.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Play a key role in driving strategy and developing communications for external project announcements to amplify the profile of Building Ontario Fund’s investments, ensuring clear and consistent messaging across all channels, including news releases, social media, website, and internal platforms.
• Develop external communications to amplify corporate priorities, including the business plan and annual report, collaborating with internal department staff to gather relevant information, drafting and editing content, and facilitating approvals.
• Media relations, including identifying opportunities, developing responses to inquiries in a timely manner, crafting materials (e.g., news releases, Q&As), and preparing executives for proactive opportunities.
• Manage issues by proactively identifying potential reputational risks, responding to media issues, collaborating with internal teams to ensure timely, accurate, and consistent messaging, briefing executives, and monitoring coverage.
• Support executives’ participation in speaking engagements and conferences through tailored message development and comprehensive briefing materials. Research event topics, draft speeches and key messages, and coordinate with event organizers to ensure seamless logistics.
• Design social media content strategies and craft engaging copy that reflects the brand voice and drives audience engagement.
• Contribute to development and delivery of the internal communications strategy aligned with the Building Ontario Fund’s mandate, values, and priorities, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines, applicable directives, and accessibility standards.

Education and Experience

• Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in communications, journalism, or public relations, including the successful planning and delivery of high-profile communication plans, such as public sector project announcements, for a wide range of stakeholders.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of contemporary communications theories, principles, and practices to: provide expert advice, develop and implement strategic communication plans, and coordinate effective communication services; advise internal and external stakeholders on defining communication objectives, crafting key messages, identifying target audiences, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals and priorities.
• Knowledge of information gathering and dissemination techniques with experience in developing communications tools and products for a variety of media to support the announcement and promotion of priority projects
• Strong written communication skills to quickly and effectively distill complex information into clear, impactful messages and create compelling, tailored content across external and internal platforms.
• A solid understanding of the media environment, including risks and opportunities
• Knowledge and experience in crisis communications, with an ability to respond quickly and effectively under pressure.
• Analytical and critical thinking skills to: compose relevant communication materials and tools to support the announcement and promotion of projects; assess the quality and relevance of communication materials prepared, identify emerging issues and trends, and anticipate consequences to determine appropriate response.
• Interpersonal, collaboration and partnership building skills to: comfortably engage directly with executive leadership to shape strategy and messaging and foster relationships; quickly build rapport and credibility with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to ensure cohesive communication efforts in the delivery of communication initiatives.
• Project management skills to plan and deliver communication initiatives.
• Resiliency, organizational and time management skills to adapt quickly and deliver results in fast-moving situations and make progress even when the path forward isn’t clear.
• Proficient with various computer systems and software programs including MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, SharePoint), database management and various website and social media content tools.
• Knowledge of inclusive communication practices and accessibility standards and legislation (e.g. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2009).

Application

• To apply for this position, please email your resume to LinkedIn. We thank you for your interest in the Building Ontario Fund. Applicant selection is based on, but not limited to technical competence, in-depth experience in relevant sectors and educational background. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates with a disability taking part of the recruitment process.
• At Building Ontario Fund, we are committed to diversity, transparency and inclusion. We believe our strength comes from having a team with the right diverse skills and abilities selected through a merit-based competitive process. We actively encourage applications from people regardless of nationality, religion gender, race, disability or sexual orientation.