Senior Communications Specialist - Temporary Full Time

LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services; Burnaby; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services is seeking a Senior Communications Specialist to manage internal and external communications. The role involves creating strategic content, managing communication projects, and enhancing engagement through various platforms. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of experience in corporate communications.

Benefits

Employee Group Benefits

Retirement Savings Plan

Vacation and Wellness Days

Professional development reimbursement

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in corporate communications.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Experience in highly regulated industries is a benefit.

Responsibilities

• Manage internal and external communications activities.
• Create and execute strategic communications plans.
• Develop written communications for the executive team.

Skills

Client service skills

Storytelling

Business acumen

Time management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or marketing communications

Tools

Microsoft Word

Adobe Photoshop

InDesign

Job description

Senior Communications Specialist - Temporary Full Time

30 International Blvd, Etobicoke, ON M9W 5P3, Canada •

3680 Gilmore Wy, Burnaby, BC V5G 4M1, Canada

Job Description

Posted Friday, May 16, 2025 at 4:00 AM

For over 50 years, LifeLabs has beenCanada’s leading provider of laboratory diagnostic information and digital health connectivity systems, enabling patients and healthcare practitioners to diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent disease. We are passionate about empowering healthier Canadians through accessible, accurate, and innovative diagnostic services.

We are committed innovators, operatingCanada'sfirst commercial genetics lab, and the country's largest online patient portal, with more than 8 million Canadians receiving their results online.More than112 million laboratory tests come through LifeLabs’ laboratories annually, and our team of more than 6,000 passionate, caring, and diverse professionals works together as one to provide high quality testing and results that Canadians can trust.

We know that behind every lab requisition, sample being tested, or investment in technology is an individual and their family counting on us. At LifeLabs, you can make a meaningful impact on Canadians’ lives every day.

Our teams are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Employers, reflecting our deep commitment to our core values of caring, agility, teamwork, and a customer-centered approach. As part of this commitment, LifeLabs prioritizes the ongoing development of our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program to better serve the needs of our diverse workforce and the communities we serve. We continue to take steps to challenge ourselves to act with courage and integrity, and to create an environment where people can be their true selves.

These values are not just words on a page, they guide our actions and decisions every day and have come to define our team culture.

Reports to: Director, Corporate Communications and Community Engagement
Status: Temporary Full Time (Contract End Date: October 31, 2026)
Schedule: Shift Times May Vary
Additional Requirements: N/A
Number of Positions: 1
Start Date: ASAP
Internal Application Deadline: May 23, 2025

LifeLabs operates under a Hybrid workforce model. Further details will be provided during the interview stage.

This vacancy is for an existing position.

Purpose of the Role

The Senior Communications Specialist will be responsible for day-to-day management of internal and external communications activities. In this role, the individual will execute communications strategies in partnership with internal cross functional teams. As the resource on communication matters, the individual must demonstrate a proven track record of successfully managing the complete execution of communication projects from start to finish, and most importantly, achieving or exceeding desired results.

The Senior Communications Specialist will initiate, create and execute on strategic communications plans by identifying and acting upon opportunities for proactive content creation and placements for LifeLabs website, weekly newsletter, social media and flagship publication. Creating and managing content to be strategically disseminated across multiple internal and external electronic and print platforms.

The position develops, directs and provides guidance on the department’s year-round communication strategies, implementation and success; as a communications resource provides consultation to internal stakeholders, develops original compelling content for project initiatives, as well as expertly synthesizing this content for senior management.

In collaboration with the Director, leads the development and strategy implementation of original content creation for the department’s internal and external communications, including but not limited to department websites, newsletters, community reports, budget submissions, measurement reports, project roll-out plans. The individual must exhibit exceptional writing, problem-solving, consensus-building, and interpersonal skills to establish credibility and strong relationship building with both internal and external stakeholders.

Your responsibilities will include:

Strategic Communications Support

• Outstanding client service skills (i.e., focus on clients’ needs, solutions-oriented and going the extra mile to ensure satisfaction)
• Exceptional business acumen and a solid understanding of creating and implementing strategic communications strategies
• Demonstrated ability to communicate in a manner consistent with brand
• Create strategies to support complex change management communication strategies in partnership with internal clients
• Skilled storyteller experienced in crafting engaging traditional and digital content (e.g., email marketing, website banners) for a variety of audiences
• Develop written communications for the executive team including speaking points and presentations

Reporting and analytics

• Conduct content audits and gap analysis for communication campaigns (qualitative and quantitative analysis of all the content executed for one project across multiple channels)
• Analyze and identify opportunities to increase engagement
• Analyze and identify opportunities to increase audience engagement with content. Review analytics and ensure content strategy is incrementally driving the right kind of user behaviors
• Provides recommendations on how best to share content, proactively suggest unique approaches that may increase readership and keep content fresh
• Put forward metrics on performance of articles, including input on articles that may not have had high read response rates and how to implement adjustments with similar articles to aide in increase of readership with future articles

Content Creation

• Creates and executes effective communications strategies and tactics for assigned projects
• In charge of creating and maintaining editorial calendars and ensure timely publication
• Communicate content in formats other than text-based articles, such as infographics or multimedia presentations
• Identifying gaps in our content and recommending new topics
• Actively follow industry-related news and generate ideas around trending topics
• Meet with content owners and translate business goals into a content strategy that drive engagement
• Owning of weekly employee newsletter; writing regular feature articles and serving as the main point of contact for news contributors

External Communications

• Evaluates and identifies potential news and develops press pitches, press releases and press materials
• Develop key messages to support media pitches and builds/maintains media lists
• Regularly pitch – and successfully place – positive stories about LifeLabs in mainstream and online channels
• Response for creating messages to help support inquiries from media
• Assist in the development of press releases, FAQs, talking points, media statements, fact sheets, and backgrounders
• Maintain a database of press coverage

What you bring to the role:

• Bachelor’s degree required in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing communications, or transferable area
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience working in a complex corporate communications environment
• Exceptional storytelling abilities across multiple platforms both traditional and digital platforms
• A cross-disciplinary team player. You have experience working with diverse disciplines
• Ability to prioritize and address multiple, concurrent projects, with varying production timelines
• Possess exceptional time management skills; be able to work independently in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment; and transition easily between projects
• Experience working in highly regulated industries; knowledge of the healthcare industry is a benefit
• Impeccable writing, editing and communication skills
• Knowledge of evolving communication channels, including emerging new media
• Software: Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign required; Sitecore and/or HTML a plus
• Crisis communications experience is required
• Proven project management skills for developing, implementing, managing and evaluating communications initiatives, events and programs
• Ability to develop clear and effective content under tight deadlines for multiple simultaneous projects, in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
• Must be highly motivated, and able to take initiative
  
  

LifeLabs’ compensation programs are commensurate based on the role, skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions, irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity, beliefs, age or any other personal characteristics. Pay programs are communicated regularly in an accessible and transparent manner.

LifeLabs is also proud to offer resources, opportunities, as well as a collaborative and supportive environment that enables our team members to thrive.

In addition to a competitive compensation package, LifeLabs provides a comprehensive total rewards program, specific to the job position. Your package may include:

• Employee Group Benefits: Competitive coverage for employees and their families to support their overall health and wellness needs, including Extended Health Care, Dental Care, and Life Insurance.
• Retirement Savings Plan
• Vacation and Wellness Days
• Employee Wellness and Giving Programs: Our award winning mental, physical and financial wellness programs aim to address the comprehensive well-being of our team members, including resources like the Employee & Family Assistance Program, financial planning tools, and employee recognition initiatives.
• Professional development and membership reimbursement, access to preferred rates and discount programs, including WorkPerks, Home and Auto Insurance, Costco Membership, etc., and optional health-related benefits.

In accordance with LifeLabs’ Accessibility Policy , and the applicable Accessibility Acts within the provinces we operate in, accommodations are available by request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process. For a confidential inquiry or to request an accommodation, please contact your recruiter or email [e-mail] .

Vaccinations are highly encouraged at LifeLabs’. Vaccinations and/or immunization screening may be mandatory for selected employees if regulated by provincial or regional governments, or through employer-led vaccination policies in the facilities we service. Please ensure you ask if this position requires the successful candidate to be vaccinated or undergo immunization screening.

Ready to empower healthier Canadians? Apply today!

30 International Blvd, Etobicoke, ON M9W 5P3, Canada,

3680 Gilmore Wy, Burnaby, BC V5G 4M1, Canada