Strategic Communications Team Lead, Western Canada

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Strategic Communications Team Lead for Western Canada to lead and grow our strategic communications services across the region. The role provides leadership in communications strategy, stakeholder and public engagement, and Indigenous engagement while supporting projects across HDR's disciplines.

The successful candidate will advise senior clients, lead complex engagement programs, mentor staff, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams on major infrastructure and development

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, planning or related field.
• Ten years of relevant experience in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, Indigenous engagement, infrastructure, or related field.
• Strong leadership, client relationship, and team management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead HDR's Strategic Communications services across Western Canada, including strategy, stakeholder/public engagement, issues management and deliverables.
• Grow the practice through client relationships, opportunities, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide Indigenous engagement leadership and guidance on consultation, rights, and regulatory frameworks.
• Mentor staff and collaborate across engineering, architecture, environment, planning and advisory teams.

Skills

Strategic communications

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Business development

Project management

Effective communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications

Master's degree (asset)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Strategic Communications Team Lead, Western Canada - ( 196215 )

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story: ' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
At HDR, our employee‑ownership model shapes everything we do, including how we support and care for our people. Our diverse service lines, including Water, Architecture, Building Engineering Services, Field Services, Power, Waste, Industrial, and Transportation reflect our commitment to shaping resilient, sustainable, and forward‑thinking communities around the world. Across these disciplines, our teams design and deliver solutions that safeguard public health, enhance quality of life, power innovation, and drive responsible growth. Whether advancing clean water, creating healing and learning environments, engineering next‑generation facilities, or building the infrastructure that moves people and energy, our work is rooted in technical excellence and a shared sense of purpose. Our employee‑owners collaborate across specialties, combining creativity, precision, and deep expertise to solve the most complex challenges facing our clients and communities.

HDR is seeking a Strategic Communications Team Lead, Western Canada to lead and grow our Strategic Communications services across Western Canada. This role will provide leadership in strategic communications, stakeholder and public engagement, and Indigenous engagement while supporting projects across HDR's engineering, architecture, environmental, planning, and advisory disciplines.

The role will provide three key functions:

Lead Strategic Communications project delivery across Western Canada, including communications strategy, stakeholder and public engagement, issues management, facilitation, and project communications.

Grow HDR's Strategic Communications practice in Western Canada by developing client relationships, identifying opportunities, supporting strategic pursuits, and building a strong multidisciplinary team.

Provide Indigenous engagement leadership and expertise to clients and project teams, including Indigenous consultation, relationship-building, Indigenous rights and interests, and the evolving legal and regulatory environment.

We are seeking an experienced professional who combines strong communications and engagement expertise with demonstrated leadership, business development, and project delivery capabilities. The successful candidate will be comfortable advising senior clients and project teams, leading complex and potentially sensitive engagement programs, developing and mentoring staff, and working across a diverse portfolio of major infrastructure and development projects.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and growth of HDR's Strategic Communications services across Western Canada, supporting projects across transportation, water, resources, energy, architecture, environmental, planning, and other infrastructure sectors.
• Develop and implement strategic communications, stakeholder and public engagement, and project communications strategies tailored to project objectives, audiences, risks, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide strategic counsel to clients and project teams on communications, stakeholder relationships, public perception, emerging and contentious issues, and project risks and opportunities.
• Lead stakeholder and public engagement programs, including meetings, workshops, open houses, advisory groups, and other engagement activities, and oversee the development of supporting communications materials and deliverables.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, government agencies, stakeholders, community organizations, Indigenous communities, and other project partners.
• Function as a Project Manager or Strategic Communications Lead, with responsibility for scope, schedule, budget, quality, resourcing, client relationships, and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Lead, mentor, and provide technical direction to Strategic Communications professionals while collaborating with engineering, architecture, environmental, planning, and advisory teams across HDR.
• Lead and support Indigenous engagement and consultation, including relationship-building with Indigenous communities and providing advice on the Duty to Consult and Accommodate, Aboriginal and Treaty Rights and interests, Indigenous Knowledge and land use, UNDRIP, FPIC, cultural protocols, and relevant regulatory frameworks.
• Maintain awareness of emerging communications, stakeholder, regulatory, and Indigenous relations developments across Western Canada, particularly British Columbia, and apply relevant developments to HDR's projects and services.

Business Development and Practice Growth

• Contribute to the growth of HDR's Strategic Communications practice across Western Canada by developing client relationships, identifying market opportunities, and building a strong pipeline of work.
• Lead and support proposals, capture planning, scopes, fee development, interviews, and strategic pursuits across HDR's engineering, architecture, environmental, and advisory markets.
• Identify opportunities to expand Strategic Communications and Indigenous engagement services within existing and prospective client relationships and multidisciplinary projects.
• Develop strategic relationships with clients, industry partners, Indigenous communities and businesses, and subconsultants to strengthen project delivery and market opportunities.
• Collaborate with HDR leadership and professionals across Canada to strengthen capabilities, share resources, and build HDR's market presence through industry participation, conferences, professional associations, and thought leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, planning, Indigenous Studies, environmental studies, social sciences, public policy, or a related field. A Master's degree is considered an asset.
• A minimum of ten years of relevant experience in strategic communications, stakeholder and public engagement, Indigenous engagement, infrastructure, planning, or a related field, preferably within consulting or the A/E/C industry.
• Demonstrated experience leading strategic communications and engagement programs for complex infrastructure, environmental, planning, architecture, or development projects.
• Strong capabilities in communications strategy, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, issues and risk management, strategic messaging, and translating complex technical information into clear and effective communications.
• Demonstrated project management, business development, client relationship, and team leadership experience, with the ability to lead multidisciplinary assignments and strategic pursuits.
• Strong understanding of Indigenous engagement in Western Canada, including Indigenous rights and Treaty contexts, the Duty to Consult and Accommodate, UNDRIP, FPIC, and relevant federal and provincial frameworks, particularly within British Columbia.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships, navigate complex or sensitive issues, and work effectively with clients, stakeholders, Indigenous communities, regulators, and multidisciplinary teams.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years relevant industry experience
• Demonstrated "self-starter" with a history of completing projects with limited oversight
• Deep knowledge of the A/E/C industry's standard approach to procurement of professional services
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and inspire others
• Demonstrated ability to build a network of clients and industry partners
• Experience in sales and developing effective win strategies
• Strong financial acumen and negotiation skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability and desire to travel and engage with others in-person
• Demonstrated experience in writing compelling content based on information from technical staff

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

At HDR, the health and safety of our employees is of the upmost importance. In accordance with local safety, health, and environmental legislation, HDR is committed to developing, maintaining, and enforcing proactive safe work policies, procedures, and standards.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and other applicable legislation, we are committed to meeting the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities. Candidates with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process by contacting our Human Resources team.

HDR is a certified Living Wage Employer in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.

Industry

Strategic Communications

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

BusinessClass : Strategic Communications

Job Posting

Sep 17, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity.

We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employe r.

We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.