Advisor, Media Relations – Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Title of the Job: Advisor, Media Relations

Location: Ottawa, ON

Job Description: The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is the national voice of municipal governments, representing the interests of cities and communities with the federal government. Position Advisor, Media Relations
Department Green Municipal Fund (GMF) – GMF Communications and Marketing
Classification Level 5
SalaryOur salaries generally range from $73,000 – $82,500, and are based on qualifications and experience
Languages Bilingualism (English & French) is required
Term Permanent Full-Time
Location Hybrid (Ottawa)Why GMF is the place for youAt GMF, we empower our people to create change where it has the most impact – municipalities. GMF is a $1.6 billion permanent endowment from the Government of Canada, managed at arm’s length, making it nimble and available for higher-risk, higher-impact initiatives. A further $530M investment into GMF to support the National Adaptation Strategy was announced in November 2022. Our team is committed to helping local governments switch to sustainable practices faster. GMF is the cornerstone program of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).Our unique mix of funding, resources, and training gives municipalities the tools they need to build resiliency — and create better lives for Canadians. Through GMF, municipalities have reduced carbon emissions; built better transportation assets; constructed efficient and resilient buildings; diverted waste from landfill; made previously unusable land available for development; and improved soil and water quality.You in this roleThe Advisor, Media Relations is responsible for developing media strategies in support of FCM’s Green Municipal Fund objectives and ensures that GMF is recognized for its impact and value to the municipal sector and to Canadians. The Advisor, Media Relations identifies opportunities to highlight the impact of GMF with a focus on national and regional news and works to enhance the visibility and understanding of FCM in cities and communities nation-wide.The Advisor, Media Relations develops news releases and media backgrounders and is responsible for securing media exposure that supports advocacy objectives while maintaining alignment with corporate and policy objectives. In collaboration with colleagues of Green Municipal Fund, the Advisor, Media Relations ensures the GMF is highly visible and that its impact is widely recognized.While establishing strong working relationships with media, national and regional, the Advisor ensures that GMF’s narrative are included in appropriate news stories or generate stand-alone media coverage. Within the context of GMF media outreach, the Advisor, Media Relations also generates media leads and content that illustrates the value and influence of GMF to its funders. clients, stakeholders, and the public.The work at FCM includes FCM becoming an even more member-driven organization that balances the realization of its goals with a people-centered approach. The incumbent embodies to being a healthy, diverse, inclusive, and anti-racist organization. As a member of the team, the Lead, Waste ans Water Sector Development works in a manner that embraces these values, the corporate culture and the passion for FCM’s mandate.What you’ll be doing

• Leads the development and implementation of media strategies and tactics to support GMF’s priorities and ensures wide-ranging visibility of the municipal sector.
• Liaises with colleagues of the Green Municipal Fund, to ensure alignment in communication strategies and maintain transparency throughout the process.
• Collaborates to the development of key messages and speaking point.
• Builds and maintains relationships with journalists, influencers, and other media professionals to facilitate accurate reporting and manage potential crises proactively.
• In collaboration with the GMF Communications team-mates and programs teams, crafts clear and compelling messages for media engagement (traditional and social media), ensuring that key points are effectively communicated and aligned with GMF’s objectives.
• Coordinates the media aspects of participation by the FCM President, or other program spokespersons and ensures their activities get appropriate media profile and coverage. Drafts speaking notes, scenario notes, briefing documents (Q & A) for the FCM President or designated spokespeople. Briefs spokespeople. Collaborates with colleagues of PPA and the Events teams to provide high quality and successful media events.
• Media monitoring: Identifies on a daily basis emerging news stories and leverages his/her network to ensure GMF is considered and weaved in to garner enhanced visibility and acknowledgement of GMF’s impact to climate action.
• Develops media products: backgrounders, news releases, op-ed submissions, letters to the editor and all related media support to highlight programs milestones and general recognition of the impact of program activities on the municipal sector and Canadians.
• Assesses the effectiveness of media outreach.
• Collaborates with colleagues to leverage media exposure to all FCM channels, and to identify where media exposure can be further leveraged to broaden outreach and visibility.
• Responding to media enquiries: Receives, negotiates and responds to media enquiries; prepares briefing note for spokesperson and records enquiries in tracking tool.
• Manages external contractors: Manages and provides direction to an external agency to ensure appropriate approaches and tactics are aligned with GMF’s guidelines and policies and ensure that communications activities are implemented effectively and efficiently.

Your skills make us betterYou bring:Education:

• A combination of professional and lived experience and/or University degree or equivalent advanced education, training or experience in journalism, media relations, or a related discipline.

Experience:

• Demonstrated ability to effectively reach out to national media and generate new coverage. A minimum of five (5) years proven experience dealing directly with national, regional or local media, developing media relations strategies, briefing spokespeople, and writing/editing news releases, briefing notes, opinion pieces, etc. Experience working with elected officials.

Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of federal and municipal politics/ the environmental sector/ or business media and experience working with national and regional media.

Competencies:

• Extensive experience in critical thinking, analysis and strategy development and implementation.
• Superior writing and editing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and judgment, and a high degree of initiative and versatility.
• Proven ability to be organized and effectively handle many demands.
• Proven ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations.
• Capacity to work in a self-directed manner and demonstrated ability to work well within a team setting.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and adapt in a quickly changing, fast paced environment.
• Superior writing and editing skills.
• The ability to write and speak in both English and French is essential.
• Bilingualism (English and French) is required.

Why working here rocksWe prioritize work-life balance with our flexible model:

• When we say flexible work model, we mean that in collaboration with your manager and based on what your team needs, you have the flexibility to determine when you work so that you can enjoy a healthy balance between work and personal demands.
• While you do need to live in Canada for this role, you can primarily work from home. Travel may be required to Head Office in Ottawa periodically. The majority of the GMF team operates from the National Capital Region.
• We do like to visit the areas we are impacting and it allows us to see unique and wonderful parts of our country. You may find yourself traveling nationally 10-15% of the time.

We don’t just talk about employee wellness, we live it:

• Summer hours between July 1 and Labour Day:

• 7-hour workdays rather than 7.5
• Every Friday off in the summer
• Flexible work arrangements to support productivity and well-being
• Commitment to employee development
• Competitive range of employee benefits and services
• Office facilities located in the Byward Market and Ottawa’s downtown core

We’re committed to fostering an organizational culture that embraces equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, where individuals from diverse racial and ethnic identities, nationalities, social economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and physical and mental abilities can thrive and be fully engaged at their best level.We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.How to applyIf this role speaks to you and the impact you want to make, we’d love to hear from you! Apply today.The deadline to apply is October 22nd, 2024.The future of work here includes a hybrid work model; therefore, this role will be a combination of virtual and on-site work.The successful candidate is required to live in and be authorized to work in Canada. They are also required to be able to work from home/remotely, from within Canada.For additional information on this posting, or for further information on FCM, access our website at . Learn more about the Green Municipal Fund at

Company Name: Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Salary: $73000 – 82500 per year

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