Manager, Media Relations and Issues Management

Toronto Community Housing

Toronto Community Housing (“TCH”) is the largest social housing provider in Canada and the second largest in North America. It is home to approximately 164,000 persons with low and moderate-incomes in its 58,500 residential units. Our tenant population includes seniors, families, singles, refugees, recent immigrants to Canada, and people with special needs. Our tenants come from diverse backgrounds. This diversity includes age, education, language, sexual orientation, mental and physical disability, religion, ethnicity and race as well as increasing diversity in lifestyles and values. Our portfolio includes more than 360 high-rise and low-rise apartment buildings throughout the city.

Manager, Media Relations and Issues Management

File#:	TCHC #12PAE24
Salary:	$86,299.97 - $105,243.87
Location:	931 Yonge Street
Division:	CAO’s Office
Class:	Management – Grade Level 8
Unit:	Public Affairs
Positions Available:	1

 

The Communications Unit within the Public Affairs team requires a Manager, Media Relations and Issues Management. The successful candidate reports to the Director, Strategic Communications and is responsible for delivering a media relations program that protects, reinforces and enhances Toronto Community Housing's reputation as a social housing provider working to deliver affordable housing and consistently good services to tenants, to provide value to our sole shareholder, the City of Toronto, and to contribute toward being part of the solution to the complex issues of poverty, affordable housing and community revitalization in Canada's largest city.

Responsibilities:

 

• Develops and implements a comprehensive media relations program to support the communications objectives and strategic positioning of Toronto Community Housing, in consultation with the Director, Strategic Communications and with input from the Public Affairs team (including the Director, Strategic Planning and Stakeholder Relations)

• Oversees and coordinates media relations and issues management for the Toronto Community Housing enterprise and, when required, provides support to the Director, Strategic Planning and Stakeholder Relations on stakeholder and government relations issues

• Establishes a system for anticipating and managing issues that may have a negative impact on, or pose a threat to, Toronto Community Housing's reputation

• Works with Communications Unit consultants to identify and leverage public relations opportunities that will support and reinforce positive perceptions of Toronto Community Housing, and build confidence and trust in our ability to deliver our mission

• Develops and maintains strong, positive and effective working relationships with the media

• Acts as a corporate spokesperson with print, radio, TV and online media

• Identifies and prepares senior leaders and others for media interviews as needed

• Ensures media relations messages reinforce Toronto Community Housing's communications objectives and brand

• Links key messages, media strategies and plans to business goals and priorities

• Provides leadership and manages the media and issues team

• Provides input into the annual Communications budget and workplan, and manages the media and issues budget

• Develops measurement tools to assess effectiveness of various initiatives and overall strategy

Qualifications:

 

• 8 years experience in media relations, public relations, corporate communications or related fields

• Strong media relations, issues management and public relations experience in a fast-paced, complex environment

• Strong experience identifying and analyzing emerging issues and developing strategic responses in tight timeframes

• Demonstrated ability to analyze information, anticipate problems and opportunities, create and evaluate alternative solutions, and make appropriate decisions or recommendations

• Demonstrated ability to network and build effective working relationships with the Board of Directors, the CEO and Executive team, senior management, media and peers

• Experience writing and editing media releases, speeches/statements, Q&A notes, briefing notes, and newsletter articles

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to deliver expected outcomes

• Experience working in or with the public sector or not-for-profit sector

• A commitment to providing respectful service to all clients

Toronto Community Housing is committed to equity in employment. Our goal is a diverse, inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from women and men, people from racialized communities, sexual minorities, persons with disabilities and aboriginal persons.

Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e-mail a request to human.resources@torontohousing.ca.

We thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Applications must be received by May 2, 2012 at:

Human Resources Division
Toronto Community Housing Corporation
931 Yonge Street 4th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M4W 2H2
Fax: (416) 981-4260
E-mail: Human.Resources@torontohousing.ca

Posting Date: April 18, 2012