communications manager - Ottawa, Canada - National Arts Centre

Description

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Communications, the Manager, Communications is responsible for the development and implementation of communications strategies, coordination and alignment of messaging and narratives, demonstrating strong background in storytelling and communications management to oversee the effective operations of the communications team.

The Manager, Communications, leads two full-time employees supporting the NAC's social media activities and communications for the NAC's programs and public spaces, as well as a term contract employee supporting special initiatives such as Summer Programming and the Big Bang Festival in the winter, and leads on special projects such as the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.

The Manager, Communications, provides leadership and is responsible for the successful implementation of the NAC's communications strategies through an integrated, agile and collaborative approach, working with the Marketing and Digital Experiences & Design teams.

The Manager, Communications ensures bilingual communications activities are consistent across the organization, and with key stakeholders, advises on the most appropriate communications strategies and provides recommendations to various internal stakeholders.

• Work closely with team members within Communications, Marketing and Digital Experiences & Design, as well as internal stakeholders in programming, plan and facilitate the coordination and integration of communications approaches in support of the NAC's strategic plan and vision;
• Oversee daily operations and the editorial/content calendar, to ensure communication needs for internal and external are properly resourced and deliverables met for the NAC's activities outside of artistic programming (notably publics spaces and special projects);
• Supervise and provide strong people leadership, coaching and oversight to a team of three (3) communications strategists, including establishing annual work objectives based on corporate priorities, evaluating and monitoring performance;
• Collaborate, plan and deliver reactive and proactive media strategies, including the development of communications products, for special events such as the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards and and initiatives from the NAC Foundation;
• Lead the continuous improvement of the NAC's communications processes and channels;
• Establish targets and key performance indicators, and reports on effectiveness and impact of communications strategies and activities;
• Ensure the NAC's brand is well represented, and its positive reputation sustained across all media, and proactively pitch stories to mainstream and national media;
• Provide strategic advice and guidance on all aspects of communications involving sensitive subject matters;
• Involves on-call and responsiveness to media requests and issues management.

• A post-secondary degree in a field related to the position such as media studies, public relations, communications, journalism, marketing or other discipline relevant to the position, or a combination of education, training and experience related to the position.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in strategic management and implementation of communications and social media strategies, plans and products;
• A minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience supervising staff, providing support, feedback, coaching and professional development;
• Fluently bilingual in both official languages, English and French, written and spoken.
• Significant experience and strong skills in writing and editing communications products, and skilled as a proof-reader;
• Experience in managing multiple, complex and/or sensitive files and providing strategic communications advice and recommendations;
• Strong knowledge of media relations practices and media landscape;
• Strong knowledge of content creation processes, online and audio-visual publishing;
• Skilled in building collaborative and working relationships with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders;
• Superior problem solving and operational skills;
• Skilled in using Office 365 programs, MS Teams, cloud-based sharing programs and comfortable with digital technologies, social media channels and apps;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrate understanding of social issues and analytical skills, judgement, tact and discretion;
• Superior attention to details;
• Ability to think and act strategically at all times;
• Ability to plan and coordinate multiple projects;
• Ability to thrive in a fast paced, high-volume environment with shifting priorities and multiple stakeholders;
• Experience in the arts and cultural sector, in particular the performing arts, is an asset.