Associate

NATIONAL•Toronto, ON

71d•CA$50,000 - CA$62,500•Hybrid

About The Position

For 50 years, NATIONAL has worked alongside organizations as they navigate change, protect reputation, and solve the business challenges that matter most. In Toronto, our Corporate team supports clients across sectors and works closely with colleagues across practices to deliver integrated communications programs, from media relations and stakeholder engagement to issues management, digital, and campaign support. We're looking for an associate who is curious, organized, and ready to roll up their sleeves to help keep great client work moving. You'll support communications mandates from planning through execution, helping teams bring client work to life while building a strong foundation in client service. Working closely with colleagues across the Toronto office, you'll contribute to day-to-day client activities, assist in developing communications materials, and support the delivery of integrated programs across corporate communications, media relations, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and digital channels. This role is ideal for someone early in their career who wants broad agency exposure, enjoys practical execution, and is motivated to learn by doing. You'll be hands-on with research, writing, monitoring, reporting, and coordination, while gaining exposure to a range of clients, sectors, and practice areas.

Requirements

2-3 years of experience in public relations, communications, corporate communications, marketing, public affairs, or a related field; agency experience is an asset
Post-secondary education in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, business, political science, or a related discipline
Strong writing and editing skills with excellent attention to detail
Familiarity with social media platforms, media monitoring tools, and digital communications channels
Interest in corporate communications, reputation management, media relations, public affairs, business issues, and integrated campaigns across sectors
Comfort using AI-enabled tools, such as ChatGPT, to support research, writing, summarization, and workflow efficiency, with appropriate fact-checking and judgment
Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and reliable follow-through
Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment
Proactive, resourceful, and comfortable taking direction while anticipating what needs to happen next
Collaborative team player who enjoys supporting different teams, practices, and client files
Curious, adaptable, and motivated to continuously learn and grow across sectors and communications disciplines

Responsibilities

Support the day-to-day delivery of integrated communications programs across media relations, stakeholder engagement, public affairs, digital, social, and corporate reputation channels
Develop and contribute to high-quality communications materials, including media pitches, press materials, briefing notes, key messages, social media copy, newsletters, client updates, and executive-ready summaries
Conduct research, environmental scans, and monitoring across business, media, policy, competitor, stakeholder, and social/digital landscapes to identify insights, trends, risks, and opportunities
Support media relations activities, including media list development, journalist research, pitch coordination, coverage tracking, and preparation of media briefing materials
Use AI-enabled and digital tools responsibly to support research, content development, brainstorming, summarization, workflow efficiencies, issues tracking, reporting, and audience insights, while applying fact-checking, privacy awareness, and sound judgment
Prepare client-facing reports, project updates, and campaign summaries that translate data, media coverage, and engagement metrics into clear, actionable insights
Coordinate logistics and project management for meetings, events, stakeholder engagements, internal working sessions, and awareness campaigns, including agendas, briefing materials, vendor coordination, timelines, approvals, budgets, and status documents
Support campaign planning, new business proposals, team brainstorming, and cross-practice collaboration while staying current on business, AI, media, and communications trends