Regional Communications Advisor, Western Canada

Heart & Stroke

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

At Heart & Stroke, our mission is to promote health, save lives, and enhance recovery. We are committed to a culture that exemplifies our core values: champion health, practice humility, embrace change, drive impact, learn and grow, and be heartfelt as we work together to beat heart disease and stroke. We believe in equity, diversity, and inclusion—it’s embedded in our values and core mission work to support all people in Canada to lead healthier lives. We are committed to applying this principle to cultivate a welcoming environment that embraces diversity among our employees. Candidates from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to, Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, women, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply. To learn more about our mission, values, commitment to EDI, and the difference Heart & Stroke makes in the lives of people in Canada at every age, please visit our website. Heart & Stroke offers a hybrid work option. Candidates can work from anywhere in Canada.

Requirements

• University or College degree in communications, public relations, marketing or business; or related technical degree and combination of equivalent extensive background with strong communications and marketing experience.
• Minimum 5-7 years related work experience, management experience in non-profit and/or healthcare industry preferred.
• Ability to align plans and activities with organizational goals and objectives and experience in advising senior decision makers.
• Experience and confidence in working with reporters, including issues management.
• Experience developing social strategies and content as part of an integrated communications plan.
• Significant experience managing public engagement programs in multi-stakeholder environments to further the mission of an organization.
• Experience with media monitoring and tracking software is required.
• Experience working with external suppliers, specifically PR professionals, event managers, writers, designers, print production, digital and social media.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the Canadian media landscape.
• Knowledge of communications strategy development and execution theory, principles and practices.
• Knowledge of communications processes, techniques and activities, including research, strategy, implementation and evaluation.
• Proven success in developing and implementing communications plans and content.
• Excellent written communications and editorial skills in different media, with commitment to quality and strategic understanding of message positioning
• Excellent MS Office computer skills (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, ability to multi-task and work under tight deadlines with advanced organization skills and strong attention to detail.
• Superior verbal communications and interpersonal skills, with the ability to deal with all levels of staff, volunteers and suppliers, providing impeccable customer service.
• Dedicated team player possessing an unflappable positive ‘can do’ attitude, with demonstrated innovation, creativity and resourcefulness in the form of continuous improvement to internal processes, able to work independently and to collaborate.

Nice To Haves

• management experience in non-profit and/or healthcare industry preferred

Responsibilities

• Review content provided by internal clients and others to ensure brand alignment and accuracy
• Offer strategic communications counsel to internal regional teams; develop, recommend and execute communications tactics to build awareness and raise the profile of Heart & Stroke (e.g., communications plans, earned media pitching, social media content, written materials, etc.)
• Protect and strengthen the brand, act as a steward of the brand and its most current messaging and positioning
• Support regional philanthropy and national fundraising initiatives.
• Plans and executes all communications activities for the region
• Develops/adapts and implements communications plans and strategies for the region in order to increase the profile of Heart & Stroke’s work in research, health promotion, recovery, advocacy, fundraising and partnering with medical experts and people with lived experience.
• Evaluates each situation and determines the most appropriate way(s) to communicate applying communications best practices (media pitches and advisories, news releases and statements, op-eds and letters to the editor, social media content, etc.).
• Executes the regional communications roll-out of national programs such as health reports and public awareness campaigns with an eye to local markets and needs.
• Works with internal stakeholders to ensure all regional programs are aligned with Heart & Stroke brand guidelines, including image, voice and messaging.
• Collaboratively and cooperatively supports internal teams as an expert communications advisor to develop and implement communications strategies and activities that support their goals. This may include: communications support for events (not event management), as well as recognition and stewardship programs.
• Serves as the primary relationship manager for medical experts and people with lived experience within the Western Canada region (BC, AB, SK, MB).
• Assist with the identification of speakers, campaign ambassadors, media spokespeople, etc. (i.e., medical experts, people with lived experience) for Heart & Stroke-related events and campaigns.
• Develops personal “stories” of people with lived experience, donors, healthcare providers, researchers and volunteers in the region for website content and social media.
• Triages public complaints in the region and ensures they are managed on a timely basis.
• Works with central Internal Communications Manager to ensure timely and clear communication with employees across the region.
• Supports in-person events (i.e., researcher lab tours, provincial government relations events, research grant announcements, etc.) as needed.
• Develops and maintains positive media relationships to attract media attention and position Heart & Stroke as an authoritative voice of cardiovascular disease and stroke and a leading health charity in Canada.
• Leverages strategic public relations tactics to support regional and national brand image, including: writing (or adapting from templates) key messages, news releases, fact sheets, op-eds, letters to the editor, spokespersons’ Q&As, FAQs, etc.
• Acts as initial point person for media calls to Heart & Stroke in the region.
• Responds to and redirects queries, and finds spokespeople as needed to act on opportunities, using sound judgment to determine involvement.
• Works closely with Director, Communications to handle sensitive media queries and responds to issues using protocols and issues management scripts.
• Manages and develops internal spokespeople and ensures that they are well-briefed and prepped for interviews, including providing media training when needed.
• Manages and stewards relationships with expert spokespeople (i.e. cardiologists, neurologists and other health professionals) and with people with lived experience to participate in media interviews and events.
• Recruits and fosters relationships with influential partners to serve as a Heart & Stroke ambassador where needed (e.g., celebrities, media personalities, social media influencers, etc.).
• Liaises with external stakeholders to leverage support and coordinate joint media activities (i.e. non-profit partners, Ministry of Health, etc.).
• Tracks and monitors media calls, interviews, issues-related inquiries and coverage.
• Maintains current media list for region.
• Provides analytic media reports to internal stakeholders as needed.

Benefits

• generous paid time-off package including vacation days, personal days, wellness days, and paid company-wide closure between December 25 and January 1
• competitive health, medical, dental and vision benefits
• life insurance
• disability benefits
• an employee assistance program (EAP)
• a defined contribution pension plan with employer matching
• flexible hybrid working model
• reimbursement for mobile phones and home office setup
• opportunities for professional development

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree