Director, External Communications (18-month contract)

Job title:

Director, External Communications (18-month contract)

Company

Vancity

Job description

Description :About VancityVancity is a member-owned credit union built on the principles of inclusion and social justice. A relentless commitment to their values has helped them challenge the status quo and break down barriers since day one in 1946. They have bold commitments to make Vancity net-zero by 2040 across all mortgages and loans and are pursuing strategies on Indigenous banking and to improve the financial resilience of their members.Vancity is the largest private sector Living Wage Employer in Canada and has been consistently recognized as one of the Top Employers in Canada. If you’re interested in joining their team of 2,700 diverse individuals and accessing competitive rewards and benefits, all while knowing you are part of a greater movement, then apply today!About the workplaceThe Director, External Communications is a fast-paced role that acts as a trusted advisor and external communications lead to executives across the Vancity Group. Leading the external communications team, you will be responsible for earned media relations, brand reputation and crisis management, thought leadership initiatives and speech writing. You will develop and execute comprehensive strategies to elevate Vancity’s profile, protect its reputation, and align communications with business objectives. Reporting directly to the VP of Communications, your efforts will enhance public awareness of Vancity’s mission, support member growth and loyalty, and strengthen the organization’s standing as a leading force for positive change in the community.This is an 18-month contract that will enjoy hybrid working arrangements which can be fulfilled primarily from the Vancity head office location. Periodically, you’ll be required to attend in-person activities or events.A typical day would involve:

• Proactively seek opportunities to advance Vancity’s profile through media, as well as supporting story-telling activities across other external comms mediums.
• Act as the primary media contact for all media requests.
• Develop and execute media initiatives; produce messaging, briefing materials, issue notes and a wide array of other media-related communications collateral.
• Establish and develop trusted relationships with media and other key stakeholders both within and outside of Vancity.
• Support with issues management and response to mitigate potential reputational risk, providing advice and support to other departments within the organization.
• Be accountable for daily media management and monitoring of coverage.
• Deliver internal media training and coaching, offering strategic communications advice, resources, and tactics to Vancity spokespeople.
• Develop visually engaging presentations to effectively communicate key messages, data, and strategies to internal and external audiences.

You have:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in strategic external communications.
• In-depth knowledge of Canada’s media landscape.
• Strong leadership capabilities, including experience managing and mentoring communication teams, collaborating across departments, and driving results-driven communication strategies.
• Expertise in navigating issues and crisis communications, including developing rapid response strategies, managing high-pressure situations, and effectively mitigating reputational risks.
• Well organized, strong project management skills; ability to prioritize and manage competing deadlines.
• Advanced expertise in content development, including the ability to craft clear, compelling, and on-brand communication materials that engage target audiences and effectively tell a story across various platforms and formats.

Bonus points, if you have:

• Experience working in politics, a non-profit, public relations consultancy, or issues-focused ecosystem.

• A good understanding of the issues and evolving landscape related to finance, climate and housing and/or strong understanding of the financial services industry

You are:

• Are a seasoned communicator with experience as a strategic communications advisor to leaders
• Have a proven track record of experience in corporate communications roles covering media relations, issues management, and speech writing
• Have strong people leadership capabilities with experience building and coaching high performing and engaged teams

We value lived experience, so if you are interested in this role, we encourage you to apply even if you feel your skills don’t perfectly align with those listed.The salary range for the role is $121,000 to $181,200. The upper half of the salary range is typically reserved for individuals who have demonstrated consistent strong performance in the role and possess a high level of job knowledge and skill.Posting Deadline: Posted until FilledWe offer:

• We are the largest private-sector

in Canada and have been consistently recognized as one of the . * Our permanent employees qualify for attractive benefit packages that can be customized and changed each year to meet their evolving needs.

• New employees receive between three to four weeks of vacation allowance per calendar year, and the number of vacation days grows — to a maximum of six weeks per year — as their length of service increases. In addition, full-time, permanent staff may be able to purchase extra days of vacation through our flexible benefits package.
• In addition to the 10 statutory holidays in British Columbia, Vancity provides an additional three statutory holidays. We offer care days for periods of short-term personal illness or emergency family illness, plus opportunities to take unpaid leave for a variety of reasons.
• Our health care & dental benefits offer three levels of health care and dental coverage for you to select from. These benefits will also be effective immediately based on your hire date.
• We understand that retirement means different things to different people and at Vancity we will offer you a Defined pension plan that pays you a retirement income for life.

Please note that all shortlisted candidates for this role will be required to complete a background check which includes employment verification, credit check, and a criminal record check. Vancity is an inclusive and equitable employer and actively seeks to advance racial equity, inclusion and belonging across the organization.We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates. If you require any accommodations at any stage of the recruitment process, please reach out to our Talent Acquisition team at for confidential support. In-person assistance is also available. We will collaborate with you to ensure your needs are met promptly and effectively.

Expected salary

$121000 – 181200 per year

Location

Vancouver, BC

Job date

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 23:46:06 GMT

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