Communications Consultant

Job summary

The Communications Consultant develops and implements strategic internal and external communication plans while providing expert counsel to departments and leadership. They manage media relations, oversee corporate messaging, and lead digital communications and website governance initiatives.

Job details

About Red Deer Red Deer sits at the heart of Central Alberta along the QEII corridor, perfectly positioned between Calgary and Edmonton. With more than 100,000 residents and a regional reach of over 300,000, it’s a growing hub for business, services, and opportunity. Here, big-city amenities meet small-city ease. Enjoy abundant parks and trails, vibrant arts and culture, excellent recreation and education, and a strong sense of community. With easy access to lakes, outdoor adventures, and the mountains, plus a thriving economy and high quality of life, Red Deer is an inviting place to live, work, and grow. About The City of Red Deer Municipal Government The City of Red Deer is a dynamic municipal organization with a $480M operating budget, a $60M capital program, and a workforce of nearly 1,700 employees. It is focused on growing with purpose by attracting talented, community-minded people who want to make a difference. Guided by the vision “Our City, One Voice,” Red Deer is building a thriving, inclusive, and connected community, with priorities centered on a vibrant economy, community wellbeing, and strong engagement. At its core, the City values its people, embracing diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared success. The Opportunity: The City of Red Deer is currently recruiting for a Communications Consultant. Reporting directly to the Corporate Communications Manager, the Communications Consultant works closely with their assigned portfolio departments, in addition to the whole Community and Public Relations Department. Responsibilities include developing and implementing internal and external communications plans, providing communications expertise and support, championing web communication, and upholding corporate identity standards. Actual duties may vary. Communications Consultants may also be hired for specific projects or to focus on specific corporate priorities. Top Key Responsibilities: * Serve as the City's Communications Advisor and Liaison - Provide strategic communications counsel to departments, senior leadership, Council, and stakeholders. Act as the primary communications resource for corporate initiatives and issues. * Develop and Execute Strategic Communications Plans - Lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of internal and external communication strategies that support corporate objectives. * Manage Media Relations - Create and approve news releases, media kits, public service announcements, and media backgrounders. Coordinate media responses and support media-facing activities. * Coach and Support Organizational Spokespersons - Prepare and advise designated spokespersons for media interviews, public appearances, and communications issues. * Lead Corporate Messaging and Content Development - Oversee the development, editing, and approval of written communications including reports, publications, speeches, web content, and promotional materials. * Protect and Enhance the City's Reputation and Brand - Provide leadership for corporate identity standards and ensure consistent messaging across all departments and communication channels. * Manage Complex Communications Projects - Coordinate multiple communications projects simultaneously, providing project management expertise and ensuring successful delivery within timelines and budgets. * Lead Website Governance and Digital Communications - Oversee website content, architecture, standards, and enhancement initiatives. Lead web governance teams and promote the website as a key communications and customer service tool. * Support Public Engagement and Community Outreach - Develop communications strategies for public consultation activities such as surveys, open houses, workshops, trade shows, and community engagement initiatives. * Provide Executive-Level Briefings and Issues Management - Prepare communications briefings and updates for Senior Management and Council. Anticipate, manage, and respond to issues with significant public impact, ensuring clear and timely communication with residents. As our preferred candidate, you will have: * Degree in Communications or related area of study plus a minimum of two years’ experience in writing or communications. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered. * Experience in a large or municipal organization is considered an asset. * Ability to work independently using initiative to complete projects and prioritize duties and workload efficiently. * Ability to work in a multi-task and multi-deadline environment with strong project management skills. Ability to plan and attain short and long-term goals. * Skilled in communications writing, editing, designing and proofreading. Superior writing skills essential. * A demonstrated ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences using a variety of communication methods. * Proven success in providing leadership in task teams. * Strong attention to detail. * A strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Excel, Word and PowerPoint. * Previous experience in web content management considered an asset. * Requires working knowledge of graphic design principles and desktop publishing software. Must have practical desktop publishing experience and with Adobe Creative Suite programs, particularly Indesign. * Proven ability to maintain confidentiality when working with confidential material and subject matter. * Commitment to The City’s Cornerstone Values. Affiliation: Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 417 Status: Term Part-time Remuneration: $39.88 to $42.23 per hour Hours of Work: 37.5 hours biweekly as scheduled; Monday to Friday, some evening and weekend work may be required. Additional Information: The term of this position is anticipated to be 12 months. The City of Red Deer does not permit the use of unauthorized internet resources or Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (for example, Copilot, ChatGPT or any other form of AI) during interviews or any supervised or timed assessments. Any violation may be investigated and result in serious consequences, including the rejection of your application. We thank you for your application. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We are a municipal government, eager to meet tomorrow's challenges. Our employees are the cornerstone of our organization. We are always seeking creative and skilled individuals with the ability and desire to lead in our dynamic workplace. Each of our employees brings diverse experiences and perspectives, as well as unique skills and talents to the job. Our diverse employee base ensures an environment where individual, team, and organizational successes are embraced and celebrated. We strive to ensure a supportive and respectful work environment for all. Employees are treated fairly and have equal opportunity within the organization to thrive and attain their highest potential. We welcome your application and look forward to discussing how The City of Red Deer can become your next career choice.

What you’ll do

The Communications Consultant develops and implements strategic internal and external communication plans while providing expert counsel to departments and leadership. They manage media relations, oversee corporate messaging, and lead digital communications and website governance initiatives.

Requirements

Candidates must possess a degree in Communications or a related field with at least two years of relevant experience. Strong writing, project management, and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office are essential for this role.

Listed skills

• Graphic Design · Preferred
• Microsoft Office · Preferred
• Project management · Preferred
• Public engagement · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Communications strategy
• Media relations
• Content development
• Project management
• Web governance
• Public engagement
• Issues management
• Strategic counsel
• Writing
• Editing
• Proofreading
• Graphic design
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Microsoft Office
• Desktop publishing
• Corporate branding

Job areas

• Government & Public Sector
• Creative & Media
• Consulting
• Management & Leadership