Comm O 21R - Senior Communications Officer (Bc Public Service)

Posting Title

COMM O 21R - Senior Communications Officer

Position Classification

Communications Officer R21

Union

GEU

Work Options

Location

Burnaby, BC V3J 1N3 CA (Primary)

Salary Range

$67,728.87 - $77,012.22 annually

Close Date

7/21/2023

Job Type

Regular Full Time

Temporary End Date

Ministry/Organization

BC Public Service -> Liquor Distribution Branch

Ministry Branch / Division

BC Liquor Distribution Branch

Job Summary

About the BCLDB:

At the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) our vision of 'Service. Relationships. Results.' is all about providing a valued service, building strong relationships with our stakeholders, and achieving greater results for the province.

The LDB is one of two branches of government responsible for the cannabis and liquor industry of B.C. We operate the wholesale distribution of beverage alcohol and non-medical cannabis within the province, as well as the household retail brands of BC Liquor Stores and BC Cannabis Stores.

We employ nearly 5,000 people in over 200 communities and have hundreds of career opportunities spanning our entire wholesale, retail and corporate operations - from supply chain logistics to high-tech solutions, and everything in between. The LDB has been named one of BC's Top Employers 14 times over for offering exceptional places to work, flexible work hours and earned days off, extended health and dental benefits, maternity and parental leave top-up payments, a pension program, in-house professional and leadership development, and subsidies for professional accreditation.

Corporate Strategic Services (CSS) plays a critical role in supporting the entire organization. Comprised of Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Relations, Policy, Information, Privacy and Access Services, Sourcing and Vendor Performance, Strategy & Business Transformation and the Project Management Office, CSS is driven by customer-service and taking action to advise, consult and support each business area throughout the LDB.

The CSS team is comprised of approximately 50 staff. What brings CSS together as a team is the ability to work together to support both the operational areas of the business and other support areas (e.g. Corporate Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology). The group has a strategic lens with a focus on ensuring the organization aligns and complies with corporate priorities, policies, legislation, best practices, and government mandate.

About This Role

The Senior Communications Officer operates with a high degree of autonomy and is responsible for the development and planning for LDB's corporate and employee communications vehicles and messaging.

This position promotes and enhances the LDB's reputation by providing expert communications advice for messaging around highly sensitive issues and delivering strategic, engaging communications for all employees.

The Senior Communications Officer often works directly with the CEO and General Manager, as well as other executive members, providing strategic communications advice. The incumbent also provides expert communications counsel to senior staff and regularly drafts highly sensitive and confidential materials that support organizational priorities, issues management and internal communications for the LDB.

The incumbent works closely with team members to develop and maintain a corporate communications strategy that considers LDB's diverse employee base (the majority of which do not have email addresses) and stakeholder audiences, and ensures timely, clear and consistent messaging across all platforms.

As part of the Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Relations team, the position is called on to identify emerging issues, research and develop strategic responses and deliver them to the media and external stakeholders. This role may act as a corporate spokesperson when appropriate.

This position functions in a dynamic environment where priorities are continuously changing requiring a strong communicator who excels under pressure and with minimal direction. Building trust, respect and strong relationships across the LDB and its executive, within the Ministry and with external stakeholders (including media) is critical. The work requires a high degree of accuracy, a keen eye for detail and an ability to set and adhere to firm deadlines.

Special requirements and working conditions include the ability to work extended hours and be part of an on-call team in the event of an emergency, if required. A successful completion of a criminal record check are required.

For complete details about this opportunity, including accountabilities, please refer to the attached job description, also located in the Additional Information section at the bottom of the posting.

There are two vacancies, one regular and one temporary. An eligibility list for permanent or temporary future opportunities may be established.

Position Requirements

Education and Experience:

Degree or diploma in communications, public relations, journalism or a related discipline and a minimum of 1 year of recent, related experience*.

OR

A combination of education, training and experience may be considered equivalent to the educational requirement i.e., 3 years of recent, related experience*.

• Experience coordinating a variety of communications materials, including but not limited to, communications plans, key messages, news releases, story pitches, information materials, speeches, backgrounders, briefing notes and correspondence.
• Recent, related work experience must have occurred within the last 5 years and must include the following:
• Experience planning and creating clear communications goals and strategies for the future.

Preference may be given to candidates with any of the following experience:

• Experience identifying opportunities and risks when it comes to employee communications.
• Experience identifying media and public issues and preparing appropriate responses for spokespeople and/or for use by the media.
• Experience providing communications support for corporate social responsibility programs.
• Experience providing strategic communications advice, messaging and direction to senior leaders.
• Experience providing communications support for the liquor or non-medical cannabis industry.
• Experience using digital communications/social media for public relations purposes.

Application Instructions

To be considered for this position, your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the education and experience as outlined in the position requirements section above. Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process may be assessed on the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies as outlined in the attached . Applicants must meet the requirements as described below to be considered:

• A cover letter is required as part of your application. The content and/or format of your cover letter may be evaluated as part of the assessment process.
• Ensure your resume includes your educational accomplishments, employment history including start and end dates (month and year) of your employment, and any relevant information that relates to the job to which you are applying.

For specific position-related enquiries, please contact Kriti Verma, HR Advisor, Talent & Compensation at 604-252-8578.

Only applications submitted using the BC Public Service Recruitment System on this website will be accepted. For more information about how to create or update your profile, please refer to the attached Application Instructions or refer to the Job Application page on the MyHR website. If you are experiencing technical difficulty applying for a competition, please send an e-mail to [email protected] before the stated closing time, and they will respond as soon as possible to assist you.

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:00pm Pacific Time on the closing date of the competition.

Working For The BC Public Service

The BC Public Service is committed to creating a diverse workplace to represent the population we serve and to better meet the needs of our citizens. Consider joining our team and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

This position is eligible for flexible work arrangements, such as a hybrid work combination of in-office and work-from-home, following the guidelines established for flexible workplaces .

The Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service is available to applicants that self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, status or non-status, Métis, or Inuit) seeking work or already employed in the BC Public Service. For guidance on applying and interviewing, please contact [email protected] or 778-405-3452.

The BC Public Service is an award-winning employer and offers employees competitive benefits, great learning opportunities and a chance to engage in rewarding work with exciting career development options. For more information, visit What the BC Public Service Offers .

Job Category

Communications

Value