Senior Communications Manager

Job Responsibility:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels. The Halifax Port Authority welcomes applications from Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, veterans and persons of all races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions. We also welcome applications from non-Canadians who are eligible to work in Canada. If you are a member of one of the above groups, you are encouraged to self-identify, on your cover letter, or resumé.

The Port of Halifax is about making connections between people, commerce and opportunity. We take a leadership role in developing business for the Port of Halifax in collaboration with our partners and we responsibly manage Port of Halifax assets.

In 2022, the total impact of the Port of Halifax including Nova Scotia exporters on the Province of Nova Scotia was $4.87 billion in economic output with the direct portion being $3 billion. This level of activity generated direct and spin-off positive impacts of $2.5 billion in GDP, $1.6 billion in labour income and over 25,300 jobs . Offering a natural, deep harbour and big ship infrastructure, Halifax can accommodate large volumes of containerized cargo, bulk cargo, and project cargo. Collaborating and working with strong partners and stakeholders, the Port community in Halifax continues to deliver excellence.

HPA Guiding Principles

Everyone at Halifax Port Authority is expected to carry out their work in a manner consistent with our guiding principles:

• Be One Port City
• Collaborative & Engaged
• Future Focused
• Sustainable
• Trusted Partner

We believe that when everyone works in this way, we can achieve our mission and vision and can deliver value to our customers, our community and our team.

At this time, the Halifax Port Authority ("HPA") requires a:

Senior Communications Manager

Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications, you will be a key member of the team at HPA. The Senior Communications Manager will develop and deliver engaging and insightful communication strategies related to our strategic priorities and initiatives. As a strategic thinker and professional communicator, you are a leader with a passion for driving impactful communication strategies with the goal of shaping HPA's narrative and success on a local, national, and global scale.

A CCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Communications

• Develop and implement comprehensive communication strategies that align with the Halifax PortAuthority's corporate goals and priorities.
• Create and execute annual communication plans that integrate with marketing and community engagement efforts.
• Enhance the reputation and awareness of HPA through communications, marketing, public relations, creative services, media relations, issues management, and crisis communications.
• Plan, develop, and coordinate communications products including annual business plan, annual report, brochures, fact sheets, newsletters, news releases, web copy, and other materials.
• Share knowledge about communications best practices, building capacity throughout the organization.
• Lead social media strategies, including overseeing content and performance of posts.
• Influence internal communications strategies

Media Relations

• Proactively seeks opportunities for media coverage and manage media inquiries effectively
• Assist HPAand the leadership team in coordinating issues management and crisis communications responses through an integrated proactive message management process under the Director's leadership.
• Provide media training and serve as HPA's media spokesperson when required.
• Act as the spokesperson in times of crisis and manage communication responses effectively, safeguarding the reputation of the HPA.
• Proactively prepare for issues to ensure HPAis sharing cohesive and transparent messaging on events and situations that could have the greatest impact on HPA, and will deliver strong advice, research, communications plans, and media strategies and materials.
• Provide media event management including supervision of news conferences.
• Develop media relations plans, sets targets, and measures results, while ensuring alignment with HPA's strategic plan, corporate priorities, objectives, and guiding principles.
• Manage and utilize media monitoring metric measurement tools including conducting analysis and compiling and sharing summaries.
• Supervise and conduct media monitoring activities to ensure HPA's messages are being depicted in a high quality and accurate manner.

Bilingual Proficiency

• Serve as the primary point of contact for communications initiatives in English and French.
• Ensure consistency and clarity in messaging across all external communications in both English and French.

Leadership

• Assist in leading and mentoring a team of communication professionals within our dynamic port environment.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align communication efforts with our strategic initiatives.
• Provide guidance, set goals, and ensure the team's success in achieving corporate goals.
• Provide executive communications support for HPA's senior leaders.
• Develop and oversee the communications co-op program

NOTE: These are only the basic and primary duties; related and allied duties may be assigned from time to time as may become necessary to the operation of the Authority.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field, or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Must be bilingual with exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and editing communication skills in both English and French.
• Minimum of (7) seven years of experience in strategic communication, with a demonstrated track record of successful initiatives.
• Experience in executive communications (briefing notes, public engagement, presentations, speeches, thought leadership, annual communications planning, etc.).
• Outstanding writing and story-telling skills with the ability to simplify complicated issues.
• Experience as a spokesperson.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Demonstrated experience in issues and reputation management, media relations, strategic communications plans, programs, and initiatives including experience in managing issues in crisis or critical situations.
• Significant experience across multiple internal/corporate communications areas (e.g., strategic communication, transformation, engagement, people, culture, and brand).
• Ability to balance multiple projects and priorities within deadlines.
• A high degree of comfort working in an environment of transformation, where change is constant.
• Innovative, creative, and proactive self-starter with a keen sense of urgency and initiative.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Highly organized individual who takes pride and ownership in their work with high attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills including experience working collaboratively and managing sensitive issues in a discreet, strategic, and respectful manner.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility principles

For applicants with concerns about the recruitment process or to request another accommodation, please contact View email address on ca.edajobs.com.

If you are seeking a challenging and rewarding opportunity or additional information, please apply here!

For any questions, please contact: Human Resources

Halifax Port Authority View email address on ca.edajobs.com

Applications should be received no later than Sunday, December 3, 2023. However, applications will be reviewed as they are received and interviews may commence prior to the posting deadline. We thank all applicants and ensure that all inquiries will be treated confidentially; only those considered for an interview will be contacted.