Social Media Advisor

Are you a social media expert who excels in that sweet spot of balancing creativity with strategic communications? We’re looking for someone who understands how to curate engaging content with the right tone - blending wit, brevity and trend-savvy messaging - while adapting to platform-specific nuances, all while aligning with the specific communications goals of our local municipal government.

The City of Edmonton is looking for a skilled and forward-thinking Social Media Advisor to join the Chief Communications Office. In this role, you’ll play a pivotal part in shaping the City’s public image by developing and executing social media strategies, managing our corporate channels and providing guidance to City staff. This is an exciting opportunity to leverage your expertise to engage with our audience and support the City’s broader communications objectives.

What will you do?

• Develop and oversee the City’s social media corporate strategy for the best use of public social media channels to achieve communications and other business goals
• Balance civic responsibility with crafting dynamic and engaging messaging, understanding when to create content that fosters interaction and when to prioritize clear, responsible communication that serves the public
• Ensure that the City’s social media messaging and strategies are in alignment with brand and visual identity standards and social media best practices
• Help with social media brand presence, idea generation, content creation, monitoring and engagement
• Contribute to the development of editorial approaches and strategies: help create compelling narratives that align with the brand voice and strategic objectives, ensuring products are human-centric, relevant and relatable to Edmontonians
• Identify opportunities within emerging trends, capitalizing on them by aligning with ongoing work, campaigns or portfolios to create relevant and engaging content that supports corporate priorities and strengthens the City’s brand presence
• Execute live posting from events, creating dynamic, on-brand content with a quick turnaround, ensuring consistency in both language and visuals
• Leverage the collective strengths of the story, brand and social media teams to drive business objectives, fostering collaboration to deliver creative, engaging and impactful communication strategies
• Maintain and update the City’s Social Media Standards , developing and refining tools, resources and training to ensure communication colleagues stay informed about evolving platform requirements and best practices
• Contribute strategic guidance and advisory support for projects with a significant social media component
• Ensure strategic approach to monitor, flag and prepare recommended responses to social media comments for approval Identify issues emerging through social media and recommend strategies to respond
• Evaluate ongoing campaigns and make recommendations and adjustments to plans based on data analysis
• Capture and analyze data/metrics, insights and social media best practices to measure the success of social media campaigns, then use that information to refine future campaigns
• Provide social media statistics and analysis for monthly reports, annual reports as needed
• Assist in the development and implementation of work aligned with the City Plan and its priorities
• Stay informed about relevant political, economic, digital, and socio-cultural trends, including new technologies, tools, platform updates and regulatory changes. Provide strategic insights to adapt to evolving digital landscapes, ensuring content remains relevant and aligned with best practices
  
  
  

Qualifications:

• A degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or a related field
• A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in corporate communications and public relations
  
  
  

OR

• Completion of a post secondary diploma in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or related discipline
• A minimum of 4 years of progressively responsible experience in a corporate communications and public relations
  
  
  

Assets:

• Experience working in municipal government or the public sector
• Expertise with social media in-app and third party content creation tools
• Experience with Google Workspace,WordPress, Asana, Adobe Creative Suite and Hootsuite
• Knowledge of brand strategy and visual identity, with the ability to to create on-brand, visually compelling content
• Advanced creative skills in visual content creation, including photography, video production and graphic design
  
  
  

Skills required for success:

• Proven experience in developing social media strategies, managing online communities and creating engaging content
• Strong understanding of the latest social media tools, platforms, and trends, with the ability to teach and support colleagues in adopting these tools
• Deep knowledge of target audiences and appropriate interactions for various social media channels (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
• Ability to interpret the City’s voice and adapt it for various social media channels, ensuring content is tailored to the respective platform and audience, while remaining aligned with the organization's brand and values
• Sophisticated creative skills in lo-fi content creation, including copywriting, mobile photography and video production, as well as editing and curating visual assets
• A keen aesthetic judgment, strong understanding of the audience and alignment with our corporate brand are essential to producing high-quality, on-brand content
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create clear, concise, and engaging content
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to track and analyze social media performance, using insights to improve strategies
• Experience managing crisis communication and addressing sensitive issues on social media platforms
• Understanding of the political, social, cultural, and strategic dynamics within our organization, our city and the surrounding region
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage with a diverse range of partners
• Ability to manage multiple projects independently and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under pressure and handle competing priorities
• Alignment to the City of Edmonton’s Cultural Commitments
• Embracing a culture of equity, diversity, reconciliation and inclusion
• Demonstration of these skills and knowledge will be requested through a portfolio of related social media and multimedia work at the time of the interview
  
  
  

Conditions of Employment:

• Possession of a valid Alberta Class 5 motor vehicle license with the ability to obtain a City Driver’s Permit
• Applicant may be tested
  
  
  

Work Environment:

• Ability to work evenings and weekends to attend events on occasion is required
• Note : This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement with the flexibility to work from both home and the worksite as per the Letter of Understanding between the City of Edmonton and Civic Service Union 52
• The weekly hours of work for this position are currently under review and may change at a future time. Any changes will be made in accordance with the City of Edmonton/Civic Service Union 52 collective agreement and the incumbent will be notified in advance
  
  
  

The City of Edmonton values applicants with a diverse range of skills, experiences and competencies, and encourages you to apply. We strive to provide reasonable access and accommodations throughout the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact [email protected] . Learn more about our benefits https://bit.ly/COEbenefits

Up to 1 permanent position

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday

Salary Range: $43.617 - 54.961 (Hourly), $91,072.30-114,758.57 (Annually)

Talent Acquisition Consultant: AG/VH

Edmonton rests in the heart of Treaty Six territory in Alberta and the homelands of the Metis Nation.