Lead Strategist, Communications & Engagement

Are you an exceptional communications and engagement leader driven to deliver results and make a difference? The City of Edmonton is seeking a highly qualified professional to lead and inspire a high-performing communications and engagement team in the Community Services Department.

In this role, you will be a key player in shaping how the City listens to, learns from and connects with residents and our city building partners. You will manage and mentor a dedicated team of professionals, providing leadership and strategic oversight to the development and implementation of innovative communications and engagement strategies that build trust and foster meaningful public and interest holder participation. This position is perfect for someone with keen political acumen who thrives in a fast-paced, complex environment and is committed to creating a safe, healthy, and vibrant city for all Edmontonians.

The Lead Strategist, Communications & Engagement is responsible for leading a portfolio of communications and engagement strategies within the Community Services Department. This role manages the overall design and delivery of integrated services, ensuring seamless collaboration across teams and projects. As a leader, you will provide strategic counsel, manage a team of 10-14 professionals, and translate high-level strategies into actionable plans. A key purpose of this position is to increase the profile and awareness of important City programs, build trust with Edmontonians and interest holders, and ensure effective public participation in decision-making.

What will you do?

• Lead the design and implementation of comprehensive integrated marketing, communications, public engagement, and external relations strategies
• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and mentorship to a team of communications and engagement professionals
• Serve as the conduit between the leadership team and frontline staff, balancing direction from leadership with feedback from staff
• Lead the communications and engagement planning process, developing strategies that are aligned with corporate priorities and department goals
• Perform quality management and oversight on deliverables to ensure they meet the City's standards and guides
• Identify issues, opportunities, trends, and gaps, and provide strategic advice and proposed solutions to leadership
• Contribute to the design and continuous improvement of section and unit-level processes and practices
• Ensure the effective and prudent use of financial and human resources
  
  
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Public Relations, Business, Communications, Public Engagement or a related field, with 6 years of progressively responsible experience OR a related diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution with 8 years of progressively responsible experience
• Six to eight years of experience leading and providing strategic consulting and advising services in communications and public engagement
  
  
  

Assets:

• A Master's Degree in a related field
• Certification in Change Management or Project Management
• International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) certificate or similar professional training
  
  
  

Skills Required For Success

• Progressively responsible leadership experience, including managing teams accountable for large, politically sensitive, and complex projects
• Leadership experience in a unionized environment
• Experience translating business goals into effective and results focused strategic communications and public engagement, preferably in a public sector environment
• Experience in planning, designing, implementing and evaluating communications and engagement programs in a large, complex organization
• Experience as a consultant in an agency or internal service provision model
• Excellent relationship building and management skills
• Proven track record managing complex issues, including providing advice to leadership
• Understanding of market research and public opinion research methodologies and experiencing using research in the development and evaluation of communications and engagement strategies
• Understanding of and experience with the public engagement process, from design and planning to delivery and evaluation
• Extensive knowledge of the City of Edmonton lines of business and its strategic environment.
• High degree of political acumen to navigate sensitive and complex issues.
• Ability to work with minimal guidance and make independent decisions within established policies.
• Strong leadership, supervisory, coaching, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills to lead and motivate staff.
• Highly developed public speaking, presentation, and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across all levels of the corporation and with key interest holders.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and various virtual platforms.
• Alignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies
• Embracing a culture of equity, diversity, reconciliation and inclusion
  
  
  

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 .

Up to 1 permanent position

Hours of Work: 33.75 hours per week

Salary Range: $49.213 - $70.305 (Hourly) $86,701.000 - $123,859.830 (Annually)

Talent Acquisition Consultant: AG/MM

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

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