Chief Communications Officer

Client Organization: City of Toronto

Position Title: Chief Communications Officer

Reports to: Chief of Staff, City Manager’s Office

Location: Toronto, Ontario

THE CITY OF TORONTO

Toronto is Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is home to more than 3 million residents whose diversity and experiences strengthen our great city. A global centre for business, finance, technology, arts, culture, and innovation, Toronto consistently places at the top of international rankings due in part to investments championed by residents and businesses, and in turn, led by Toronto City Council and carried out through the work of the Toronto Public Service.

THE ROLE

A key member of the Corporate Leadership Team, the Chief Communications Officer (CCO) oversees the Strategic Public & Employee Communications division comprised of all centralized internal and external communications functions for the City, including partnerships, digital engagement, public education, marketing, and creative. The CCO develops and implements the City’s strategic communications plan, ensuring alignment with the overall City strategy, business plan and Council priorities, and sets overall strategy and key performance indicators to ensure a future-focused and visionary strategic communications presence for the City. Complex and meaningful, the work of the City touches every aspect of each resident’s life and each visitor’s experience. Effective internal and external communications, risk management and issues management serve to enhance responsiveness, connection, participation, accessibility, celebration and the overall reputation of the City.

The CCO reports to the Chief of Staff in the City Manager’s Office and oversees a team of 80 with a current operating budget of approximately $12.6 million. The position is based in the City Manager’s Office at City Hall and is an in-person role.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

You bring a background of increasingly more responsible and accountable experience and a track record of relevant accomplishments in multi-channel communications and public and media relations at a senior leadership level in organizations of relative scale, including ideally in the public sector. You bring evidence of strong political acuity, a commitment to public service and service delivery, and an understanding of the complexity and nuances of government.

Demonstrating a strategic partner approach, you will collaborate and coordinate closely with City leaders, the Mayor’s Office and City Council to confirm and achieve goals, actively listen, provide tailored advice, and build trust and confidence. You bring strong strategic skills to develop and execute comprehensive communications plans, as well as experience leading, motivating and coaching a team aligned to the City’s values and ensuring a culture that champions equity, diversity and inclusive, respectful workplaces.

You have excellent verbal and written communication skills with a strong understanding of media relations and crisis communications, and you are effective in the role of spokesperson as well as providing support to others in this role. You are calm and responsive under pressure and effectively balance the need to be both proactive and reactive when managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic city.

You are effective at plain language and accessible and inspiring storytelling to connect with diverse audiences across multi-lingual communities. You are also creative and think outside of the traditional to embrace and effectively deliver communications across multiple platforms.

The City of Toronto is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, members of visible minority groups and women. The City of Toronto strives to build an inclusive society and provide an accessible environment in which all individuals have access to the City’s services and programs in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.

Should you require accommodation to participate as a candidate in the hiring process, please communicate your needs to the LHH Knightsbridge project team.

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you’re interested in being considered for this exciting and impactful senior leadership position, please forward your cover letter and resume to Chris Sawyer at chris.sawyer@lhhknightsbridge.com. Should you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please contact a member of the project team:

Janice Kussner, Partner janice.kussner@lhhknightsbridge.com 416-640-4313

Chris Sawyer, Partner chris.sawyer@lhhknightsbridge.com 416-640-4312 

Oksana Krupa, Executive Assistant oksana.krupa@lhhknightsbridge.com 416-928-4612

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