Communication & Community Lead

What is the Opportunity?

Aecon is a market leader with a self-perform competitive advantage and core local strength in key markets. We’re proud of our work helping to expand and improve Canada’s infrastructure and transportation networks, and we’re ready to build the future of our country.

Aecon is looking for a dynamic communications professional to lead communications and stakeholder engagement initiatives for an exciting major transit project in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The Communications Lead plays a vital role in sustaining a best practice approach to all project communication, stakeholder relations and community engagement activities, including best-in-class client relations.

The Communications Lead will support the execution of client-approved Project Communication Plans, Community Engagement and Stakeholder Relations Plans, Issues Management and Crisis Communications Plans, where required, as well as Social Media and Media Relations Strategies.

The ideal candidate brings established relationships with Toronto media, understanding of working with elected officials, and has effectively applied the principles, practices, and techniques of communication planning, development, and execution on large infrastructure projects.

What You’ll Do Here :

• As a key individual on the project, collaborate with the client and colleagues to lead the development of communications and public information materials to engage, educate, and build trust with stakeholders and community members
• Ensure timely and transparent communications with Indigenous communities, local businesses, residents, transit users, the public and all stakeholders
• Manage the research, planning, development, and execution of communication and crisis plans for various scopes of work, events, and / or for issues management
• Liaise with the construction team to manage the development of communications and public engagement strategies and materials for print, digital or social media formats (e.

g., fact sheets, construction notices, advertisements, digital / copy writing, blogs, newsletters, presentations, signage, Q&A, community letters, etc.)

• Craft media relations materials including press releases, media responses and statements. Provide media training and counsel to technical staff and support the client’s media strategy
• Manage the development and collection of photo and video assets and maintain a digital repository
• Lead the planning and execution of special events with multiple stakeholders to mark / celebrate project milestones
• Attend stakeholder and community meetings, operations meetings, and communications working group meetings to proactively identify activities to be communicated to affected residents or stakeholders
• Manage the execution of community outreach meetings, forums, public information centres, tours and other stakeholder meetings
• Foster relationships with public and private sector partners, various professional associations and stakeholders
• Ensure adherence to service standards by effectively mitigating, responding to, and reporting project-related issues, ensuring timely resolution to public inquiries about design and construction activities (including information on construction schedules, transit and traffic impacts, community meetings, etc.)
• Lead emergency and crisis preparedness in collaboration with the client, ensuring required communications materials are implemented and updated
• In tandem, liaise with Aecon’s corporate leads to ensure transfer of best practices and lessons learned for similar projects, on an ongoing basis

What You Bring to the Team :

• Minimum 8 to 10 years’ experience in communications within the infrastructure / transit sectors
• A post-secondary degree in communications, public relations, or related field
• Experienced in media relations, crisis communications, issues management, corporate and community relations
• A passionate team leader with the ability to nurture team members individually and develop the communications team collectively
• The ideal candidate brings established relationships with Toronto area media
• Experience and understanding of working with elected officials and various levels of government is an asset

Customer focused, detail-oriented, responsive and proactive

• Exceptional written and oral communications skills
• Highly organized with demonstrated ability to plan and execute multiple priorities with tight deadlines and meticulous attention to detail
• Thorough grasp of Microsoft Office suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word)
• Digital, social, and traditional media savvy
• Professional business communication designations considered an asset

What Makes us Aecon Proud :

• Engaging and agile workplace culture, collaborative and inclusive teams
• Commitment to and to becoming a net-zero company by 2050
• Investing in our people through a variety of programs such as Aecon University, BluePrint leadership program, and Project Management Academy
• Variety of wellness benefits, access to virtual health care, 100% employer-paid health and dental premiums, Employee Assistance Program, Best Doctors Program, and more.
• Tuition reimbursement opportunities
• Recognition and rewards through Aecon Accolades, Aecon Achievement Awards and more
• Employee Stock Options, Short Term Incentive Program, Retirement Savings and Pension Plan
30+ days ago