Contribute to the City of Hamilton, one of Canada’s largest cities - home to a diverse and strong economy, an active and inclusive community, a robust cultural and dining scene, hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails and natural beauty just minutes from the downtown core, and so much more. Join our diverse team of talented and ambitious staff who embody our values of sensational service, courageous change, steadfast integrity, collective ownership and being engaged empowered employees. Help us achieve our vision of being the best place to raise a child and age successfully. #BeTheReason
Job ID #31518: Sr Communications Advisor (3 Positions)
Union: Non-Union
Job Description ID #: 7741
Close date: Interested applicants please submit your application online at www.hamilton.ca/city-council/jobs-city by 4:00 p.m. on November 12, 2025.
Internal applicants should apply with your work e-mail address. External applicants are considered only after the internal posting process has been completed. Only applicants chosen for an interview will be contacted.
OVERVIEW
Reporting to either the Manager of Corporate Communications or the Director Communications and Engagement, the City is seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Communications & Public Affairs Advisor to join our team. The Senior Communications Advisor is a motivated professional who will work closely with the City Manager and senior leadership team to develop integrated strategic communications on corporate priorities and initiatives and tell compelling and meaningful stories for City staff and the public.
This role requires a creative and critical thinker who is quick on their feet and exhibits exceptional political acuity and judgement, as well as the ability to analyze and manage high-priority, sensitive and complex issues and distil them into clear, timely and engaging communications. The successful candidate comes with a strong knowledge of and experience working within a government setting, is familiar with public affairs and policy issues and has a solid foundation in project management practices to manage multiple and multi-faceted projects that directly impact the organization’s vision, mission and priorities; enhance the City’s reputation; and build trust and confidence within the community.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Provides strategic advice and recommendations, identifies and develops proactive communications strategies and solutions to support key corporate and strategic initiatives and projects to ensure consistent messaging and branding across all communications.
Interprets, distills and communicates complex and sensitive issues in a persuasive and compelling manner by proactively identifying emerging issues, risks and trends, providing recommendations on a wide variety of communications and public affairs issues, and linking programs and initiatives to communications planning for broader public consumption.
Creates impactful messaging and materials and tells compelling stories for both internal and external audiences across various channels, events and materials, including key messaging/positioning, speaking notes, press releases, web and digital platforms, and other marketing materials, aligning with organizational objectives.
Manages relationships with leadership and staff across the organization on a variety of issues and projects, handles issues with tact and diplomacy and uses judgement on when to escalate issues.
Works closely with the Corporate Communications, Marketing, Social Media, Creative Services and Web teams to ensure content across channels is coordinated.
Assists in managing media relations, including drafting media releases, organizing media avails, and maintaining relationships with journalists and media outlets, to promote strategic initiatives and enhance the City’s reputation.
Assists in crisis communication planning and response, ensuring timely and appropriate communication with stakeholders in alignment with corporate strategies and reputation management.
Commissions communications, research, issue assessments, branding and other strategic support services for the Communications & Engagement division.
Monitors and analyzes the effectiveness of communication strategies and campaigns, public sentiment and issues, providing insights and recommendations for improvement, particularly concerning strategic goals and branding efforts.
Attends public meetings and events as required and may be asked to present the City’s position on issues to the public and key stakeholders.
Stays current with industry trends and best practices in communications, digital media, and public relations, with a focus on strategic impact and branding.
Performs on-call/after-hours communications duties on evenings and weekends, on a rotational basis, as assigned.
Work in accordance with the provisions of applicable Health and Safety legislation and all City of Hamilton corporate and departmental policies and procedures related to Occupational Health and Safety.
Performs other duties as assigned which are directly related to the responsibilities of the position.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Administration, Public Affairs or a related field and/or a combination of education and related communications experience.
Considerable experience required, preference for a minimum of 5-7 years of experience in a communications role, preferably in a non-profit or public sector environment.
Creative, innovative and strategic thinker who is big picture-oriented and an experienced storyteller able to weave complex and diverse ideas and information into engaging, meaningful stories that will resonate with staff and the public and enhance the City’s brand position and reputation.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a keen eye for detail and accuracy.
Adaptable, versatile and dynamic personality able to translate direction into action, grasp issues, work under pressure, pivot in unexpected situations and lead numerous projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Possesses a high level of personal integrity along with political acumen and has experience working with senior leaders.
Agile public and customer mindset focused on continuous improvement, innovation and advancement, and is acts as a champion for change management.
Demonstrated ability to perform independently, exercise initiative, and provide leadership while working within a diverse team environment under tight deadlines.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a proactive and results-oriented approach.
Extensive knowledge of good communications and public affairs principles and practices, particularly as they relate to strategic corporate communications, issues management, media relations, digital channels, service experience and policy and advocacy issues.
Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
Demonstrated experience in media relations and crises communications in handling sensitive issues.
Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality.
Disclaimer:
Be advised that Human Resources frequently audits resumes of internal/external applicants to ensure/validate information provided is consistent and trustworthy. Falsification of information provided at any time throughout the recruitment process may be grounds for disqualification, and for internal applicants, subject to discipline up to and including termination.
Terms:
The City is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes. Consistent with our Values and Corporate Culture Pillars, the City of Hamilton is committed to providing equitable treatment to all with respect to barrier-free employment and accommodation without discrimination. The City will provide accommodation for applicants in all aspects of the hiring process, up to the point of undue hardship. If you have an accommodation need, please contact Human Resources as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements.
