Engagement & Content Specialist at Halifax Regional Municipality

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is inviting applications for two (2) permanent, full-time positions of Engagement & Content Specialist with Planning & Development.

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is committed to reflecting the community it serves and recognizing Diversity and Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy and we welcome applications from African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workforce, Indigenous/Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ Persons.  Applicants are encouraged to self-identify on their electronic application. 
​​Under the direction of the Manager, Transformation & Innovation, the Engagement & Content Specialist’s key responsibility is to develop community and staff engagement strategies and to create interesting content to amplify key messages which support Planning & Development’s strategic initiatives, priorities, and communications objectives. An effective written communicator across various media, the Engagement & Content Specialist provides leadership and expertise in customer and community outreach and engagement, web platforms, social media, facilitation, employee engagement, and public relations. 

​Working with key partners across the business unit, the Engagement & Content Specialist is the division’s senior subject matter expert respecting principles and practices, tools and techniques for employee and public engagement and is responsible for maintaining Planning & Development’s online reputation across the organization’s digital media channels and public engagement.   

​Collaborating with the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, the Engagement & Content Specialist will create and promote innovative community engagement programs by identifying opportunities for improved participation and outreach strategies in African Nova Scotian, Indigenous and other underrepresented communities as well as underrepresented groups. The Engagement & Content Specialist collaborates with our partners in Corporate Communications to develop communications strategies and plans, ensuring consistency of Planning & Development messaging across all municipal channels. 

​The Engagement & Content Specialist will oversee Transformation & Innovation interns and cooperative students (when applicable). The Engagement & Content Specialist is exposed to confidential material and must always respect the confidential nature of the position and be able to work independently.​

DUTIES &  RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Senior subject matter expert and business unit lead for P&D engagement and content.  
• Leads the adoption and application of the P&D Public Engagement Guidebook and the municipal Community Engagement Strategy within P&D.  
• Empowers and educates staff on engagement standards in alignment with the P&D Public Engagement Guidebook and the municipal Community Engagement Strategy. 
• Represents P&D on the municipality’s Community Engagement Advisory Group which is established as a corporate resource, providing advice and guidance to employees across the organization who are leading or planning public engagement efforts. 
• Leads and/or supports staff with the creation of internal and external engagement strategies and implementation plans with the goal of building and maintaining trusted relationships with key partners and community members. 
• Works directly with Corporate Communications in the development of communications strategies, plans and all associated products including graphic design (e.g. graphics, infographics, digital assets, report design and production, etc.) as well as photos, video and audio content. 
• Acts as the key liaison between Corporate Communications and P&D.  
• Works directly with the Office of Diversity & Inclusion to improve delivery and experience of engagement with underrepresented groups and demonstrate sensitivity to diversity and inclusiveness more effectively. 
• Develops and supports partnerships with community leaders, public/private agencies, non-profit organizations, and other levels of government to understand and anticipate engagement and communications needs.  
• Acts as the Subject Matter Expert regarding engagement planning in special projects focused on performance, efficiency and effectiveness of services, projects, and programs. 
• Monitors and remains informed of new and emerging trends regarding engagement practices and tools; recommends resources and changes to improve public engagement with P&D’s activities, residents, and community’s experience of engagement.  
• Analyzes and tracks important in-person and virtual engagement, social media, and survey-related KPIs and generates periodic reports based on trends and effectiveness in achieving marketing objectives, and goals. 
• Collects and analyzes input from Planning & Development customers and staff on an ongoing basis through a variety of mechanisms (e.g., surveys, in-person, etc.) 
• Makes recommendations to the Manager, Transformation & Innovation regarding engagement strategies in support of changes to municipal policies affecting business unit initiatives. 
• Manages and oversees multiple P&D’s social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, LinkedIn and YouTube. 
• Establishes and monitors procedures to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and consistency in response to internal and public inquiries. 
• Promotes and works to eliminate cross department or branch/work unit/individual barriers within P&D by focusing on facilitating collaboration.  
• Documenting P&D events for promotional purposes; photography, coordination and additional tasks as required.  
• Works as part of the P&D and Transformation & Innovation team to achieve the goals and objectives of the division and the business unit by building collaborative relationships and networks of effective strategic relationships with customers, internal and external peers, and colleagues. 
• Collaborates with Human Resources on the recruitment and selection process for Transformation & Innovation interns and cooperative students, in compliance with Human Resources policies and collective agreements. 
• Provides orientation, training, coaching and oversees project work professional development for Transformation & Innovation interns and cooperative students. 

QUALIFICATIONS:
Education & Experience:

• University degree in Business, Organizational Development, Communications, Marketing or a related field. A master’s degree in Business or Communications, Marketing, or a related field would be considered an asset.  
• Five (5) to seven (7) years of experience working in the engagement, change management and/or communications sector.  
• Experience supporting complex, multi-stakeholder projects with strict deadlines required. 
• Experienced and knowledgeable in consultation, facilitation, presentation, strategic planning, project management and change management. 
• Experience working in a government, corporate and/or consultancy environment would be considered an asset. 

Technical/Job Specific Knowledge and Abilities: 

• Strong knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, including Acrobat, InDesign, and Photoshop; 
• Advanced Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook) skills, as well as presentation, engagement, survey, and facilitation software tools.  
• Knowledge of HTML, CSS, and web-based internet platforms considered an asset. 
• Experience using engagement software and tools. 
• Experience building and/or developing content calendars, scheduling content, managing social media accounts, spotting patterns/trends, making recommendations, analyzing, and reporting on results. 
• Experience with producing professional quality reports. 
• Knowledge of culturally appropriate ways of developing constructive working relationships with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, including those associated with race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and/or other aspects of human diversity. 
• Knowledge of HRM policies and procedures, business practices, organizational structure considered an asset. 
• Ability to travel extensively within HRM, including evenings and weekends. 

Security Clearance Requirements: Applicants may be required to complete an employment security screening check.

Please note: Testing may be conducted as a component of the selection process to assess technical and job specific knowledge. Candidates, who are selected for testing, may be tested in a group setting, scheduled at the employer’s discretion.

COMPETENCIES: Analytical Thinking, Customer Service, Networking/Relationship Building, Organizational Awareness, Teamwork & Cooperation, Values & Ethics, Valuing Diversity, Conflict Management

WORK STATUS: 2 permanent, full-time positions

HOURS OF WORK: Monday - Friday, 8:30AM - 4:30PM, 35 hours per week. Some flexibility may be required due to operational needs.  Flex options to work outside of these hours & hybrid may be available.

SALARY: Level 8, $39.63 per hour as per the NSGEU 222 Collective Agreement

WORK LOCATION: 3rd floor Duke Tower (5251 Duke St, Halifax).  Travel throughout municipality required for public engagement purposes.

CLOSING DATE:   Applications will be accepted until 11:59 pm on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 

This is a bargaining unit position. External applicants will only be considered if there are no qualified bargaining unit candidates.

Please note:  We thank all applicants for their interest in this position.  Only those applicants selected for an interview / testing will be contacted.

To ensure a fair and equitable hiring process, candidates are expected to complete all parts of the recruitment process, including assessments, assignments, and interviews independently and without the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools or other forms of external assistance. The use of AI to complete any component of the hiring process is not permitted and may result in disqualification from consideration.

During the recruitment process, applicants have the right to request an accommodation. Applicants invited to participate in an assessment process (such as interview or testing) and who require an accommodation, should discuss their needs with the recruiter when invited to the assessment process. For more information on our accommodation process please clink on the link; Accommodations | Hiring | Employment | Halifax

(position #78639771,78639772)