Lead Strategist - External Relations and Public Engagement chez City of Edmonton

Are you a natural leader with a talent for building meaningful relationships and a passion for public engagement? The City of Edmonton is looking for a Lead Strategist to join the City Operations Communications & Engagement team. Reporting to the Account Director, this role is responsible for aligning and integrating external relations and public engagement functions to achieve departmental and project goals. 

The City Operations department is responsible for keeping Edmontonians working, moving and thriving every day. The department includes four branches: Edmonton Transit Service; Fleet and Facility Services; Parks and Roads Services and Waste Services. 

The successful candidate will lead the external relations portfolio by fostering authentic and mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships with key external groups, ensuring strategic alignment with City priorities and advancing the department and City's reputation. Additionally, you will provide strategic oversight and direction to the department's public engagement activities, upholding the City’s Public Engagement Policy (C593D) and ensuring residents and interest groups have meaningful opportunities to contribute to City’s decision-making. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with exceptional communication and leadership skills, capable of navigating complex and politically sensitive environments.

What will you do?

• Use in-depth understanding of the needs, perspectives and contributions of key external interest groups to inform departmental strategy and policy.

• Ensure the department’s and the City’s strategic priorities, interests and values are understood and supported by external interest groups, building trust and advancing the City’s reputation

• Identify, develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships with a variety of external groups, including other orders of government, post secondary institutions, businesses, associations, community leagues, non-profits etc.

• Participate in external events/activities representing the department and help facilitate conversations and connections with external interest groups

• Identify opportunities for strategic integration of external relations and public engagement functions

• Provide leadership, strategic oversight and direction to the City Operations Public Engagement team and the Senior Public Engagement Advisor

• Lead the public engagement strategic planning process at the program and department level, and manage relationships with internal program areas and leaders

• Offer internal consultation and expertise to department teams and managers on public engagement matters and issues management

• Lead the recruitment, onboarding, coaching, mentorship and performance management of staff

• Contribute to the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of section and unit-level external relations and engagement processes and practices

• A Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Public Relations, Business, Communications, or a related field

• A minimum of six (6) years of experience in a complex environment, leading and working in an external relations and public engagement capacity. A related diploma combined with increased experience may also be considered

• Progressively responsible experience in a leadership role within a large, unionized, and complex organization, including supervisory experience in recruitment, coaching, performance management and conflict resolution

• Experience in planning, designing, and implementation of engagement processes, change and project management, and relationship and partnership building

Assets:

• A Master's Degree (MBA or other) in a related field

• Certification in Change Management or Project Management

• An International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) certificate or similar professional training

Skills required for success:

• Demonstrated experience providing a high level of collaboration, consultation, relationship-building, and guidance

• High degree of political acumen with the ability to understand politically sensitive and complex issues and initiatives in a large, public sector environment

• Strong leadership, supervisory, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills to lead, direct, and motivate staff across functional work teams

• Highly developed public speaking, presentation, and communication skills, including the ability to strategically position issues for decision-maker

• Knowledge and experience in change management and project management methodologies, as well as building organizational capacity

• An ability to work with minimal guidance and supervision, making independent decisions within established policies and procedures

• The ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment with multiple and changing priorities

• An ability to build effective working relationships across all levels of the corporation and with external interest groups and organizations

• Alignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies (https://bit.ly/4brRrXm)

• 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 https://bit.ly/COEbenefits.

Up to 1 temporary position up to 18 months in accordance with Article 18.02 of the Collective Agreement

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week

Salary Range: $46.506 - $66.437(hourly) $97,104.5300 - $138,720.460 (annually) 

Talent Acquisition Consultant: AG/MM

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