Communications Advisor – Corporate Communications in Toronto

Unity Health Toronto, comprised of St. Joseph’s Health Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital and Providence Healthcare, works to advance the health of everyone in our urban communities and beyond. Our health network serves patients, residents and clients across the full spectrum of care, spanning primary care, secondary community care, tertiary and quaternary care services to post-acute through rehabilitation, palliative care and long-term care, while investing in world-class research and education.

The Communications and Public Affairs Department is responsible for reputation management of our network, internal and external communications, branding and marketing, media relations, digital media, government and stakeholder relations and community engagement. The Communications Advisor is an integral member of the Communications and Public Affairs team, striving to build the network’s local, national and international reputation as a progressive leader in the treatment of critical care, serious illnesses, community health, rehab and complex continuing care, and research and education that impact patient care.

We are looking for a talented, creative and highly motivated Communications Advisor to join our team. In this role, you will be largely responsible for keeping staff abreast of corporate information. This is typically done via the network’s staff e-update; responsibilities include receiving submissions, copy editing and writing content, fact checking and managing approvals, and editorial oversight. This position also supports CEO communications, such as drafting memos, briefing notes and speaking notes. The Communications Adviser will report to the Manager of Corporate Communications and work closely with our Senior Communication Advisers supporting our quality, research and education, and clinical portfolios across our network.

Responsibilities

• Plan, co-ordinate, write and edit content for the staff e-update
• Support CEO communications – draft memos, speaking notes, briefing notes, etc.
• Respond in a professional and timely manner to client requests and incoming questions from the public
• Act as the Communications & Public Affairs representative on a rotational basis after hours
• Assist in establishing an annual communications strategy for the health network
• Lead the planning, writing and development of corporate communication strategies and campaigns that demonstrate our commitments in our Strategic Plan and promote our brand.
• Work collaboratively within the Communications and Public Affairs team, the Foundation and with other departments
• Other strategic communication duties as assigned: event support, photo support, updating hospital-wide communication assets, etc.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree/diploma in journalism, public relations, communications, or related area.
• Minimum 1 to 3 years of experience required.
• Strong awareness of health, government, economic, labour and other relevant news.
• Exceptional writer and editor with strong understanding of CP Style; must have ability to ensure error-free materials.
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Results oriented, self-directed, and independent, with the ability to balance multifaceted projects and competing priorities.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure; mature judgment for assessing difficult situations.
• High energy, flexibility and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Issues management experience is an asset.

Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity.