Job Description
Who We Are:
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is a world-class academic health sciences centre located in the southwestern Ontario city of London. Just two hours from Toronto and two hours from Detroit, London features a beautiful and walkable downtown core located on the Thames River, a vibrant culinary scene and scores of activities that highlight local arts, culture and music. As one of Canada’s largest acute-care teaching hospitals, LHSC delivers world-class care and experiences, built on our commitment to excellence in research, innovation, and learning. In partnership with our communities, we design and advance healthcare to support the wellness of the populations we serve. LHSC delivers both local and regional services, including the Children’s Hospital, within a large geographic area. LHSC is known for its great people and great care, with a workforce of close to 15,000, dedicated to delivering the highest quality patient care while partnering with communities to transform health, one life at a time.
About the Role:
The Communication Consultant provides strategic communication consultation and planning to support the achievement of LHSC’s strategic priorities. The incumbent also supports communications for the Office of the President and CEO, as well as government, community and stakeholder relations. Practicing exceptional discernment and diplomacy, the Communication Consultant works collaboratively across the organization to profile LHSC’s mission of care, teaching and research while building provincial, national and global visibility. A key component of this work is to ensure internal and external stakeholders are communicated with and kept informed of LHSC’s activities, initiatives and accomplishments in order to engender support for the organization; enhance its reputation; contribute to patient and staff satisfaction; and improve the hospital’s relationship with key stakeholders. A strategist at heart with a collaborative spirit, the Communication Consultant is an unparalleled writer, effective decision-maker and astute problem-solver, with an ability to think creatively and thrive under pressure.
What we offer:
- Rate of Pay: $41.12 per hour - $51.39 per hour
- Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week (with rotating on-call schedule)
- Health and Dental Benefits & Pension Plan (HOOPP)
- Career development and training opportunities
Responsibilities
- Designing, executing and measuring strategic communications plans for key organizational priorities
- Conducting research to enhance audience insights, define communication environments, align to best practices and inform strategy
- Consulting with all levels of leadership to advance LHSC’s strategic objectives
- Providing exemplary writing and communication consultation to the Office of the President and CEO
- Supporting government, community and stakeholder relations
- Advancing communications strategies to support equity, inclusion and social accountability
- Planning internal and external events, including announcements and VIP visits
- Drafting key messages, speaking remarks and event collateral
- Crafting content, including web copy, news releases, backgrounders, Q&A documents, social media content, marketing collateral and other products
- Developing and implementing issues and crisis management strategies
- Responding to media queries and developing and executing proactive media outreach plans
- Providing advice on risks and benefits of media engagement opportunities
- Supporting media activities, including preparing leadership for interviews and coordinating logistics
- Advising on emerging trends in communications and bringing forward ideas for change
- Collaborating with and supporting team members in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
As the ideal candidate, you have:
- Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Policy, or Public Relations or as acceptable by the Hospital.
- Minimum Five (5) years recent, related experience in a communication role with exposure to media (Health Care or Public Sector preferred).
- Solid knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts, practices and techniques of strategic communications.
- Solid understanding of principles, theories, concepts and practices of communications, including media relations, crisis communication, internal and stakeholder communications.
- Previous experience in government/health-care communications
- Demonstrated superior writing skills
- Experience in issues and crisis management is an asset
- Experience in media relations is an asset
- Demonstrated expertise in professional communication/public relations writing
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
- Effective time management, organizational skills and ability to multi-task within tight deadlines
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically
- Demonstrated advanced problem solving and decision-making skills
- Demonstrated advanced flexibility and adaptability to change in fast-paced settings
- Demonstrated practice and commitment to the principles of patient and family centered care
- Demonstrated practice and commitment to patient and staff safety at LHSC
- Demonstrated practice and commitment to LHSC’s Purpose, Vision and Values
- Demonstrated ability to attend work on a regular basis
How to Apply
Apply through London Health Sciences Centre's career website at https://www.lhsc.on.ca/careers Job ID 101991
LHSC is committed to the principles of hybrid work and may offer this option to employees whose work can be performed in an alternate location, without adverse impact to the operations of the Hospital, inclusive of our Staff and Patient experience. Confirmation of hybrid work options available to you will be clarified upon hire and may be subject to change based on the duties required of your position. Successful candidates will be required to perform work within Ontario and must be available to work on location, as required.
Immunization Requirements:
Before beginning employment at LHSC, all new hires will be required to:
- Provide vaccination records or proof of immunity against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chicken pox), Hepatitis B, Tetanus/ Diphtheria/Polio; Meningitis.
- Provide documentation of the Tuberculosis skin testing (two step).
- Provide proof of Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccination reflective of Ontario Health’s current definition of being fully vaccinated
- For more information visit https://www.lhsc.on.ca/careers/health-review-requirements
We are committed to providing a safe, healthy and inclusive work environment that inspires respect. LHSC is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from equity-denied groups including Indigenous people, racialized people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons. LHSC is also committed to ensuring an accessible and inclusive recruitment process. Upon individual request, we will endeavor to remove any barrier to the hiring process to reasonably accommodate candidates, including those with disabilities, while maintaining a fair, consistent and equitable recruitment approach. Should any applicant require accommodation through the application, interview or selection processes, please contact Recruitment Services at 519-685-8500, extension #34321 or recruitment@lhsc.on.ca .
As part of the selection process applicants may be required to complete an examination or test. Please be advised that a reference check may be conducted as part of the selection process.
Your interest in this opportunity is appreciated. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Successful candidates, as a condition of job offer, would be required to provide a satisfactory police information check (original document) completed in the last 6 months.
Please be advised, if you are seeking employment on a temporary work or study permit, we recommend reviewing work permit restrictions as it applies to healthcare organizations in Canada. As per the Government of Canada, LHSC is considered a hospital/healthcare organization, even if an employee is functioning in a non-patient facing role. Individuals on a work or study permit seeking employment in this sector may be required to complete additional steps in the process, including but not limited to a medical exam, which may also apply to employees looking to renew their work permits. It is the employee’s accountability to ensure they are adhering to their specific work permit restrictions, and we encourage all candidates and LHSC employees to be proactive and review restrictions as soon as possible as it could be a lengthy process.