The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is the national voice of municipal governments, representing the interests of cities and communities with the federal government.

With over 2,100 members including Canada's largest cities, small urban and rural communities, and 20 provincial and territorial municipal associations, FCM represents over 92% of Canada’s population. As the national voice of Canadian municipalities, FCM is an organization that strives to make the communities Canadians live in more prosperous, sustainable, and equitable.

FCM aspires to be an organization that is deeply respectful, collaborative, empowering and transparent in our work. As the national voice for Canada’s local governments, FCM is committed to strengthening Canada by achieving results for Canadian communities and cities, and by sharing knowledge and experience on the world’s stage, so that others may improve the quality of life in their communities. All leaders in the organization are expected to lead in a manner that embraces these values, the corporate culture and the passion for FCM’s mission.

The work at FCM includes FCM becoming an even more member-driven organization that balances the realization of its goals with a people-centered approach. The incumbent embodies FCM’s commitment to being a healthy, diverse, inclusive and anti-racist organization. The Advisor, will maintain the highest level of confidentiality, professionalism and exercise good judgment including the ability to escalate to management when help is required and being able to meet deadlines as set out by their direct manager within a fast-paced corporate environment.

• Leads the development and implementation of media strategies and tactics to support FCM’s advocacy priorities and ensures wide-ranging visibility of the municipal sector.   

• Liaises with colleagues of Policy and Public Affairs and the CEO-Office, to ensure alignment in communication strategies and maintain transparency throughout the process. 

• Collaborates to the development of template key messages and political lines. 

• Builds and maintains relationships with journalists, influencers, and other media professionals to facilitate accurate reporting and manage potential crises proactively. 

• In collaboration with the Messaging and Digital team, crafts clear and compelling messages for media engagement (traditional and social media), ensuring that key points are effectively communicated and aligned with FCM’s advocacy and policy statements. 

• Develops and maintains an updated database of potential federal announcements that could affect municipalities.  

• Coordinates the media aspects of participation by the FCM President, or other program spokespersons and ensures their activities get appropriate media profile and coverage. Drafts speaking notes, scenario notes, briefing documents (Q & A) for the FCM President or designated spokespeople. Briefs spokespeople. Collaborates with colleagues of PPA and the Events teams to provide high quality and successful media events.  

• Media monitoring: Identifies on a daily basis emerging news stories and leverages his/her network to ensure the FCM’s advocacy perspective and policy perspectives are considered and weaved in to garner enhanced visibility and acknowledgement. Monitors and assesses federal, provincial/territorial and municipal media environment and identifies opportunities to share the value of FCM to members, the municipal sector and key stakeholders.    

• Develops media products: backgrounders, news releases, op-ed submissions, letters to the editor and all related media support to highlight programs milestones and general recognition of the impact of program activities on the municipal sector and Canadians.   

• Assesses the effectiveness of media outreach. 

• Collaborates with colleagues to leverage media exposure to all FCM channels, and to identify where media exposure can be further leveraged to broaden outreach and visibility.    

• Responding to media enquiries: Receives, negotiates and responds to media enquiries; prepares briefing note for spokesperson and records enquiries in tracking tool.   

• Manages external contractors: Manages and provides direction to an external agency to ensure appropriate approaches and tactics are aligned with FCM’s guidelines and policies and ensure that communications activities are implemented effectively and efficiently.

• Liaises with FCM CEO’s Office to coordinate the participation of FCM spokespersons in events . 

• Coordinates the scheduling of public events and the posting of event news releases to the FCM website.  

• Consults with Policy and Public Affairs staff to ensure the accuracy and currency of advocacy and policyinformation.   

• Collaborates in the organization of media events, development of consistent templates (e.g. news releases), preparation of media materials, and timing of media activities to ensure coordination.   

• Consults with FCM’sother departments to ensure the accuracy and currency of facts (e.g. GMF and  project-related information).   

• In collaboration with the Manager, Media Relations and Issues, communicates the function and processes associated with media activities to staff, including adherence to the FCM Spokesperson Policy.  

• Builds relationships with national, regional, local, and specialized media outlets.  

• Informs Public Policy and Public Affairs staff of marketing and partnership opportunities identified through media monitoring.  

• Writes, edits, conducts quality assurance, coordinates approvals and translations, and distributes media materials to target lists.   

• Makes direct pitches to media. 

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• A combination of professional and lived experience and/or University degree or equivalent advanced education, training or experience in journalism, media relations, or a related discipline.   

• Extensive experience in critical thinking, analysis and strategy development and implementation.  

• Superior writing and editing skills.  

• Strong understanding of federal and municipal politics; and experience working with national and regional media.  

• Demonstrated ability to effectively reach out to national media and generate new coverage.  A minimum of five (5) years proven experience dealing directly with national, regional or local media, developing media relations strategies, briefing spokespeople, and writing/editing news releases, briefing notes, opinion pieces, etc.   

• Excellent interpersonal skills and judgment, and a high degree of initiative and versatility.   

• Experience working with elected officials.   

• Proven ability to be organized and effectively handle many demands.  

• Proven ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations.  

• The ability to write and speak in both English and French is essential.   

• Capacity to work in a self-directed manner and demonstrated ability to work well within a team setting.  

• Able to manage multiple priorities and adapt in a quickly changing, fast paced environment.

• Bilingualism (English and French) is required