CreateTO is shaping Toronto’s future through impactful real estate solutions. A City of Toronto agency, CreateTO works collaboratively with internal stakeholders, external partners and community members to create more livable, sustainable and inclusive communities. CreateTO is here to increase the social, cultural and economic value of our city’s $27-billion real estate portfolio, ensuring positive impacts for residents and a bright future for Toronto. If you’re passionate about contributing to the best use of one of North America’s largest and most valuable real estate portfolios, we’d love to have you on the team.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Reporting to the Director, Communications; the Communications Advisor plays a key role in managing and overseeing internal and external communications initiatives, including leading the development and execution of communications plans and strategies and creating a variety of communications products to support the agency’s corporate objectives, ensuring all communications align with CreateTO’s brand voice and values. This role includes:
- Overseeing the management of CreateTO’s corporate website.
- Developing and implementing a strategic communications plan for the agency’s social channels.
- Leading internal communications via the agency’s intranet platform; and
- Producing a range of corporate materials and assets, including the agency’s annual report.
PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Fosters positive working relationships with staff across the organization to identify communications needs, providing strategic advice and support in alignment with the organization’s corporate priorities.
- Works directly with the CEO and Executive Management Team to lead the development, design and production of the agency’s annual report to Toronto City Council, including developing the narrative, writing copy, sourcing assets.
- Creates and implements an external communications strategy for the agency’s corporate website, including working directly with the CEO, senior management and external vendors on significant website redesigns, as required.
- Develops the personality and tone for the agency’s brand voice and works directly with the agency’s senior management to create an external communications strategy promoting CreateTO’s work via its social channels.
- Manages the agency’s intranet platform, the Hive, working closely with senior management and the People & Culture team to establish organizational messages and inform staff of corporate and project news.
- Writes, edits, proofreads and creates the content for, and design of, communications products for stakeholder and employee communications in a variety of forms such as briefing notes, news releases, social media content, videos, presentations, newsletters, marketing materials and content for the CreateTO website.
- Manages supplier relationships and the production of communications products provided by partners (design, photo, web), understanding technical specifications.
- Monitors and advises on emerging issues that can affect CreateTO’s brand and the achievement of its goals, providing support in rapid response situations, as required.
- Responds to media and other requests for information on CreateTO projects and provides communications support when events take place during the evening, as required.
- Leads the promotion of CreateTO’s public engagement efforts through the agency’s digital channels.
- Manages awards submissions for the agency’s projects.
- Tracks and measures the success of communications efforts using analytics tools, reviewing media coverage and adjusting strategies as needed.
- Organizes and manages records of all corporate, property and industry media articles through the media monitoring service and through the agency’s records management system.
- Keeps abreast of industry events, community groups in the City of Toronto, media journalists and issues, for communications planning purposes; and
- Assists in managing the budget for the Communications and Public Engagement team through P.O. creation, tracking invoices and renewal of communications tools and accounts.
CANDIDATE ATTRIBUTES
To be successful in this role, you will have the following skills and qualifications:
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in communications, marketing and/or public affairs. Public sector environment is preferred, and knowledge of the real estate industry is an asset.
- Post-secondary education in a discipline related to the job function, such as communications or journalism, or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to exercise good judgment and discretion in dealing with confidential or sensitive matters.
- Proven experience writing, editing and producing a range of communications and marketing products.
- Experience planning, leading and coordinating the design and implementation of strategic digital communications projects and initiatives, with specific expertise in social media and website maintenance.
- Proven experience with graphic design, video production and content development to coordinate and complete the design and development of products for social content.
- Superior oral and written communications skills along with excellent writing and editing skills for a variety of platforms and audiences.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize and manage assignments and workload under tight timelines which may be conflicting.
- Knowledge of outreach techniques for diverse audiences including the ability to apply an inclusive and culturally sensitive lens to communications.
- Independent thinking and the ability to work autonomously.
- Proficient in using desktop/networked word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software.
RELATIONSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
- Works collaboratively and develops and maintains good working relationships within CreateTO.
- Manages relationships with vendors.
- Develops and maintains positive relationships with community groups and stakeholders in the City of Toronto.
- Exemplifies CreateTO’s values and contributes enthusiastically to the goals of the agency.
With a highly engaged team, CreateTO scores well above benchmarked organizations in terms of its employees’ passion, commitment, diversity and pride. As part of the organization’s Strategic Plan 2023-2027, “Inspire internal success” was named as one of five priority objectives.
CreateTO wants its team to reflect the city we represent, and we strive to provide an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective, all of which are proven to build better companies. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work and be themselves.
We provide equitable treatment and accommodation to ensure barrier-free employment in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Candidates can request accommodation related to the protected grounds at any stage of the hiring process.
Interested and qualified candidates are required to submit their resume and cover letter by Friday, April 04, 2025. This posting is for an existing vacancy. Submissions that don’t include the requirements noted above will not be considered. Only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted. No agencies at this time please.
Please note that this is a hybrid working environment. For more information on CreateTO, please visit our website at www.createto.ca.
Please note that this is a hybrid working environment