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About the Role

Reporting to the Director, Media Relations and Issues Management, this role plays a critical part in shaping how the City anticipates, responds to, and communicates about sensitive, high-profile, cross-divisional and intergovernmental matters. You will provide senior-level strategic advice and operational support to senior leadership, working closely with the Chief Communications Officer, the Communications Management Team, and the Mayor’s Office. This is a unique opportunity to build and lead a team focused on proactive issues management, developing strategies and action plans that reflect the City’s values and priorities while helping protect its reputation and foster public trust. You will be responsible for setting the direction for this new unit in the Media Relations & Issues Management Centre of Excellence, guiding coordinated responses to complex and politically sensitive issues, and ensuring communications are timely, accurate, and aligned with broader organizational goals.

Responsibilities

Manage cross-divisional and large-scale reputational risks to enhance and protect the City’s public image.
Prepare Communications senior leadership for Council and Committee meetings through detailed briefings on emerging issues and ongoing campaigns.
Provide insight and analysis on politically sensitive items to inform issues management and communications strategies and leadership briefings.
Ensure timely and strategic decision-making through accurate tracking, documentation, and reporting on issues, reports, and policy matters.
Champion continuous improvement of the forecasting process by leveraging data, trends, and feedback.
Develop a proactive strategy that includes social listening, crisis response planning, and collaboration with the Manager, Social Media, to engage with the public and address concerns in real time.
Support the Division’s Agenda Forecasting System to anticipate and plan for Council and Committee items with corresponding issues management and communications strategies.

Requirements

Post-secondary education in Communications, Public Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Extensive experience leading the full issues management process, including developing and implementing issues management strategies and action plans that align with organizational priorities and values, with coordinated responses to cross-divisional and intergovernmental matters.
Extensive experience providing strategic communications advice and operational support to senior leaders in a complex, high-profile organization, with a strong background in issues management, media relations, and strategic communications.
Extensive experience monitoring, identifying, and assessing sensitive, emerging, and high-profile issues to develop timely and effective communications strategies that protect organizational reputation and support balanced media coverage.
Considerable experience in budget planning and administration, including resource allocation to support strategic priorities.
Experience serving as a media spokesperson and/or building relationships with journalists is considered an asset.
Strong understanding of municipal governance, Council procedures, and decision-making processes, with awareness of the political, social, and economic factors influencing all levels of government.
Proven ability to leverage data, trends, and feedback to improve forecasting processes and strengthen organizational preparedness, including the development of crisis communication plans and integration of social listening tools.
Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work across divisions and in partnership with teams such as Social Media and Media Relations to ensure consistent and responsive issues management and public engagement.
Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into clear, compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
Demonstrated leadership in managing high-performing teams, championing strategic best practices, and fostering innovation within a collaborative, inclusive, and results-driven work environment.
Knowledge of outreach strategies for diverse and multilingual audiences, applying an inclusive and culturally responsive communications lens.
Knowledge of relevant legislation and policies, including MFIPPA, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Ontario Human Rights Code, and AODA.

Skills

Issues Management
Media Relations
Strategic Communications
Budget Planning
Data Analysis
Crisis Communication Planning
Social Listening
Collaboration
Leadership
Outreach Strategies
Legislative Knowledge

Location

City Hall, 100 Queen St. W. Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

Work Type

Hybrid work
Full-Time
Permanent

Experience Level

Senior-level
Extensive experience
Considerable experience

Education Level

Post-secondary education in Communications, Public Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Salary/Compensations

$126,000.00 - $176,140.00
Hiring Range: $126,000.00 to $141,926.00

Benefits

Competitive compensation and benefits
Opportunities for learning and professional development
Culture that values collaboration and employee well-being

About the Company

Toronto is home to more than 3 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities.
As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses.
The City of Toronto is committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment where all employees and members of the public feel valued, respected and supported.
We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the public and the communities in which we live and serve.
The Communications Division plays a vital role in connecting the City of Toronto with residents, staff, and key stakeholders by delivering clear, impactful messaging about City programs, services, and priorities.
Operating with an agency-like model, the division develops and executes integrated marketing and communications campaigns that drive measurable results.
Through a centralized, centres-of-excellence approach, the Communications team fosters a culture of growth, collaboration, and innovation, empowering staff to tell proactive, compelling stories that place the city and its divisions at the heart of public engagement.
The Communications Division also supports issues management, media relations and crisis communications, helping the City anticipate emerging issues and coordinate timely, accurate responses across divisions.
All communications efforts are strategically aligned with the City's broader organizational goals, ensuring consistency, relevance, and meaningful impact across all channels.

Equal Opportunity

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve.
The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization.
We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request.