Advisor, Communications & Media Relations

At Doctors of BC our vision is to promote a social, economic, and political climate in which members can provide the citizens of BC with the highest standard of health care, while achieving maximum professional satisfaction and fair economic reward.

Together, we make a difference so our doctors can make theirs. Join us today

THE JOB: Advisor, Communications & Media Relations

The starting salary range falls within the minimum to mid-point of the salary range.

Starting Salary Range: $90,640 - $113,300

The Advisor, Communications & Media Relations, reporting to the Executive Vice President, Communications, will proactively manage all media inquiries and interview requests that are received for Doctors of BC and the President. This role involves regularly connecting with media outlets, pitching news stories, and overseeing photoshoots when necessary. The Advisor will develop and maintain strong relationships with journalists across the Lower Mainland and the province, ensuring an up-to-date and comprehensive media contact list. The role also supports issues management by crafting issues and briefing notes, key messages, and proactive communication plans to manage complex situations. It may also involve crisis communications in exceptional circumstances.

In addition to media relations, the Advisor will provide media relations advice and coaching to Doctors of BC spokespeople, including the President and other key representatives, supporting them when approached by media on local issues. The role will support strategic communications planning, working closely with internal teams to develop and implement communications plans that align with the association’s goals. The advisor will also assist in creating proactive content, such as President’s Letters, speaking notes, and presentations, while liaising with departments to highlight the work of Doctors of BC. Furthermore, the advisor will maintain positive relationships with internal and external partners, ensuring effective communication with healthcare stakeholders and media outlets.

 WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Thoroughness (A):

• Identifies potential areas of conflicting priorities and vulnerability in achieving standards.
• Reviews department’s progress against established goals, objectives, service level targets, and project milestones.
• Supports others in achieving deliverables by efficiently allocating resources and providing common organizing systems, techniques, and disciplines.
• Maintains a proactive work review and approval process prior to assignment completion.
• Solicits internal and external customer evaluation of performance and devises measures for improvement.

Strategic Thinking (A):

• Uses extensive knowledge of the organization and the health care environment to develop successful strategies consistent with organizational vision and objectives, understanding the organization’s long-term goals and anticipating potential threats and opportunities. 
• Evaluates the effectiveness of strategies and programs against organizational mission and goals and implements changes to improve performance when required. 
• Advises others on how to interpret the current environment and assess/plan for likely future scenarios. Redirects activities of the organization and team in the direction of new goals and/or priorities.

Organizational Awareness (A):

• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of underlying organizational issues and addresses the long-term internal and external forces for ongoing problems within the organization.
• Directs the development of policies, standards, and procedures for the organization.
• Promotes organizational awareness of the relationships and interdependencies that exist across internal teams and with external players.
• Collaborates closely with leadership to strategically establish beneficial and consistent organizational structures across various internal programs, standards, and procedures.
• Anticipates external policy changes or other industry or governmental shifts that could potentially impact the work of the organization and creates strategic plans to address these changes accordingly.

Problem Solving (A):

• Diagnoses problems using formal problem-solving tools and techniques from multiple angles and probes underlying issues to generate multiple potential solutions.
• Proactively anticipates and prevents problems.
• Devises, facilitates buy-in, makes recommendations, and guides implementation of corrective and/or preventive actions for complex issues that cross organizational boundaries and are unclear in nature.
• Identifies potential consequences and risk levels.
• Seeks support and buy-in for problem definition, methods of resolution, and accountability.

Communication for Results (A):

• Converses with, writes strategic documents for, and creates/delivers presentations to internal business leaders as well as external groups.
• Leads discussions with senior leaders and external partners in ways that support strategic planning and decision-making.
• Seeks a consensus with business leaders. Debates opinions, tests understanding, and clarifies judgments. Identifies underlying differences and resolves conflict openly and empathetically.
• Explains the context of multiple, complex interrelated situations.
• Asks searching, probing questions, plays devil’s advocate, and solicits authoritative perspectives and advice prior to approving plans and recommendations

 WHAT YOU BRING

• A post-secondary degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or related field, with at least 7 years of experience in communications and media relations, preferably in the healthcare sector.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic communication plans that align with organizational goals.
• Exceptional writing, editing and proofreading abilities to develop engaging content across multiple platforms.  
• The ability to be a communications generalist when required, stepping into all facets of the Communications Department.
• Proven expertise in crisis communication and reputation management.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage effectively with all organizational levels.
• Proficiency in digital media platforms, content management systems, and analytics tools.
• Resilience and flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and maintain effectiveness in high-pressure situations.
• The ability to be a self-starter and motivated to be proactive, consistently seeking opportunities for Doctors of BC to elevate its communications, advocate for members and enhance the public-facing presence.

Doctors of BC thanks all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be notified.

Doctors of BC celebrates diversity, challenges inequality and is committed to sustaining an inclusive and diverse community. We do not discriminate against any applicant regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, political beliefs and affiliations, family circumstances or other irrelevant distinction.