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 90% 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.

Internally, we are deeply respectful, collaborative, empowering and transparent in our work. We have a commitment and passion for strengthening Canada by achieving results for our communities, our cities and our workplace, and by sharing our knowledge and experience on the world’s stage, so that others may improve the quality of life in their communities.

Major Purpose

The Media Relations Advisor is responsible for developing media strategies in support of FCM’s program objectives and ensures that FCM programming is recognized for its impact and value to the municipal sector and to Canadians. To this end, the Media Relations Advisor identifies opportunities to highlight the impact of FCM programs with a focus on the Green Municipal Fund in national and regional news and works to enhance the visibility and understanding of FCM in cities and communities nation-wide.

Specifically, the Media Relations Advisor develops news releases and media backgrounders and is responsible for securing media exposure that supports program objectives, including funding announcements while maintaining alignment with corporate and advocacy objectives. In collaboration with colleagues and the Government of Canada, the Media Relations Advisor ensures the FCM programs are highly visible and that their impact is widely recognized.

While establishing strong working relationships with funding partners, national, regional and industry media, the Advisor ensures that program activities are included in appropriate news stories or generate stand-alone media coverage. Within the context of FCM media outreach, the Media Relations Advisor also generates media leads and content that illustrates the value and influence of FCM to members, stakeholders, and the public.

The future of 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. As a key member of the team, the Media Relations Advisor works in a manner that embraces these values, the corporate culture and the passion for FCM’s mandate.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic planning: Leads the development and implementation of media strategies and tactics to support FCM’s program priorities and ensures wide-ranging visibility on the impact of Green Municipal Fund (GMF) and Municipal Asset Management (MAMP) programs in the municipal sector.
• Public funding announcements: Leads the public announcements of GMF, LC3 and MAMP funded initiatives through media events and/or news releases.
• News conferences and media briefings.
• 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 Government of Canada funding partner communications and events teams to provide high quality and successful media events.
• Liaises with the FCM CEO’s Office and departmental Communications staff of the Government of Canada to coordinate the participation of FCM spokespersons and federal government representatives (e.g. Cabinet ministers or local members of Parliament) in public announcement events for Green Municipal Fund (GMF) and Municipal Asset Management (MAMP)-funded projects
• Makes direct pitches to media:
• Media monitoring: Identifies emerging news stories and leverages his/her network to ensure the FCM programs’ perspective is 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.
• Synthesizes and incorporates comments from multiple reviewers into media materials
• Assesses the effectiveness of media outreach: Leverages all opportunities to expand the footprint and visibility of programs within the FCM cadre of activities.
• 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.
• Collaborates with FCM Programs communications team to align with strategic priorities and help ensure an integrated communications approach.
• 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.

Knowledge and Experience

• 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.
• Prior experience proactively securing media coverage for climate action initiatives, and/or impact investing funds
• 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.
• Some domestic travel will be required for this role.

The benefits to joining the FCM team include summer hours (Fridays off between July 1st and Labour Day); office facilities located in the ByWard Market, FCM’s commitment to employee development and a competitive range of employee benefits and services. FCM encourages flexible work arrangements to support the wellbeing and productivity of employees.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is committed to fostering an organizational culture that embraces equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, where individuals from diverse racial and ethnic identities, nationalities, social economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and physical and mental abilities can thrive and be fully engaged at their best level.

FCM welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.

The future of work at FCM includes a hybrid work model; therefore, this role will be a combination of virtual and on-site work. The successful candidate is required live in and be authorized to work in Canada. They are also required to be able to work from home/remotely, from within Canada. All in-office work and in-person meetings for work that take place inside and/or outside of the offices located in Ottawa will be subject to FCM’s Safe Workplace Vaccination Policy, as well as its health and safety procedures.

It is a mandatory condition of employment at FCM that the successful candidate be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with vaccines that have been approved by the Government of Canada at least 14 days prior to their start date and will be required to provide proof. If accommodation is required in relation to this condition of employment for any reason pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code, please contact us at  directly.

For additional information on this posting, or for further information on FCM, access our website at www.fcm.ca.

Visit the careers section of our website to apply. Deadline for applications November 25, 2022.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, we will only contact those selected for an interview. All the applications will be kept for six months following the completion of the hiring process.