Senior Advisor, Communications and External Relations

Position Type:

Permanent

Emergency Medical Care Inc. (EMC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Medavie Health Services (MHS) that manages and operates ground ambulance, air medical transport and the medical communications operations in Nova Scotia through a performance-based contract with the provincial government's Emergency Health Services (EHS) Operations division and the Department of Health and Wellness. EMC operates TeleHealth/811 medical communications for Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island for the Department of Health. We access all communities in Nova Scotia in a timely and efficient manner with our fleet of more than 180 ambulances and support vehicles operating out of 60+ stations. We respond to 165,000+ calls annually across the province, which are actively managed through the EHS Operations Medical Communications Centre, the hub of all emergency (911) and non-emergency (hospital transfers) medical calls.

The EHS Operations LifeFlight program provides even greater accessibility by responding to patients on scene or through inter-facility transports by our critical care team via helicopter, fixed wing, or ground ambulance. In addition, paramedics in Nova Scotia participate in various programs both urban and rural such as community-based paramedic programs, collaborative emergency centres, and emergency preparedness and special operations.

Senior Advisor, Communications and External Relations This role contributes to the development of external communications and special project strategies, aligning with Emergency Medical Care Inc's strategic priorities, values and operational goals. The Senior Advisor will play a key role in building trust and growing awareness of operations through media relations strategies, relationship building with key media and health care partners, business activity support, reputation and issue management, proactive media relations, and diverse communications activities such as messaging, press releases and Q&A.

Main Responsibilities

Lead the development and delivery of communications strategies and tactics in support of EMCI business objectives.

Act as the main point of contact for EMCI media; work with business partners to support timely responses to media requests.

Generate and foster relationships with media and health care partners, identifying emerging opportunities and challenges that require proactive communication.

Maintain a big picture view of the organization, issues and topics of relevance and knowledge of the media cycle to inform strategic thinking and advice.

Daily monitor key regional and national news media to identify issues that may impact the operations and/or reputation of our group of companies.

Develop and deliver effective communication strategies to support business initiatives and operational announcements; create relevant materials and liaise directly with internal and external partners.

Develop and deliver a monthly report on media relations activities.

Oversee writing and editing content for communications channels (external and internal) including key messages, news releases, speaking remarks, Q&A, social media, employee communications, etc., liaising with partners to obtain relevant detail and input.

Work collaboratively with Medavie and EMCI communications colleagues to manage brand and reputation, creating a steady stream of relevant content for target audiences.

Provide advice and support in counseling business partners on strategic communication strategies.

Ensure external communication messages are consistent with internal messages and that communications strategies are complementary.

Support design and translation requirements for communications and partner relations needs, working with brand and translation teams.

Provide support for issues and crisis communications, including on-call coverage.

Required Qualifications

Minimum of 6‑10 years of progressive experience in a strategic communications role and a postsecondary education in Communications or Public Relations.

Proven delivery of communications and media relations strategies in a fast‑paced environment with tight timelines.

Experience as a corporate/organizational spokesperson with extensive reputation/issue management experience.

Demonstrated ability to advise senior leaders and create approaches that address business demands and needs.

Ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive subjects/issues professionally.

Team player focused on supporting colleagues, trying new approaches, and delivering results.

Exceptional written communication skills, including editing, proofreading and attention to detail.

A storyteller who can distill complex information into digestible, engaging, and informative pieces for employees and adjust tone and voice as needed.

Solid time‑management skills, balancing multiple priorities and meeting tight deadlines.

Strong interpersonal, project‑management and relationship‑building skills to work with multi‑stakeholder teams in a fast‑paced, geographically dispersed virtual environment.

A self‑starter and problem‑solver who works well independently and as part of a team.

Flexible to work outside of normal hours and open to occasional travel.

Bilingualism (French and English) is an asset but not required.

Pay Range $85,000 - $92,000

Diversity Statement Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that represents the citizens we serve. We are committed to building an inclusive team that reflects a variety of backgrounds, cultures, races, perspectives and skills. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates including women, persons of any sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression, Indigenous persons, African Canadians, other racialized groups, and persons with disabilities.

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