Senior Communications Officer

Who Are We
The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) is one of two branches of government that provide oversight for the beverage alcohol and non-medical cannabis industries in the province. The LDB is responsible for the wholesale distribution of liquor and cannabis and operates the retails brands BCLIQUOR and BC Cannabis Stores.

The LDB is committed to government’s goals of making life better for people in B.C., improving services, and ensuring a sustainable province for future generations. The revenue generated by the LDB helps fund essential public services like health care, education, and community programming. Learn more on the LDB careers page.

About the Team
As part of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, the Corporate Services (CS) team plays a critical role in supporting the entire organization. Comprised of Corporate Communications & Stakeholder Relations, Corporate Policy, Corporate Privacy & Information, Sourcing and Vendor Performance, Strategy & Business Transformation, Social Impact & Environmental Sustainability and the Corporate Project Management Office, CS is driven by customer-service and taking action to advise, consult and support each business area throughout the LDB.

The CS team is comprised of approximately 70 staff. What brings CS together as a team is the ability to work together to support both the operational areas of the business and other corporate service areas (e.g., Corporate Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology). The group has a strategic lens with a focus on ensuring the organization aligns and complies with corporate priorities, policies, legislation, best practices, and government mandate.

About the Role:
The Senior Communications Officer operates with a high degree of autonomy and is responsible for the development and planning for LDB’s corporate and employee communications vehicles and messaging.

The Senior Communications Officer often works directly with the CEO and General Manager, as well as other executive members, providing strategic communications advice. The incumbent also provides expert communications counsel to senior staff and regularly drafts highly sensitive and confidential materials that support organizational priorities, issues management and internal communications for the LDB.

The incumbent works closely with team members to develop and maintain a corporate communications strategy that considers LDB’s diverse employee base (the majority of which do not have email addresses) and stakeholder audiences, and ensures timely, clear and consistent messaging across all platforms.

As part of the Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Relations team, the position is called on to identify emerging issues, research and develop strategic responses and deliver them to the media and external stakeholders. This role may act as a corporate spokesperson when appropriate.
Building trust, respect and strong relationships across the LDB and its executive, within the Ministry and with external stakeholders (including media) is critical. The work requires a high degree of accuracy, a keen eye for detail and an ability to set and adhere to firm deadlines.

As the Senior Communications Officer, you will:
• Reporting to the Senior Manager, Corporate Communications & Stakeholder Relations, this position establishes and maintains strong effective relationships with: LDB Executive Management and other Senior Branch Directors/Managers, Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, Government Communications and Public Engagement, external contractors (including designers, photographers, etc.), industry stakeholders and media.
• Develops and maintains communications strategies designed to align with and promote the LDB’s organizational goals internally and externally and measures its success on an ongoing basis.
• Provides strategic communications advice to the CEO and General Manager.
• Identifies emerging public and employee issues that could impact the LDB’s corporate reputation or employee morale, and prepares strategies and responses, often on highly sensitive and confidential issues, as required.
• Develops and maintains external stakeholder communication and engagement strategies aimed at informing, educating or engaging external stakeholders on policy changes, operational updates and other key updates.
• Co-ordinates the writing, editing, development and production of internal- and external-facing corporate and departmental communications, including but not limited to the Grapevine magazine, Employee News publications and public-facing media products and key messaging.
• Provides expert communications support, advice and training to LDB employees, including providing media and crisis communications counsel to senior management and staff.
• Participation in crisis communications planning/emergency activities.
• Reviews and assesses costs of service for appropriate communications activities and the associated contracts.
• May be required to act on behalf of the Corporate Communications Manager, if and when required.
• “Other duties as operationally required”

Qualifications
Degree or diploma in communications, public relations, journalism or a related discipline and a minimum of 1 year of recent, related experience.
OR
A combination of education, training and experience may be considered i.e., secondary (high) school diploma or equivalent certification with 3 years of recent, related experience.
Recent, related experience must have occurred within the last 5 years and must include the following:
• Experience coordinating a variety of communications materials, including but not limited to, communications plans, key messages, news releases, story pitches, information materials, speeches, backgrounders, briefing notes and correspondence.
• Experience planning and creating clear communications goals and strategies for the future.
Preference may be given to candidates with any of the following experience:
• Experience providing communications support for corporate social responsibility programs.
• Experience identifying opportunities and risks when it comes to employee communications.
• Experience using digital communications/social media for public relations purposes.
• Experience providing communications support for the liquor or non-medical cannabis industry.
• Experience providing strategic communications advice, messaging and direction to senior leaders.
• Experience identifying media and public issues and preparing appropriate responses for spokespeople and/or for use by the media.

Compensation and Benefits Package:
The salary range for this role is $69,760.70 – $79,322.69 per annum. We understand that attracting top talent requires more than just offering a job—it requires providing a comprehensive benefits package that supports not only the professional growth of our employees but also their overall well-being and work-life balance. Here are some of our highlights:
• Extended health and dental benefits
• Paid time off – 3 weeks to start – adjust for excluded.
• BC Pension Plan
• Parenthood top-up
• Free employee fitness centre and recreational basketball court with equipment at Head Office
• In-house Kinesiologist
• Employee and Family Assistance Plan – free, confidential and easy to access
• Flexible work arrangements
o Flex Days – Up to 17 days per year
o Hybrid work model –Work may be performed on site at least two days per weeks.
• Invest in your future with our professional development programs, including tuition reimbursement, access to specialized courses, and support for obtaining professional designations.
• Plus more!

Application instructions:
To be considered for this position, your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the qualification in the job posting. Applicants must meet the requirements as described below to be considered:

• A cover letter is required as part of your application. The content and/or format of your cover letter may be evaluated as part of the assessment process.
• Ensure your resume includes your educational accomplishments, employment history including start and end dates (month and year) of your employment, and any relevant information that relates to the job to which you are applying.

Note: Applications will only be accepted via the BC Public Service Recruitment System until November 12, 2024 at 11:00pm Pacific Time. For full details about this position and to apply online visit: https://bcpublicservice.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/Posting/view/117432