Senior Communications Advisor - REPOST

Position: Job ID #31518: Senior Communications Advisor - REPOST
Contribute to the City of Hamilton, one of Canada’s largest cities - home to a diverse and strong economy, an active and inclusive community, a robust cultural and dining scene, hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails and natural beauty just minutes from the downtown core, and so much more. Join our diverse team of talented and ambitious staff who embody our values of sensational service, courageous change, steadfast integrity, collective ownership and being engaged empowered employees.

Help us achieve our vision of being the best place to raise a child and age successfully. #Be The Reason

Job Details

Job :
Sr Communications Advisor (2 Positions) - REPOST

Union:
Non-Union

Job Description  #: 7741

Close date:
Interested applicants please submit your application online at  by 4:00 p.m. on March 4, 2026.

Internal applicants should apply with your work e‑mail address. External applicants are considered only after the internal posting process has been completed. Only applicants chosen for an interview will be contacted.

OVERVIEW
Reporting to either the Manager of Corporate Communications or the Director Communications and Engagement, the City is seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Communications & Public Affairs Advisor to join our team. The Senior Communications Advisor is a motivated professional who will work closely with the City Manager and senior leadership team to develop integrated strategic communications on corporate priorities and initiatives and tell compelling and meaningful stories for City staff and the public.

This role requires a creative and critical thinker who is quick on their feet and exhibits exceptional political acuity and judgement, as well as the ability to analyze and manage high-priority, sensitive and complex issues and distil them into clear, timely and engaging communications. The successful candidate comes with a strong knowledge of and experience working within a government setting, is familiar with public affairs and policy issues and has a solid foundation in project management practices to manage multiple and multi‑faceted projects that directly impact the organization’s vision, mission and priorities;

enhance the City’s reputation; and build trust and confidence within the community.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides strategic advice and recommendations, identifies and develops proactive communications strategies and solutions to support key corporate and strategic initiatives and projects to ensure consistent messaging and branding across all communications.

Interprets, distills and communicates complex and sensitive issues in a persuasive and compelling manner by proactively identifying emerging issues, risks and trends, providing recommendations on a wide variety of communications and public affairs issues, and linking programs and initiatives to communications planning for broader public consumption.

Creates impactful messaging and materials and tells compelling stories for both internal and external audiences across various channels, events and materials, including key messaging/positioning, speaking notes, press releases, web and digital platforms, and other marketing materials, aligning with organizational objectives.

Manages relationships with leadership and staff across the organization on a variety of issues and projects, handles issues with tact and diplomacy and uses judgement on when to elevate issues.

Works closely with the Corporate Communications, Marketing, Social Media, Creative Services and Web teams to ensure content across channels is coordinated.

Assists in managing media relations, including drafting media releases, organizing media avails, and maintaining relationships with journalists and media outlets, to promote strategic initiatives and enhance the City’s reputation.

Assists in crisis communication planning and response, ensuring timely and appropriate communication with stakeholders in alignment with corporate strategies and reputation management.

Commission communications, research, issue assessments, branding and other strategic support services for the Communications & Engagement division.

Monitors and analyzes the effectiveness of communication…