Imagine a job where YOU can utilize your exceptional interpersonal skills to liaise effectively with both internal and external teams.
Add a great collaborative team, a challenging variety of work, excellent work life balance, and you have imagined a job at the CLHIA.
About the CLHIA
The CLHIA is the respected voice of Canada's Life and Health insurers. Our work concerns the lives of all Canadians. We work alongside our members to advance public policy solutions that ensure a sound and vibrant life and health insurance industry that allows Canadians to enjoy greater financial security and access to valuable supplementary health benefits. Every day at the CLHIA, we bring:
- our authentic selves to the job
- our best ideas to every challenge
- our open minds to other perspectives
- our full trust in one another’s abilities
- our commitment to exemplify respect, accountability, teamwork, and excellence in how we work together; and
- our genuine enthusiasm for a job well done – whether it’s your own achievement or someone else’s.
We are a stable and secure association that has been busier than ever. We are a small close-knit team that works together to make sure the association runs smoothly. This position is currently a hybrid position where you are expected to work out of our Ottawa office at least 2 days a week.
The Right Fit
We believe the kind of person you are matters. We have a culture of respect and caring, and we want employees who will thrive in our environment. When we hire, we consider your potential and how you may fit with our team.
You will succeed here if you are:
An excellent communicator – you will be collaborating with not only our internal team but with stakeholders and member companies. Your ability to communicate clearly and with several different parties will support your success.
Independent – you are self-motivated and manage your time well. You are able to organize your day to meet often conflicting priorities and deadlines.
Flexible – this is a position where you will have to approach an issue through different angles and the ability to analyze a situation or problem.
The Position:
We are currently recruiting for an Assistant Vice President (AVP), Strategic Communications and Public Affairs. This role will report to the Vice President, Government Relations and Policy and is responsible for overseeing the planning, development and execution of the association’s strategic corporate communications, including advocacy efforts to advance key priorities of the association with specific stakeholders.
The AVP ensures that media relations, events and conferences, advocacy program initiatives and translation services programs are delivered effectively and efficiently in accordance with quality standards of quality and continuous improvement.
Team members benefit from:
- The expected annual base salary is $169,000 with some flexibility depending on the experience and skillset of the candidate
- Employer-paid health, dental, extended health, and paramedical benefits (including virtual services)
- A defined contribution pension plan with employer matching
- 4 weeks paid vacation
- 10 paid sick days
- 2 paid floater days
- Hybrid work model based out of our Ottawa office
What you will be working on:
- Develop and implement communications plans and initiatives to advance the association’s strategic objectives; broaden awareness of its perspectives and interests; and increase its visibility and positive reputation across key stakeholder audiences.
- Work with the management team and staff to identify external communications opportunities and challenges; and provide advice on how to respond to them, including planning and executing appropriate strategies and approaches.
- Work closely with the Government Relations team to ensure responsive issues management to reduce reputational risk to the industry and CLHIA with public sector stakeholders.
- Lead and direct the association’s corporate communications functions to ensure timely and appropriate communications to relevant stakeholders.
- Actively originate and compose high-quality, audience appropriate written content for speeches, presentations, publications, articles, op-eds, website, social media and other channels.
- Lead and actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the association’s website, social media, traditional media and key stakeholder-facing materials.
- Ensure that website content, high-profile newsletters, publications, presentation materials, consumer brochures and event/conference materials are produced and published to meet delivery schedules and deadlines, and that all published materials reflect branding and formatting standards.
- Manage media relations activities for the CLHIA, responding to media requests on a timely basis, acting as spokesperson on behalf of the organization as appropriate, supporting identified internal spokesperson roles and working closely with the President and CEO, VPs and Directors to develop and refine messaging and content of media presentations.
- Oversee the communication to the Reputation Management Network, identifying critical issues to be communicated, working with internal issues management/legal teams to craft responses and develop strategies on effectively communicating information and informing member organizations on how CLHIA is responding to issues.
- Oversee event planning activities for the association, ensuring logistics for all events and conferences are effectively and efficiently managed, reviewing contracts, monitoring budgets, and ensuring all activities comply with established policies, protocols and procedures.
- Manage the association’s relationships with outside contractors for communications services and events management services, by identifying appropriate service providers, monitoring budget adherence, overseeing contract negotiations, and ensuring quality of services provided.
- Establish key relationships with media representatives and member company media relations representatives, to arrange interviews and communicate responses.
- Establish key relationships with political representatives both federally and provincially.
What you will bring:
- University degree in a related field (e.g. Communications)
- 7-10 years relevant experience: in communications, public relations and stakeholder management
- Experience working in a political environment (Minister’s office) or related political background
- Proven knowledge of and experience in using social media and public-facing campaign development to support industry advocacy
- Ability to communicate with and brief senior management and stakeholders on communications challenges, strategies and tactics
- Ability to prepare persuasive written and other presentation materials for a wide variety of audiences
- APR (accreditation in public relations from the Canadian Public Relations Society) or equivalent
- A Public Relations Certificate, APR (accreditation in public relations from the Canadian Public Relations Society) or equivalent is an asset
- Previous experience working in a member-driven organization or industry association is an asset.
- Bilingual (English/French) is an asset
How to apply:
Please submit your resume through LinkedIn, Indeed or email to
[email protected] (mailto:
[email protected])
The CLHIA does not use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants.
The CLHIA is committed to ensuring fair and inclusive employment practices. On request, we provide accommodation for applicants with disabilities in accordance with the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. If you require accommodation, please advise us.
We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
