Senior Public Affairs Specialist, Ontario Securities Commission

Senior Public Affairs Specialist
Communications and Public Affairs Branch
Permanent, Full-Time
File #20-41

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is the statutory body responsible for regulating Ontario’s capital markets, with a mandate to provide protection to investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices, to foster fair and efficient capital markets and confidence in capital markets, and to contribute to the stability of the financial system and the reduction of systemic risk.

The Communications & Public Affairs Branch plays an integral role in promoting the OSC’s reputation as an effective and responsive securities regulator. The Branch provides strategic communications advice to ensure the timely and effective communication of OSC priorities, policies and actions across all corporate channels. These include stakeholder engagement, executive remarks, corporate materials, internal communications, media relations, issues management, the OSC Website and intranet, and enterprise social media.

The Senior Public Affairs Specialist plays a key role in providing informed strategic communications counsel by recommending and developing high-quality positioning materials and taking a lead role in enterprise reputation management.

The Senior Public Affairs Specialist operates at a proactive, independent and senior level, and will work directly with senior subject matter experts and executive management to produce communications plans consistent with the OSC’s overall strategic plan and communications objectives, including the development and implementation of the OSC’s corporate social media strategy.

This exciting opportunity will provide a front row seat to complex and new, emerging policies and decisions that impact the capital markets!

You might be the sort of person who:
- Is excited by unprecedented situations and developments, and the opportunities these provide for strategic and creative communications.
- Is energized by fast-paced work that changes from day to day.
- Lives and breathes the news.
- Enjoys working as part of an integrated communications team.
- Wants to help shape public perception of major initiatives impacting capital markets.

Key Duties and Responsibilities
- A strong writer and strategist who can effectively represent the OSC, its Chair and executive leadership team to the media, market participants and other stakeholders in Ontario, across Canada and globally.
- Superior writing and editing skills, with a strong ability to generate high-quality, technically accurate and concise media products and corporate communications materials for diverse audiences and formats, demonstrating a full understanding of topical securities issues, risks
and developing trends.
- Anticipate, and prepare for, emerging issues, advising the Director and OSC executives on the best communications strategy, often related to new policy issues requiring novel, creative thinking.
- Offer well-informed strategic advice on how best to mitigate risks to the OSC, providing thoughtful counsel to senior staff on stakeholder reaction and an appropriate communications approach for a regulatory body.
- Contribute to the OSC’s enterprise social and digital communications strategy, and oversee social media monitoring efforts designed to quickly identify and mitigate risks to the OSC.
- Provide direction to junior staff and to third-party vendors for social media monitoring and digital campaigns, often for new initiatives of priority to the OSC.
- Offer strategic communications advice and guidance to subject matter experts, with a full understanding of their concerns, communications needs and objectives.
- Work with Branch colleagues to deliver an integrated approach to communications and public affairs, and operate at a senior level on external events and consultation programs.

Qualifications:
- Undergraduate degree, preferably in Communications, Journalism or Political Science.
- Six (6) to eight (8) years of senior media or public affairs experience, including developing communications materials, preferably in a financial services or government/regulatory environment.
- Proven experience preparing executives for media interviews, including developing high-quality positioning documents and backgrounders.
- Solid, proven knowledge of the Canadian capital markets and securities regulation, including familiarity with the Canadian securities regulatory landscape, to understand issues, and anticipate, and prepare for, emerging issues.
- Completion of the Canadian Securities Course or other related course(s), an asset.
- Ability to think analytically and act quickly, appreciating the consequences to the organization of actions taken daily and public perception of OSC’s work.
- Superior writing skills, with a strong commitment to generating high-quality, technically accurate and concise materials for diverse audiences.
- Current experience using and managing corporate social media channels.
- Ability to manage and prioritize against competitive deadlines.
- Ability to stay on top of emerging issues in a proactive and independent fashion.
- Due to the nature of the work, this role requires availability during non-standard hours.
- Ability to work with all levels across the organization to reach consensus on the most appropriate strategy.
- Experience developing, executing and measuring social media strategies to effectively communicate with stakeholders.
- Solid professionalism and complete discretion in handling confidential issues.

Grow your career and make a difference working at the OSC!

To explore this opportunity, please submit your application to the OSC Careers website, at www.osc.gov.on.ca/en/careers.htm, with your cover letter and resume, by Tuesday, January 26, 2021.

We thank all applicants for their interest in the Ontario Securities Commission. We will contact those selected for an interview.

The OSC is committed to providing an inclusive workplace environment that meets the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities. Please go to Accessibility at the OSC to review the OSC’s policies on accessibility and accommodation in the workplace.