Senior Advisor Media Relations (Issues Management)
Top Benefits
About the role
Please refer to the
How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates)
job aid for instructions on how to apply.
If you are an active McGill employee (ie: currently in an active contract or position at McGill University), do not apply through this Career Site. Login to your McGill Workday account and apply to this posting using the Find Jobs report (type Find Jobs in the search bar).
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Director, Issues Management within the Communications and Institutional Relations (CIR) unit, the Senior Advisor, Media Relations leads proactive, efficient and well-integrated communications initiatives that support McGill’s institutional reputation. Together with the Director, the incumbent helps shape strategies and tactics to mitigate reputational risk and ensure crisis preparedness. This includes managing media relations resources and providing counsel to senior administrators on sensitive issues.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Together with the Director, support the development and implementation of McGill’s institutional communications vision.
- Provide leadership and work closely with senior administrators, Faculties and Units to develop and implement effective external communications strategies and tactics.
- Assess best communications practices and act as an agent of change at McGill by providing recommendations to maximize operational efficiency.
Media Relations
- Lead proactive media relations strategies that seize opportunities, strengthen, preserve and build upon the reputation of the University, and support its mission, values and priorities.
- Manage media relations resources and activities, including events and briefings.
- Act as the University’s spokesperson when delegated by the Director.
- Build and maintain strong and productive relationships with journalists, media outlets, and opinion leaders.
Issues Management
- Evaluate the external communications landscape across traditional and digital media to identify opportunities and emerging issues related to the University’s mission, values and priorities.
- Conduct strategic analysis of reputational risks, including mapping of internal and external stakeholders.
- Provide timely, evidence-based counsel to senior administrators on complex and sensitive issues, including the likely communications effects of operational and policy decisions and approaches to address them.
- Oversee the development of scenarios, protocols, and communication plans in support of institutional crisis preparedness.
- Support the University’s communications in urgent situations, including those where the security of the McGill community is threatened; this requires knowledge of applicable protocols and procedures, and availability outside of regular business hours as needed.
- Act as a key advisor and delegate for the Director, where appropriate.
Other Qualifying Skills and/or Abilities
- Undergraduate degree in communications, public relations, journalism, political science or a related field.
- Minimum five (5) years of experience in media relations, issues management, or strategic communications.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex, high-stakes reputational issues involving multiple stakeholders in a dynamic environment.
- Excellent judgment, discretion, and political acuity.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively and find common ground with internal and external partners at all levels, to ensure full alignment of communications initiatives.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills; ability to synthesize complex information into clear, compelling messaging.
- Proven ability to exercise a high degree of confidentiality when handling sensitive or privileged information.
- Ability to manage competing priorities under tight deadlines and in high-pressure contexts.
- Full bilingual proficiency in French and English
As one of Montreal's Top Employers, here is what we offer:
- Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance) (if eligible)
- Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%) (if eligible)
- Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
- Competitive vacation policy
- Two (2) personal days
- Two (2) floating holidays
- Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
- Paid time off over the December holiday period
- Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents
- Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits
Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.
Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level #4 on a scale of 0-4*.*
For a definition of our language proficiency levels, please click
here
.
Minimum Education and Experience:
Bachelor's Degree 5 Years Related Experience /
Annual Salary:
(MPEX Grade 06) $80,510.00 - $100,640.00 - $120,770.00
Job Profile:
MPEX-COM3A - Internal External Relations - Senior Professional/Manager
Hours per Week:
33.75 (Full time)
Supervisor:
Director, Issues Management
Position End Date (If applicable):
Deadline to Apply:
2025-09-28
McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence,
accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca
.
About McGill University
McGill University is one of Canada's best-known institutions of higher learning and one of the leading universities in the world. With students coming to McGill from some 150 countries, our student body is the most internationally diverse of any research-intensive university in the country. McGill was founded in 1821 thanks to a generous bequest by James McGill, and since then, we've grown from a small college to a bustling university with three campuses, 11 faculties, some 300 programs of study, and more than 37,500 students. The University also partners with four affiliated teaching hospitals to graduate over 1,000 health care professionals each year.
The goal of McGill University's social media platforms is to strengthen our community, which includes students, faculty, and alumni. The aim is to provide information on events, campus news and promote networking.
McGill University fosters freedom of expression, while valuing respect and collegiality. We encourage respectful dialogue and reserve the right to remove the following: Comments deemed offensive, vulgar or profane; comments off-topic and/or unrelated to posted content; content that infringes on an individual's privacy or copyright.
Senior Advisor Media Relations (Issues Management)
Top Benefits
About the role
Please refer to the
How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates)
job aid for instructions on how to apply.
If you are an active McGill employee (ie: currently in an active contract or position at McGill University), do not apply through this Career Site. Login to your McGill Workday account and apply to this posting using the Find Jobs report (type Find Jobs in the search bar).
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Director, Issues Management within the Communications and Institutional Relations (CIR) unit, the Senior Advisor, Media Relations leads proactive, efficient and well-integrated communications initiatives that support McGill’s institutional reputation. Together with the Director, the incumbent helps shape strategies and tactics to mitigate reputational risk and ensure crisis preparedness. This includes managing media relations resources and providing counsel to senior administrators on sensitive issues.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Together with the Director, support the development and implementation of McGill’s institutional communications vision.
- Provide leadership and work closely with senior administrators, Faculties and Units to develop and implement effective external communications strategies and tactics.
- Assess best communications practices and act as an agent of change at McGill by providing recommendations to maximize operational efficiency.
Media Relations
- Lead proactive media relations strategies that seize opportunities, strengthen, preserve and build upon the reputation of the University, and support its mission, values and priorities.
- Manage media relations resources and activities, including events and briefings.
- Act as the University’s spokesperson when delegated by the Director.
- Build and maintain strong and productive relationships with journalists, media outlets, and opinion leaders.
Issues Management
- Evaluate the external communications landscape across traditional and digital media to identify opportunities and emerging issues related to the University’s mission, values and priorities.
- Conduct strategic analysis of reputational risks, including mapping of internal and external stakeholders.
- Provide timely, evidence-based counsel to senior administrators on complex and sensitive issues, including the likely communications effects of operational and policy decisions and approaches to address them.
- Oversee the development of scenarios, protocols, and communication plans in support of institutional crisis preparedness.
- Support the University’s communications in urgent situations, including those where the security of the McGill community is threatened; this requires knowledge of applicable protocols and procedures, and availability outside of regular business hours as needed.
- Act as a key advisor and delegate for the Director, where appropriate.
Other Qualifying Skills and/or Abilities
- Undergraduate degree in communications, public relations, journalism, political science or a related field.
- Minimum five (5) years of experience in media relations, issues management, or strategic communications.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex, high-stakes reputational issues involving multiple stakeholders in a dynamic environment.
- Excellent judgment, discretion, and political acuity.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively and find common ground with internal and external partners at all levels, to ensure full alignment of communications initiatives.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills; ability to synthesize complex information into clear, compelling messaging.
- Proven ability to exercise a high degree of confidentiality when handling sensitive or privileged information.
- Ability to manage competing priorities under tight deadlines and in high-pressure contexts.
- Full bilingual proficiency in French and English
As one of Montreal's Top Employers, here is what we offer:
- Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance) (if eligible)
- Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%) (if eligible)
- Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
- Competitive vacation policy
- Two (2) personal days
- Two (2) floating holidays
- Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
- Paid time off over the December holiday period
- Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents
- Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits
Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.
Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level #4 on a scale of 0-4*.*
For a definition of our language proficiency levels, please click
here
.
Minimum Education and Experience:
Bachelor's Degree 5 Years Related Experience /
Annual Salary:
(MPEX Grade 06) $80,510.00 - $100,640.00 - $120,770.00
Job Profile:
MPEX-COM3A - Internal External Relations - Senior Professional/Manager
Hours per Week:
33.75 (Full time)
Supervisor:
Director, Issues Management
Position End Date (If applicable):
Deadline to Apply:
2025-09-28
McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence,
accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca
.
About McGill University
McGill University is one of Canada's best-known institutions of higher learning and one of the leading universities in the world. With students coming to McGill from some 150 countries, our student body is the most internationally diverse of any research-intensive university in the country. McGill was founded in 1821 thanks to a generous bequest by James McGill, and since then, we've grown from a small college to a bustling university with three campuses, 11 faculties, some 300 programs of study, and more than 37,500 students. The University also partners with four affiliated teaching hospitals to graduate over 1,000 health care professionals each year.
The goal of McGill University's social media platforms is to strengthen our community, which includes students, faculty, and alumni. The aim is to provide information on events, campus news and promote networking.
McGill University fosters freedom of expression, while valuing respect and collegiality. We encourage respectful dialogue and reserve the right to remove the following: Comments deemed offensive, vulgar or profane; comments off-topic and/or unrelated to posted content; content that infringes on an individual's privacy or copyright.