Senior Communications & Public Affairs Manager

On behalf of our client, BC Family Doctors, we are hiring for a SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER to join their team. 

Permanent Full-Time | Vancouver, BC (Hybrid)

Make an Impact

BC Family Doctors is advocating to create a new reality for patients and family physicians. We believe everyone deserves a family doctor. As our Senior Communications & Public Affairs Manager, you will play a pivotal role in the planning and development of communications, media, advocacy and marketing projects and strategies. This is a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about leading advocacy and marketing work, with a focus on storytelling, to increase awareness of BC Family Doctors.

Who We Are

BC Family Doctors' purpose is to build an environment where family medicine and family doctors thrive. We are a member-driven professional association - the political and economic voice of family doctors in BC. We are fierce and passionate advocates working to ensure family physicians are seen, heard and valued as the cornerstone of our health care system. We cultivate a culture of openness, respect, integrity, vulnerability, courage and all kinds of smarts. We're about restoring humanity to health care because whether you are a doctor running a community practice or a team-member of BC Family Doctors, we're all human beings first and foremost.

Our Team

We're a small, dynamic team in a fast-paced non-profit, connected to purpose and doing work that we love. We mainly work remotely but come together regularly in the office to brainstorm, ask tough questions and dream big. We're not hung up on titles and hierarchy - we work together because it makes us stronger, and lets face it, teamwork makes everything better. We work closely with our dedicated Board of Directors, who are all practicing family physicians.

Your Role

Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, you will lead the strategic planning and execution of all communications, media relations, public affairs, and advocacy initiatives for BC Family Doctors. You will be responsible for developing and implementing an annual communications plan, providing strategic communications advice, and ensuring consistency and clarity across all messaging. In this role, you will also provide managerial oversight to the Digital Content & Communications Coordinator.

Your responsibilities will include:

Strategic Communications & Leadership

• Develop and oversee the organizations communications strategy.
• Provide strategic communications advice to senior leadership and board members.
• Lead major communications projects, including annual reports and advocacy campaigns.
• Direct and manage the organizations communications work, including managing the scheduling and production of content.
• Audit and assess BC Family Doctors communications portfolio and recommend areas for growth and improvement.
• Advise on appropriate communications tools and stay current with communications trends and technologies.
• Oversee the work of the Digital Content & Communications Coordinator to create content to support BC Family Doctors communications, including newsletters and website content
• Craft a range of communications materials, including high-level content such as board reports and strategic advocacy pieces, as well as more routine items like newsletters and internal updates particularly in the early stages of the role.
• Maintain brand standards across the organization and work with stakeholders to support brand integrity.

Media Relations & Public Affairs

• Manage media inquiries and coordinate interviews with board spokespeople.
• Develop key messaging, briefing notes, and crisis communication strategies.
• Write and pitch op-eds to media outlets.
• Conduct media scans and share relevant news with leadership.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists and key media contacts.
• Provide media training for board members and senior staff.
• Develop key messages for media interviews and meetings with government, for Board and senior spokespeople, as needed.

Government Relations & Advocacy

• Develop and execute government relations strategies.
• Support board members in building relationships with MLAs and key stakeholders.
• Draft advocacy letters, and key messaging for elected officials.
• Ensure alignment of advocacy efforts with organizational priorities.
• Update board on campaign and advocacy work at board meetings

Campaign Development & Management

• Develop and oversee advocacy campaigns on physician/health care issues.
• Lead the creation of campaign messaging, assets (posters, letters, etc.), and rollout plans.
• Oversee multi-channel execution of campaigns, including digital, print, and media outreach.

Event & Partner Relations

• Represent the organization in communications collaborations with partner organizations.
• Lead media collaborations, joint campaigns, and shared communications initiatives.
• Oversee branding, promotional materials, and conference participation.

What you Bring

• A minimum of five years relevant experience in communications and marketing. Experience providing communications in the healthcare or social profit field is an asset
• A positive, enthusiastic attitude
• Superior writing skills, excellent communication and verbal skills
• Flexibility and agility to pivot quickly as issues arise
• Ability to work independently, set priorities and meet deadlines as part of a small team in a fast-paced environment
• While you don't need to be a technical specialist, being tech and media savvy is key. You are comfortable with WordPress and Mailchimp
• Proven skills in project management and comfortable using project management platforms
• Advocacy experience in community or grassroots organizing, community engagement,
• coalition-building and campaign management an asset
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build long-term professional relationships with a community of physicians and physician organizations
• University degree or equivalent education, training, and experience
• Ability to travel to meetings, conferences and events in the Lower Mainland and occasionally in other regions in BC
• Residing in the Lower Mainland an asset for regular attendance of in-office meetings and conferences

The Details

This is a full-time, 37.5 hours per week position based in Vancouver, with a salary range of $110,000 - $120,000 per annum, depending on experience. We provide 4 weeks paid vacation plus an excellent benefits package (dental, health, LTD). The anticipated start date is August 1, 2025.

We pride ourselves on having flexible work schedules and an engaging, supportive team atmosphere. Ours is a hybrid work environment, mixing remote work with 1-2 days per week in-office. Some evening and weekend work will be required.

How to Apply

If you see yourself in this position and it seems like a good fit, we invite you to apply even if you don't check all the skills or qualification boxes. BC Family Doctors is committed to equity and inclusion. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. 

Please submit your resume along with a cover letter. For questions only, please reach out to: hello@bcfamilydocs.ca.