Senior Communications Specialist

YVR is a place of connection, bringing together people, places, and cargo while ensuring a safe and efficient experience for everyone. Communications is an integral part to making that happen. We are looking for a proven communications professional who is keen to take initiative and contribute to the high performing, award-winning YVR Communications Team, which is responsible for promoting, protecting, and enhancing YVR’s reputation and advancing our strategic plan in service of the community and economy that supports it.

Position overview

We have a permanent, full-time opportunity for a Senior Communications Specialist. Reporting to the Manager, Communications, the successful candidate will be responsible for planning and executing corporate communications programs and activities that support Vancouver Airport Authority’s business and operations objectives. The successful candidate will take responsibility for leadership, strategic direction, and service delivery with relation to developing, and executing communications plans, creating and/or leading the development of key messages and content (both written and visual), and fostering relationships with media and our community.

Key responsibilities include:

• Collaborate with various internal departments and stakeholders to develop and implement comprehensive communications plans and provide counsel to support the Airport Authority’s strategic priorities.


• Provide project management for key communications initiatives and programs.


• Contribute to crisis and issues management, including response activities during business hours and while on call such as evaluating and responding to operational and reputational matters, providing senior communications support and media response.


• Contribute to the development, revision, and testing of the Airport Authority’s Crisis Communications Plan.


• Develop communications materials, ensuring the editorial voice of the organization is reflected and consistent in all content, including news releases, backgrounders, corporate positions on various matters, and speeches; produce and disseminate written materials for internal and external publications and all online communications tools, including YVR’s Newsroom, website, social media, and intranet.

Key qualifications include:

• At least five years of experience in communications with an agency or corporation, supplemented by a degree in Communications or a related field (or a combination of a diploma in Journalism or Public Relations and experience in public relations); or an equivalent combination of training and experience.


• Ability to analyze, process and interpret large amounts of often technical content in order to develop and implement communications strategies and plans to advance/achieve organizational goals.


• Excellent English writing skills (vocabulary, spelling, mechanics) with a comprehensive working knowledge of Canadian (CP) style.


• Strong judgement and leadership skills as well as conflict resolution, analyzing trends and solid decision making plus the ability to diplomatically lead meetings and provide counsel to colleagues.


• Expertise in project management, client services delivery and event execution.


• Significant and proven experience managing media and crisis communications and issues management while working closely with senior executives as well as experience handling sensitive and confidential issues.

This position is open to both Vancouver Airport Authority employees and external applicants. Previous job performance will be taken into consideration for all internal candidates that apply for this position.

As part of our recruitment process, short-listed candidates may be required to participate in an assessment process.