Job Number: 55356Are you an exceptional communications and marketing leader who can turn high-level business goals into captivating strategic narratives and compelling campaigns? Can you navigate a complex political landscape while inspiring a multi-disciplinary team to do the best work of their careers? The City of Edmonton has an incredible chance for a seasoned professional to step into the role of Lead Strategist, Communications & Engagement within our Community Services team.The Lead Strategist, Communications & Engagement is responsible for leading a portfolio of communications, marketing and engagement strategies within the Community Services Department, specifically supporting the Sport and Recreation branch, the Attractions, Culture and Nature branch, and Edmonton Fire Rescue Services. This role manages the overall design and delivery of integrated services, ensuring seamless collaboration across teams and projects. As a leader, you will provide strategic counsel, manage a team of 10-14 professionals, and translate high-level strategies into actionable plans.You will manage and mentor a dedicated team of professionals, providing leadership and strategic oversight to the development and implementation of innovative communications, marketing and engagement strategies. From driving the narrative behind world-class sports and cultural events to supporting life-safety public awareness programs, your work will drive participation, shape Edmonton's place brand, build public trust, and ensure meaningful resident participation in civic decision-making. You will serve as a trusted partner to department leaders, steering them and your team toward high-value strategic opportunities.What will you do?Strategic Council & Portfolio ManagementLead the design, implementation and evaluation of comprehensive integrated marketing, communications and public engagement strategies rooted in data and industry best practicesLead the communications and engagement planning process, developing strategies that are aligned with corporate priorities and department goalsBuild strong relationships with program leaders to understand their business needsAnalyze business priorities to identify and prioritize high-value communications and marketing opportunities to ensure optimal resource allocationNavigate politically sensitive or emergent issues, providing strategic counsel, mitigation plans,



and support to senior leadershipIdentify issues, opportunities, trends, and gaps, and provide strategic advice and proposed solutions to leadershipPeople Leadership & Culture ChampionProvide leadership and direct supervision, coaching, and mentorship to a team of communications, marketing and engagement professionalsNurture a supportive, relationship-driven team environment centered on growth and continuous developmentServe as the conduit between the leadership team and staff, balancing direction from leadership with feedback from staffQuality Assurance & Performance StewardshipUtilize market research, public opinion methodologies, and historical evaluation data to build highly targeted, results-focused campaignsEstablish and track transparent performance metrics to demonstrate the tangible impact of your portfolio's workPerform quality management and oversight on deliverables to ensure they meet the City's standards and guidesContribute to the design and continuous improvement of section and unit-level processes and practicesEnsure the prudent use of human and financial resources, and effectively oversee external agency or vendor contractsQualifications:Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Public Relations, Business, Communications, Public Engagement or a related field, with 6 years of progressively responsible experience OR a related diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution with 8 years of progressively responsible experience6 or more years of experience leading and providing strategic consulting and advising services in communications, marketing and public engagementAssets:A Master's Degree in a related fieldCertification in Change Management or Project ManagementInternational Association of Public Participation (IAP2) certificate or similar professional trainingSkills required for success:Strategic People Leadership: Proven track record of directly supervising, mentoring, and developing high-performing qualified teams, ideally within a large, complex,



or unionized service-delivery organizationFull-Cycle Strategy & Execution: Extensive experience translating high-level business goals into integrated communications, marketing, and public engagement initiatives—expertly guiding portfolios from data-backed research and planning to multi-channel execution and impact evaluationPolitical Acumen & Strategic Advisory: Exceptional ability to read the room, analyze the broader political, social, and economic context, and navigate highly sensitive, complex issues while providing trusted counsel to leadershipCollaborative Client Consultation: Strong service-excellence orientation with a proven ability to build robust working relationships across all corporate levels, reconcile diverse viewpoints, and solve unique problems smoothly without relying on positional authorityHigh-Impact Communication & Brand Stewardship: A deep understanding of brand management techniques to successfully elevate and champion the City's identity and place brand, and City facilities, attractions, programs and servicesProficiency in Google Workspace and various virtual platformsAlignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies (https://bit.Ly/4brRrXm)Embracing a culture of equity, diversity, reconciliation and inclusionThe City of Edmonton values applicants with a diverse range of skills, experiences and competencies, and encourages you to apply. We strive to provide reasonable access and accommodations throughout the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about our benefits https://bit.Ly/COEbenefits.Up to 1 permanent positionHours of Work: 33.75 OR 40 hours per weekSalary Range:33.75 hours - $50.689 - $72.414 (Hourly) $89,301.35 - $127,575.36 (Annually)40 hours - $47.901 - $68.430 (Hourly) $100,0017.29 - $142.881.84 (Annually)Recruitment Consultant: SM / RFEdmonton rests in the heart of Treaty Six territory in Alberta and the homelands of the Metis Nation.IND123Classification Title: General Professional Leader 2Posting Date: Jun 4, 2026Closing Date: June 18, 2026 11:59:00 PM (MDT)Number of Openings (up to): 1 - Permanent Full-timeUnion : CSU 52Department: DCMO - Community ServicesWork Location(s): 17th Floor Edmonton Tower, 10111 104 Avenue Edmonton T5J 0J4#J-18808-Ljbffr

📌 Lead Strategist, Communications & Engagement - C$89,301.4 - C$142,881.8 A Year (Winnipeg)
🏢 City of Edmonton
📍 Winnipeg