Associate, Corporate Communications

About the Company

NATIONAL Public Relations has been partnering with organizations for over fifty years, supporting them through change, safeguarding reputation, and addressing critical business challenges. Based in Toronto, the Corporate team facilitates clients from various sectors, collaborating across practices to deliver integrated communication strategies encompassing media relations, stakeholder engagement, issues management, digital, and campaign support.

Role Overview

The Associate will contribute to managing communication projects from inception to execution, assisting in bringing client initiatives to fruition while developing foundational client service skills. This position involves working closely with teams in the Toronto office, supporting daily client activities, preparing communication materials, and aiding delivery of integrated programs covering corporate communications, media relations, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and digital media.

This opportunity suits early-career professionals seeking diverse agency exposure who enjoy practical tasks and hands-on learning through research, writing, monitoring, reporting, and coordination across various clients, sectors, and disciplines.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in delivering integrated communication campaigns involving media relations, stakeholder engagement, public affairs, digital, social media, and corporate reputation channels.
• Create and refine high-quality communication materials such as media pitches, press releases, briefing notes, key message documents, social media content, newsletters, client reports, and executive summaries.
• Conduct research, environmental analysis, and media monitoring across business, policy, competitors, stakeholders, and digital platforms to identify trends, insights, risks, and opportunities.
• Support media relations tasks like developing media lists, researching journalists, coordinating pitches, tracking coverage, and preparing briefing materials.
• Utilize AI-powered and digital tools responsibly to aid research, content generation, brainstorming, summarization, workflow efficiency, issue tracking, and audience insights, while ensuring fact-checking, privacy compliance, and sound judgment.
• Compile client-facing reports, project updates, and campaign summaries interpreting data, media coverage, and engagement metrics into actionable conclusions.
• Manage logistics and coordinate project aspects for meetings, events, stakeholder engagements, internal sessions, and awareness campaigns, including organizing agendas, briefing documents, vendor coordination, timeline management, approvals, budgets, and status reports.
• Contribute to campaign planning, new business proposals, team brainstorming, and cross-practice collaboration while staying updated on business, AI, media, and communication trends.

Qualifications

• Two to three years’ experience in public relations, corporate communications, marketing, public affairs, or related areas; agency experience is advantageous.
• Post-secondary education in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, business, political science, or a related field.
• Strong written communication and editing skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Familiarity with social media platforms, media monitoring systems, and digital communication channels.
• Interest in corporate communications, reputation management, media relations, public affairs, business issues, and integrated campaigns across multiple sectors.
• Comfortable wielding AI tools like ChatGPT to support research, writing, summarization, and workflow improvements, accompanied by proper fact-checking and exercising good judgment.

Personal Skills and Attributes

• Exceptional organizational skills with excellent attention to detail and reliability in follow-through.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and produce high-quality work within a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Proactive and resourceful, capable of following direction while anticipating subsequent needs.
• A collaborative team player who enjoys assisting diverse teams, practices, and client accounts.
• Curious, adaptable, and motivated to continuously learn and develop across sectors and communication fields.

Benefits and Work Environment

• Hybrid work model combining in-office and remote work at the Toronto office.
• Supportive and collegial culture fostering professional development.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Varied exposure to client work within Toronto and across NATIONAL’s practice areas.
• Opportunities to engage in high-profile projects for prominent organizations.
• Access to coaching and growth opportunities within a national team, with occasional travel according to client and team requirements.

Salary Range

The anticipated annual salary for this position is CAD 50,000 to 62,500, contingent upon experience, skills, and internal equity considerations.

Additional Information

NATIONAL Public Relations is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to diversity and inclusion. Accommodations can be provided during the recruitment process upon request. Only selected candidates will be contacted. Artificial intelligence tools are utilized to assist in applicant screening and assessment.

NATIONAL is Canada’s foremost public relations firm with multiple offices across the country and an extensive global presence through AVENIR GLOBAL, one of the world’s largest Canadian-owned communications firms.