Communications Strategist

Overview of the role:

The Communications Strategist is a trusted communications advisor who partners with senior leaders to advance business priorities through clear, strategic and impactful communications. 

Reporting to the Manager, Internal Communications, this role leads the planning, development and delivery of complex communications initiatives that help WestJetters understand the business, connect to our culture and support organizational goals. The successful candidate combines strong business acumen, strategic thinking and exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence leaders, navigate ambiguity and deliver measurable results. 

Operating with a high degree of independence, the Communications Strategist provides counsel on organizational change, leadership communications, employee engagement and communication effectiveness while managing a diverse portfolio of priorities and stakeholders. 

Beyond delivering exceptional communications, this role brings curiosity and fresh thinking to the function by identifying emerging trends, technologies and best practices and translating them into practical, innovative approaches that strengthen how WestJet engages and connects with WestJetters. 

Key responsibilities: 

Strategic communications  

Lead communications strategies that support organizational priorities, operational initiatives, transformation and WestJetter engagement. 

Provide strategic counsel to leaders, translating business needs, risks and opportunities into clear communications plans and recommendations. 

Guide leaders through organizational change, high-profile initiatives and sensitive issues while fostering understanding, trust and engagement. 

WestJetter engagement 

Develop communication approaches that strengthen WestJetter understanding, connection and confidence in company direction. 

Apply engagement and change management principles to support culture, transformation and adoption of key initiatives. 

Foster meaningful two-way dialogue and identify opportunities to enhance the WestJetter experience. 

Innovation, insight and effectiveness  

Bring fresh thinking to internal communications by leveraging emerging trends, technologies and leading practices. 

Establish success measures, evaluate communication effectiveness and use data-driven insights to improve outcomes. 

Champion continuous improvement across communication channels, tools, processes and standards. 

Partnership and influence  

Build trusted partnerships across WestJet and influence decision-making through credible communications counsel. 

Collaborate across teams to align communications with business objectives and organizational priorities. 

Contribute to the growth of the Internal Communications function by sharing expertise, championing best practices and serving as a subject matter expert. 

 Education and experience 

Degree or diploma in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

10+ years of experience in internal communications, corporate communications, public relations, employee engagement, or a related discipline. 

Demonstrated experience advising senior leaders and supporting strategic business priorities. 

Experience developing and executing communications strategies for complex, enterprise-wide initiatives. 

Demonstrated success supporting transformation, significant organizational change or high-profile issues. 

Experience in a dynamic, operationally complex or customer-focused organization is considered an asset. 

Knowledge, skills and abilities 

Exceptional written, verbal and presentation communication skills. 

Strong strategic planning, critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities. 

Ability to influence and advise leaders at all levels of the organization. 

Strong business acumen and the ability to translate complex topics into clear, relevant and engaging communications. 

Demonstrated curiosity and passion for emerging communications trends, technology and innovation. 

Experience evaluating and adopting new communications approaches, channels and tools to improve effectiveness and engagement. 

Ability to balance strategic thinking with high-quality execution while continuously seeking ways to modernize and improve communications practices. 

Experience measuring communication effectiveness and applying insights to improve outcomes. 

Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills. 

High degree of initiative, judgment, discretion and accountability. 

Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative, high-performing team.