Communications Officer

Help shape how the City of Dawson connects with its community!

The City of Dawson is looking for a skilled and creative communications professional to lead how we share information, engage the public, and tell the story of our municipality.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a broad communications portfolio and make a visible impact. Reporting directly to the Chief Administrative Officer, you will advise senior leadership, work across every City department, and help ensure residents receive clear, timely, and accessible information about the services, decisions, projects, and issues that matter to them.

You will have the opportunity to strengthen the City’s communications strategy, improve its digital presence, guide public engagement, support communications during emergencies, and bring greater consistency to how the municipality communicates internally and externally. This is not primarily a reporting or journalism role—it is a strategic, hands-on position for someone who enjoys building communications systems, advising others, and turning complex information into meaningful public communication.

About Dawson

Dawson City is located in the heart of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Traditional Territory. With a population of approximately 2,300, Dawson is a vibrant northern community shaped by deep First Nations roots, its Klondike history, and a thriving contemporary arts and culture scene.

Residents enjoy world-renowned festivals, a growing film industry, extensive trails, recreation facilities, a ski hill, golf course, hospital, Yukon University campus, K–12 school, and extraordinary access to the surrounding wilderness. Dawson offers the chance to build a meaningful career while becoming part of a creative, welcoming, and highly engaged community.

What you will do

As the City’s Communications Officer, you will:

• Develop and lead the City’s overall communications approach, including strategies, standards, templates, and best practices.
• Advise the CAO, management, and departments on public communication, sensitive issues, engagement, and organizational messaging.
• Translate municipal decisions, policies, projects, and services into clear and accessible information.
• Plan and produce content for the City’s website, social media, newsletters, public notices, media releases, and other communication channels.
• Lead communications planning for municipal projects, campaigns, public engagement initiatives, and organizational changes.
• Strengthen the City’s brand and ensure consistent use of its visual identity across departments.
• Manage media relations, including inquiries, key messages, interviews, and press events.
• Support emergency and time-sensitive communications.
• Improve how information is shared with employees across the organization.
• Oversee the City’s website and digital communication platforms.
• Coordinate service providers supporting the City’s website, email, telephone, and IT systems. This is a coordination role and does not require you to be an IT technician.
• Identify practical ways to improve how the City communicates and connects with residents.

What you bring

You are a thoughtful communicator who can see both the big picture and the details needed to deliver polished work. You are comfortable advising leadership, balancing competing priorities, and communicating about complex or sensitive matters with sound judgement.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Post-secondary education in communications, public relations, marketing, public or business administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least two years of relevant experience in corporate communications, public relations, marketing, digital communications, public engagement, or a related role.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with the ability to adapt information for different audiences and communication channels.
• Experience planning and delivering communications projects, campaigns, or engagement initiatives.
• Experience managing websites, social media, or other digital communication platforms.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and irregular deadlines.
• Confidence providing communications advice and working collaboratively with people across an organization.
• Strong judgement, discretion, cultural sensitivity, and attention to detail.
• A proactive and practical approach to problem-solving.

Experience in a municipal, government, First Nations, public-sector, or community-based environment would be an asset but is not required. Experience with graphic design, brand management, public engagement, emergency communications, or coordinating external technology providers would also be considered an asset.

Applicants who demonstrate an equivalent combination of education and experience are encouraged to apply.

Why join the City of Dawson?

This position offers considerable variety, independence, and the opportunity to build and improve how an entire organization communicates. Your work will be visible in the community and will directly support public understanding, organizational transparency, and trust in local government.

This is a non-union management position with a salary range of $77,900.00 to $93,016.67, plus benefits, in accordance with the Management Employment Bylaw.

A complete job description is available upon request.

How to apply

Please submit your resume and cover letter through the City of Dawson careers portal:

https://cityofdawson.ca/p/careers

Your application should clearly explain how your education and experience relate to the position, as selection for further consideration will be based on the information provided.

Closing date: This position will remain open until filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by 2pm, Tuesday October 20, 2026.

The City of Dawson thanks all applicants for their interest. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

To learn more about our community, visit http://www.cityofdawson.ca/