Associate

Associate, Corporate

Work location

Toronto, Ontario (hybrid)

About us

For 50 years, NATIONAL has worked alongside organizations as they navigate change, protect reputation, and solve the business challenges that matter most. In Toronto, our Corporate team supports clients across sectors and works closely with colleagues across practices to deliver integrated communications programs, from media relations and stakeholder engagement to issues management, digital, and campaign support. We're looking for an associate who is curious, organized, and ready to roll up their sleeves to help keep great client work moving.

The role

You'll support communications mandates from planning through execution, helping teams bring client work to life while building a strong foundation in client service. Working closely with colleagues across the Toronto office, you'll contribute to day-to-day client activities, assist in developing communications materials, and support the delivery of integrated programs across corporate communications, media relations, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and digital channels.

This role is ideal for someone early in their career who wants broad agency exposure, enjoys practical execution, and is motivated to learn by doing. You'll be hands-on with research, writing, monitoring, reporting, and coordination, while gaining exposure to a range of clients, sectors, and practice areas.

Key responsibilities

• Support the day-to-day delivery of integrated communications programs across media relations, stakeholder engagement, public affairs, digital, social, and corporate reputation channels
• Develop and contribute to high-quality communications materials, including media pitches, press materials, briefing notes, key messages, social media copy, newsletters, client updates, and executive-ready summaries
• Conduct research, environmental scans, and monitoring across business, media, policy, competitor, stakeholder, and social/digital landscapes to identify insights, trends, risks, and opportunities
• Support media relations activities, including media list development, journalist research, pitch coordination, coverage tracking, and preparation of media briefing materials
• Use AI-enabled and digital tools responsibly to support research, content development, brainstorming, summarization, workflow efficiencies, issues tracking, reporting, and audience insights, while applying fact-checking, privacy awareness, and sound judgment
• Prepare client-facing reports, project updates, and campaign summaries that translate data, media coverage, and engagement metrics into clear, actionable insights
• Coordinate logistics and project management for meetings, events, stakeholder engagements, internal working sessions, and awareness campaigns, including agendas, briefing materials, vendor coordination, timelines, approvals, budgets, and status documents
• Support campaign planning, new business proposals, team brainstorming, and cross-practice collaboration while staying current on business, AI, media, and communications trends

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of experience in public relations, communications, corporate communications, marketing, public affairs, or a related field; agency experience is an asset
• Post-secondary education in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, business, political science, or a related discipline
• Strong writing and editing skills with excellent attention to detail
• Familiarity with social media platforms, media monitoring tools, and digital communications channels
• Interest in corporate communications, reputation management, media relations, public affairs, business issues, and integrated campaigns across sectors
• Comfort using AI-enabled tools, such as ChatGPT, to support research, writing, summarization, and workflow efficiency, with appropriate fact-checking and judgment

Abilities

• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and reliable follow-through
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment
• Proactive, resourceful, and comfortable taking direction while anticipating what needs to happen next
• Collaborative team player who enjoys supporting different teams, practices, and client files
• Curious, adaptable, and motivated to continuously learn and grow across sectors and communications disciplines

What we offer

• Hybrid work environment and a supportive, collegial office culture
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
• Broad exposure to client work across the Toronto office and NATIONAL's practice areas
• Opportunities to work on high-profile mandates with leading organizations across sectors
• Professional development, coaching, and growth opportunities within a national team, with occasional travel as required by client and team needs

Expected compensation

The expected salary for this role is $50,000-$62,500 CAD. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and internal equity.

How to apply

Submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest and fit for the role. If you're ready to build your communications career with Canada's PR Firm, we'd love to hear from you.

NATIONAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Should you require any accommodation during the selection process, please inform us.

A vacancy currently exists for this position. Please note that only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. We use artificial intelligence tools to assist in screening, assessing, and selecting applicants for this role. Thank you for considering a career with us.

NATIONAL Public Relations provides creative communications solutions that move people in thought and actions. We bring together a team of 300 seasoned professionals, who are committed to helping organizations of all sizes and in all sectors understand their challenges and opportunities and solve the issues they are facing. For 47 years, NATIONAL has been at the center of issues and industries that matter, leading change for today and tomorrow.

NATIONAL is Canada’s leading public relations firm, with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Saint John, Halifax and St. John’s. Its network includes Time & Space, a leader in media strategy, data analysis, planning and execution.

NATIONAL Public Relations is an AVENIR GLOBAL company, the largest Canadian-owned global communications firm, ranked among the 25 largest in the world with offices in 23 locations across Canada, the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. For more information about NATIONAL, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

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