Job Posting

Job Title: Communications Officer
Reports to: Executive Director
Language: (fluent) English and (fluent) French
Work schedule: flexible full-time, mainly office hours in Eastern Time
Salary: $43-45k annually (+home office stipends to be negotiated)

Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director, the incumbent is responsible for developing and implementing the organization's communications strategies to enhance the visibility and reputation of the organization. This position requires that the incumbent be comfortable working in both official languages in a largely virtual, dynamic and impactful national organization dedicated to advancing the well-being of Canada’s cultural sector.

About the organization

CHRC is a registered national arts service organization with charitable status. Its Mission is to strengthen the Canadian cultural workforce by providing leadership and innovative solutions to human resource issues and to better the HR environment within the cultural sector. CHRC provides research, training, solutions and resources to Canadian cultural industry and artistic discipline establishments (businesses and non-profit organizations) individuals (employers and workers) in Live Performing Arts; Writing and Publishing; Visuals Arts and Crafts; Film, Television and Broadcasting; Digital Media; Music and Sound Recording; and Heritage. CHRC also works on cross-sector issues such as Cultural Management, Career Management and Export Marketing.

Role in the organization

Working with the Executive Director, CHRC staff, contractors and collaborators, the Communications Officer is responsible for liaising with internal and external stakeholders by developing, implementing and coordinating the organization's communications to enhance the visibility and reputation of the organization. Reasonable decisional responsibilities may be delegated to the incumbent to avoid micro-management.

CHRC is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. We invite applications from individuals with any combination of backgrounds, origins, identities and forms of self-expression.

CHRC abides by its Code of Conduct for the Performing Arts as its guideline for a respectful workplace.
 
Terms

Starting in June 2023, this contract will run concurrent to the fiscal year ending on March 31st, 2024. Subsequently, this position is a renewable employment contract subject to a satisfactory yearly performance evaluation and Board of Directors budget approval.

Schedule and hours of work are mainly weekdays and daytime in the Eastern Time Zone. Due to CHRC’s national scope and ongoing projects, schedule flexibility is expected (some early mornings, evenings and weekends) and encouraged towards a healthy work-life balance. The organizational culture is quite convivial and accommodating.

CHRC’s official office is in a shared office setting in Ottawa, Ontario but all organization staff and contractors work remotely. This position requires the incumbent to be physically present in Ottawa for in-person meetings (maximum once per week). Otherwise, the incumbent works remotely from home or anywhere else (in Canada) that it is safe and conducive to do so within the flexible schedule philosophy described above.

• Commute-related travel expenses are not reimbursed.
• Project-related travel expenses are reimbursed.

Areas of responsibilities/Duties

Communications with members, stakeholders and general public for all organizational promotions or projects. Includes social media and other outreach efforts.

1. Developing and implementing communications plans: Creating an effective communications plan that aligns with the organization's mission, values, goals and activities. The plan should include strategies for engaging with various stakeholders in Canada’s cultural sector (individuals, organizations and government).
2. Creating and managing content: Developing high-quality content for the organization's website, social media channels, newsletters, and other communications channels. This may include writing articles, press releases, social media posts, and other content, as well as managing the organization's visual brand and media content (podcasts, graphics, images, and videos).
3. Event planning and promotion: Developing content and implementing promotional strategies for the organization's in-person and online events, including developing press releases, managing social media campaigns, and other strategies to ensure successful events and high attendance.
4. Stakeholder engagement and management: Developing and managing relationships with key stakeholders, including members, internship placement participants and sector partners to ensure that the organization's mission and activities are well understood and supported. Managing CHRC’s customer relationship management tool (CRM) and database. Liaise with stakeholders and facilitate dialogue and information-sharing.
5. Tracking and analyzing metrics: Monitoring and analyzing the effectiveness of the organization's communications strategies, including website traffic, social media and readership engagement and other metrics to refine and improve communications efforts.
6. Other responsibilities to serve the organization from time to time.

Qualifications

Legally entitled to work in Canada.
Bilingual, French/English, excellent writing/speaking/reading skills.
Education and work experience as follows:

• A degree in Communications, Marketing, or a related field from a recognized university or college
• Practical experience (1 year+, preferred) in a similar role

Essential skills

Strong communication, writing, and interpersonal skills, as well as proficiency in digital communications tools and platforms (Zoom/Teams, SurveyMonkey, CRM software)
are important skills for this position.

Ability to:

• Work remotely and independently
• Work as a team-member
• See big picture/small picture
• Analyze and synthesize
• Research information
• Respect confidentiality
• Produce reports

Computer/technological skills (including but not limited to: Office Suite, Cloud/online drives, Google Forms, and others as necessary)
Organizational skills

Assets

Knowledge of:

• The cultural sector
• Legal and/or business terms
• HR management
• Artistic sub-sectors/disciplines and their networks
• First Nations artistic sub-sectors/disciplines and networks

Sensitivity to current socially inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible language elements.
*Candidates are encouraged to share any useful or relevant work-related competencies

To apply

Please submit your application documents and contact information via email to: candidacies@culturalhrc.ca and CC ggagnon@culturalhrc.ca as soon as possible.
CHRC thanks all candidates for their interest. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. A preliminary telephone conversation will be conducted to assess the linguistic requirement. Candidacies will be reviewed on a rolling basis as long as this posting is visible on http://cultureworks.ca/.