Brief Description:

Background:
The Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC) is an expanding community of Ontario-based international development and global education organizations and individual associate members working globally for social justice.

Reporting to the Executive Director and Director of Operations, the Communications & Content Specialist will work closely with the OCIC management team and staff, Board Directors, volunteers, members, key partners and funders to support the Council in achieving its 2018-2023 “Agenda for Change,” 2019-2023 “Inspiring Action for Global Citizenship” Global Affairs Canada (GAC) contribution agreement, and other funding agreements, furthering our long-term vision.
Position Description:
The Communications & Content Specialist is accountable for the following aspects of OCIC’s work:

Implementation

• Encouraging and facilitating broad-based and meaningful participation of members, volunteers, youth and other target audiences in all activities designed to achieve OCIC’s vision, mission and mandate, strategic directions and funded programs

• Supporting the increased visibility of OCIC member and Council efforts on key global issues, including Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) action areas, the Sustainable Development Goals

• Creating actionable communications strategies and platforms for key activities

• Producing monthly e-Bulletins, weekly Opportunities postings, and ongoing announcements and news releases for OCIC activities, programs and reports
• Developing OCIC Annual Report content and supporting communications aspects of OCIC’s Annual General Meetings & Symposiums

• Maintaining the OCIC website, including copywriting and copy-editing, ensuring timely approvals of Opportunities and event postings, liaising with members and other website users regarding communications services and ensuring content is accessible to persons with low vision

• Copy-editing and disseminating OCIC and member announcements through listservs, social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), Eventbrite and other channels
• Ensuring member listservs and mailing lists are kept up-to-date, and managing subscriptions to OCIC listservs

• Designing select graphics for social media, reports, briefs or collateral materials and providing oversight of students, interns, consultants or others engaged to assist with this

• Developing and testing surveys and interview schedules to facilitate effective needs assessments and reporting requirements

• Developing and supporting select capacity building initiatives, in collaboration with the Community Engagement & Gender Equality Specialist and Executive Director

• Liaising with IT/website consultants to help staff troubleshoot IT/website issues

• Developing, orienting other staff towards, and implementing internal communications procedures and a communications style-guide, ensuring OCIC brand guidelines are utilized in all communications streams

• Monitoring media for key sector related news

• Building relationships with and maintaining a database of traditional and new media partners, key journalists, artists and other communications partners, as outlined in OCIC’s GAC program

• Networking, liaising and developing relationships with diverse partners including youth, feminist, Indigenous, diaspora and disability inclusion groups, organizations and individuals

• Managing and monitoring budget items with prudence
• Other duties, as assigned

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
The Communications & Content Specialist is accountable for monitoring, evaluation and reporting on their portfolio of work, including:
• Ensuring processes are undertaken to assess the effectiveness of each Council communications and select capacity building activities

• Capturing quantitative and qualitative data on an ongoing basis, using event registration software, participant lists, attendance sheets, social media account analysis, website analytics, activity specific evaluation forms, surveys and platforms, as appropriate

• Convening and/or supporting focus groups, 1:1 interviews and impact story collection for communications and select capacity building programs and activities, as appropriate

• Supporting the creation, implementation, analysis and dissemination of results of periodic surveys of Council members

• Synthesizing data, including qualitative, quantitative and financial reporting items, and providing recommendations for adjustments to communications and capacity building programs on a quarterly basis

• Documenting and reporting good practices and lessons learned related to communications and select capacity building activities, on a quarterly basis

Reporting on Results

• Ensuring all communications and capacity building programs and activities are completed according to the descriptions, budget and timelines established in the
Councils’ funding agreements and annual work plan

Organizational Development and Support

• Complying with all OCIC policies, procedures, and codes of conduct

• Actively participating in staff meetings, and providing input towards the development of new policies to direct operational practice, as required

• Supporting the recruitment of and supervising volunteers, interns, consultants and short-term contract staff related to communications and select capacity building initiatives, as requested

• Supporting in preparation of funding proposals and reports

• Supporting the Executive Director and Board of Directors and its Committees in the ongoing implementation of strategic directions, and in achieving annual governance work plans, as requested

• Representing OCIC at events or external meetings, as requested

• Responding to telephone and email inquiries
• Other duties, as assigned

OCIC’s Values in Practice


OCIC’s work, both internally and as a collective of members, is grounded in our shared vision of global social justice, human dignity and participation for all. Our work is guided by ideals about anti-oppression, human rights, international cooperation, and the appropriate meeting of human needs articulated in a multitude of places by multilateral bodies, states, and civil society groups. Management and staff of OCIC are responsible for:
• Providing leadership in ensuring a culture of inclusive, transformative, intergenerational change within the Council and Council partnerships
• Ensuring that an intersectional approach is modeled in all aspects of the Council’s work, as outlined in OCIC’s “Agenda for Change”

• Ensuring gender equality, anti-oppression and anti-racism themes and results are integrated into all of the Councils’ work, as outlined in OCIC policies and funding agreements

Desired Experience, Skills & Qualifications:


The ideal candidate will have:

• Three to five years recent and related experience in a communications role
• Post-secondary education in communications, journalism, international development, and/or the equivalent combination of education and experience
• Nuanced understanding of good practices in communications and community engagement on universal sustainable development issues
• Understanding of gender equality, equity, diversity and inclusion issues, intersectionality and anti-racism education
• Clear, engaging and effective oral and written communications skills, including excellent presentation and facilitation skills, and a high level of attention to detail
• Demonstrated experience in website content management and maintenance, including copywriting and copy-editing
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with social media platforms, marketing/ advertising and Google Analytics
• Demonstrated understanding of the best uses of print and social media, media positioning of complex and controversial social issues
• Proficiency with MS Office, In Design, Photoshop and email marketing services, such as Mail Chimp
• Graphic design skills for creating infographics and visual design elements for social media, reports, briefs, collateral materials, etc.
• Knowledge of website accessibility standards and requirements, in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and WCAG 2.0
• Understanding of and experience with Results-based Management
• Relevant experience managing program logistics and budgets
• Demonstrated experience managing interns, volunteers and consultants
• Knowledge of and/or experience working in the non-profit sector, in small or medium-sized organizations (SMOs)
• A ready sense of humour, compassion for others, and capacity to work both at home and in a small team office environment
• Demonstrated cross-cultural awareness and competency; self-awareness
• Innovative spirit, good judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and the ability to problem-solve
• Experience working with funders, such as Global Affairs Canada

Working Remotely:
All OCIC staff are currently working from home. The successful candidate must have access to high speed internet connection, and must be able to work virtually until the time we may decide to work together in person.

To apply:
 Please complete OCIC’s application form and attach your cover letter and CV here ( https://form.jotform.com/222415288668263 ) by no later than 10 am EST, September 26, 2022. First interviews will be conducted online October 11-13, 2022. Final candidates will be required to provide three professional references and a recent, relevant writing sample.

OCIC is committed to anti-racism, anti-oppression and the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. All OCIC staff, Board, volunteers, members, partners, funders, contracted parties and representatives engaged or working with or for OCIC to provide services on behalf of the Council are required to comply fully with our Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy and Code of Conduct.

As an equity seeking organization, OCIC encourages applications from individuals that represent the full diversity of communities in Canada, including complexities of intersecting identities such as ability, age, class, gender, race and sexual orientation.

Please contact arabelle@ocic.on.ca if you require any accommodations during the application process.

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