Job Description

Located on the banks of the Ottawa and Rideau rivers in the picturesque Ottawa valley of eastern Ontario, Ottawa offers a wide range of services and attractions. As the nation\'s capital, this city of over 800,000 people is home to a dozen museums and galleries, plus more than 35 annual festivals. More than 150 km of recreational pathways wind through the city providing ample opportunity for walking, cycling, or in-line skating. In winter the Rideau Canal becomes one of the world\'s largest outdoor skating rinks. The hills of Gatineau Park are only a twenty minute drive from downtown Ottawa and offer year round recreational activities including hiking, biking, camping, swimming, and cross-country skiing. The city of Montreal is only a two hour drive east.

As an educational centre, Ottawa boasts two major universities, a small Catholic university, and a community college. The growing computer technology industry plays a significant role in the local economy.

A multi-cultural city, Ottawa is home to many diverse ethnic communities including a small group of Mennonites. Languages spoken in Ottawa include English (50%), French (32%), and a host of other languages including Italian, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic.

Ottawa temperatures can range from 33\xc2\xb0C (91\xc2\xb0F) in summer to -40\xc2\xb0C (-40\xc2\xb0F) in winter, with average summer temperatures around 20\xc2\xb0C (68\xc2\xb0F) and average winter temperatures around -10\xc2\xb0C (14\xc2\xb0F).

Applications Close Date Aug 11, 2023

Start Date Sep 06, 2023

Start Date Flexible Yes

Term Length

Qualifications

All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to: a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active participation in a Christian church or Christian community; and nonviolent peacemaking. MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply.

Essential

• A university degree in a related field (e.g., peacebuilding, international development, marketing etc.)
• Minimum three years of professional experience in a field focused on relationship development, networking and navigating complex systems, such as government

• Excellent knowledge of how government systems function and how to influence for change within complex systems
• Exceptional interpersonal and networking skills, with ability to build and nurture long-term relationships to build support to work together towards advocacy goals
• Possess a high level of professionalism, with ability to build trust with civil servants , Parliamentarians and other international and national NGO leaders
• Proven ability and comfort with soliciting information and requests from a wide range of stakeholders.
• Self-motivated and can work independently to meet goals and deadlines
• Ability to collaborate with and support colleagues to co-create and achieve advocacy goals
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking and presentations.
• Communication - adept at conveying complex information in writing and orally for a wide range of audiences
• Peacebuilding: adept at engaging people from diverse viewpoints and political perspectives to work for common goals.
• High organizational skills - proficient at prioritizing and managing multiple issues and tasks, including coordinating with multiple people and departments to complete projects and engage in lobbying activities
• Creative - self-motivated and willing to take initiative in implementing ideas
• Highly computer literate and capable in email, MS Office, and related business and communication tools

Preferred:

• Fluency in French is strongly preferred

• Knowledge of MCC\'s mission and work and the ability to match the work with stakeholder interest
• Previous program work with MCC
• Master\'s Degree in related field

Job Synopsis The Advocacy and Networking Specialist is part of a team that provides expertise and bridgebuilding for MCC\'s advocacy efforts. This position is based in the Peace & Justice Office, in Ottawa, which serves as a conduit of information and bridge for relationships between the federal government of Canada and MCC\'s program work. It builds relationships with government on issues of peace, justice and human dignity that arise out of MCC\'s ministry at home and around the world, while engaging in advocacy with a peace lens. The Peace & Justice office brings a unique, Anabaptist perspective and peace lens to the work of advocacy, through working for shared solution across difference. This position will work to influence Ottawa based stakeholders in their support for peacebuilding and build MCC\'s credibility and capacity as a peacebuilding organization.
For the first three years of this position (for the duration of the strategic plan and during plan transition) this position will engage in advocacy and networking to raise support for a peacebuilding approach to Indigenous reconciliation and restorative justice in Canada.

Challenges Occasional evening and weekend work; Work requires healthy boundaries

Key Responsibilities 35% Direct advocacy and Government relations
35% Bridgebuilding and networking
30% Meetings and Administration

• Ensure that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is exemplified in the performance of all job responsibilities and through personal example.
• Model non-violent peacemaking through daily interactions with staff and the public.
• Participate in a local church and gatherings, being willing to use their gifts within the local faith community.

Duties
35%: Direct advocacy and Government relations

• Manage an assigned advocacy portfolio with and develop advocacy strategy that grows MCC\'s relationship with key stakeholders for change.
• Monitor and develop responses to government legislation, policies, and activities, as relevant to the advocacy portfolio and strategy, using a variety of advocacy approaches (meetings, op-eds, etc.)
• Identify, cultivate, and successfully build opportunities for co-creation of solutions, investing the necessary time and energy to build relationships to understand the stakeholder\'s goals, and present opportunities to support MCC\'s work that align with those goals, using peacebuilding practices to influence change.
• Develop key messaging tailored for different stakeholders, including audience-focused talking points and briefing notes that align with MCC\'s program work and change goals and government policies
• Draft or process letters and submissions to the federal government in accordance with the MCC Canada and MCC U.S. "Advocacy Protocol";
• Set up meeting and bring MCC program staff into direct conversation with government and coalitions. Identify opportunities and work with them on the creation of advocacy materials, such as op-eds or submissions to government.
• Cultivate relationships with relevant Parliamentarians and civil servants, including participating and leading working groups, and regular communication with key stakeholders.

35% Bridgebuilding and Networking

• Attend receptions and other networking events, representing MCC. Give presentations and speak publicly about MCC\'s work.
• Host events for the purposes of building MCC\'s reputation and encouraging advocacy action.
• Represent MCC within the government system, presenting the work of MCC, and in the wider NGO community at appropriate events relevant to the advocacy portfolio.
• Build bridges between MCC\'s program expertise and stakeholders in Ottawa, applying a peace lens to work.
• Work alongside program staff and the policy team in Ottawa on the creation, implementation, and monitoring of advocacy and government relations strategies.
• Support networking and government relations work within the Peace & Justice Office team and relevant program networks, including the Indigenous Neighbours and Restorative Justice network, ensuring that advocacy work emerges from MCC\'s program.
• Advise MCC staff around government relations work and give leadership to government relations activities when relevant to the specific advocacy portfolio.
• Lead political engagement for major events, including those connected to major MCC supporter engagement activities (e.g., Hill Days, conferences, seminars, etc.), as relevant to the specific advocacy portfolio and in coordination with relevant staff, including the Public Engagement and Advocacy Manager for major international focused campaigns
• Brief MCC staff on government activities and MCC\'s approach as needed.
• Review public engagement materials connected to advocacy portfolio as needed.
• Connect MCC partners, staff, and supporters with relevant individuals and departments in the federal government as relevant for advocacy portfolio.
• Represent MCC on relevant advocacy-related coalitions, in a coordinating and/or chairing capacity as required;
• Participate in relevant advocacy learning tours;

30% Meetings and Administration

• Attend Peace & Justice Office Team meetings and other relevant MCC meetings
• Participate in Advocacy and Engagement Network and appropriate subgroup meetings;
• Lead and attend relevant coalition meetings
• Attend MCC program networks and meetings as required
• Participate in the MCC strategic planning process;
• Maintain current data and records for interactions with policy makers using MCC\'s tracking systems, including ensuring meetings are recorded for the lobby registry
• Utilize MCC\'s standard PME tools and templates in order to plan, monitor, and evaluate significant political engagement initiatives;
• Other duties as assigned.

Link

Mennonite Central Committee