Job Description

For more than a century, Family and Children\xe2\x80\x99s Services Niagara, the local Children\xe2\x80\x99s Aid Society, has provided vital child welfare, family/community support, counselling, foster care and adoption services to residents in the Niagara Region. Communications Specialist FACS Niagara is dedicated to strengthening the lives of children, youth, and families in our community. We are seeking a skilled Communications Specialist to join our team of difference-makers and support our vision of a community where everyone can achieve their full potential in a safe environment. Reporting to the Director of Communications and Community Engagement, the successful candidate will support the work of the agency through the development of high-quality strategic communication plans and content for internal and external audiences. You are a storyteller at heart and have a natural ability to craft compelling narratives and communication materials that engage, inform, and inspire others. Your work will be a key enabler for maintaining and expanding a positive profile of the agency amongst the FACS team and in the community, enhancing public confidence in the work we do. To be successful in this position, you should possess advanced writing and editing skills, and feel comfortable tailoring your communications to the appropriate medium. You are adept at social media and have experience working with traditional media. You understand and have experience in emergency and issues management. Technically, you know your way around the Office suite of tools and have desktop publishing skills. FACS Niagara provides an important service to the community, and our successful candidate should also share that service mindset. You work well with others and enjoy finding solutions to new challenges. You are also committed to continuous learning and improvement by refining your practice using the latest research in public relations. FACS Niagara is committed to having a workforce that is reflective of the diversity of the Niagara Region, and strongly encourages applications from all qualified individuals, especially those who can provide different perspectives and contribute to further diversification of ideas. Key Duties: Internal Communications

• Develop and coordinate content for internal newsletter updates
• Support Joint Committees in communicating important agency initiatives, programs, and safety protocols
• Draft Executive Director\xe2\x80\x99s weekly agency update
• Develop visual and written content for FACS Niagara\xe2\x80\x99s internal portal
• Maintain internal portal content, ensuring timeliness and accuracy
• Writing for internal publications

External Communications

• Promote a positive image of FACS and develop greater awareness of the agency\xe2\x80\x99s programs and services
• Monitor and identify strategies to mitigate reputational risk to the agency
• Work with the FACS team to identify positive, newsworthy stories involving children and youth, foster families, volunteers, and staff
• Develop media outreach materials (advisories/releases)
• Develop relationships with key stakeholders in news media and community influencers
• Respond to media and public inquiries
• Research and write engaging content for FACS website and external publications, brochures, and marketing materials
• Keep FACS website content accurate and up to date

Social Media

• Develop a comprehensive social media plan to engage the community, and grow FACS Niagara\xe2\x80\x99s social media audience and influence
• Create and maintain an editorial calendar for social media
• Visual and written content creation for social media
• Respond to inquiries
• Monitor social media for issues with the potential to impact FACS Niagara
• Grow FACS Niagara\xe2\x80\x99s profile on social media through the addition of new platforms
• Track and report social media metrics

Media monitoring

• Monitor and track media coverage involving FACS Niagara
• Identify opportunities and potential issues impacting the child welfare sector
• Compile media metrics reports

Special Event Planning

• Coordinate visits from local, provincial, and national dignitaries, media events, recognition days, events for children and youth, and others
• Draft remarks for agency speakers
• Create invites for media and special guests
• Ensure events are welcoming aesthetically, with appropriate branding visible
• Document events through photography/videography and share with the community as appropriate

Issues and Crisis Management

• Participate in crisis planning and response
• Act as point of contact for media inquiries
• Duties as assigned by the Director of Communications and Community Engagement

Other duties as assigned. Qualifications:

• Degree in marketing, Journalism, or Public Relations
• 3 \xe2\x80\x93 5 experience in public relations/communications
• Experience in media relations, crisis, and issues management
• Advanced knowledge in communications and public relations methods and techniques
• Accredited in Public Relations (APR) with Canadian Public Relations Society or Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) designation from International Association of Business Communicators an asset
• Valid G Driver\xe2\x80\x99s License and access to a reliable motor vehicle with appropriate liability insurance is required

Knowledge, Skills, and Working Conditions:

• Advanced writing, editing, speech writing and presentation skills
• Knowledge of the RACE (or RPIE) communications planning process
• Demonstrated ability to handle a large and diversified workload while meeting deadlines
• Strong computer skills including desktop publishing, PowerPoint, social media platforms, Sharepoint, Internet
• Graphic design skills (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) an asset
• Solid interpersonal and relationship building skills. Commitment to equity and diversity
• Evidence of effective organizational, interpersonal, communication, judgment, critical thinking, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills
• Work is primarily performed at a desk in a normal office environment
• Requirement to work evening and/or weekend hours based on need
• Long periods of sitting and computer/phone use
• Absorbs and analyzes complex data from various sources of information and reports
• Absorbs and interprets information from multiple participants in meetings on a regular basis

Please apply with your cover letter and resume by April 14, 2023 Please include your salary expectations. We thank all applicants however only those considered for an interview will be contacted. Preference will be given to candidates who are bilingual in French and English. Family and Children\xe2\x80\x99s Services Niagara welcomes candidates from racialized groups, First Nation Inuit or M\xc3\xa9tis persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression. Accommodations are available for candidates with disabilities throughout the recruitment process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Job Types: Full-time, Temporary, Contract
Contract length: 12 months Salary: From $41.00 per hour Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Work Location: One location Application deadline: 2023-04-14