Job Description

POSITION: Senior Officer, Regional Communications
STATUS: Permanent; Full-Time
SHIFT: 35 hours per week - Flexible hours of work - Monday to Friday with some evening and weekend work required.
LOCATION: Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast region, BC - Victoria, Nanaimo, Cowichan. Flexibly remote - will work out of a dedicated centre two times per week, with expectation to travel to each centre within the region quarterly.
CLASSIFICATION: Exempt
WAGE: Salaried
CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled
We welcome diversity, value differences, and foster inclusion in our employment practices. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion by reading our on our website. We invite applications from all qualified individuals who are philosophically aligned with our .
The BC SPCA is a dynamic organization with facilities and services across the province of BC. Join an expanding team in an exciting time of change in an organization that makes a difference! Please read below for additional details and let us know if you have the skills and experience we are looking for by submitting your application.
About the Position:
Reporting to the Senior Director, Media and Internal Communications, the Senior Officer, Regional Communications is primarily responsible for growing the BC SPCA's brand in their assigned region. They lead regional communications activities including: media relations, story gathering, and strategic public engagement. They are also responsible for developing and leading teams of volunteer community ambassadors and coaching/mentoring staff in the region to increase confidence and competence in using BC SPCA key messaging. In addition, they support the Senior Director on issues management.
Some specific duties:
Content Sourcing and Development (40%):

• Proactively identifies and develops regional stories and acts as the lead for information gathering for any emerging stories within the region.
• Writes media releases, articles and content for newsletters focused on local and regional programs, which may include Animal Services, Community Services, local or regional fundraising activities, and volunteerism.

• Coordinates with Animal Services, other program staff and volunteers as required, on photo, video and content gathering within the region.

• Leads communications and fundraising asset gathering and assigned media outreach during large or high-profile Animal Protection cases or Emergency Response in the region.
• Participates in content development meetings, bringing forward regional content for communications, fundraising and internal use.

• Works with the Senior Director, Media and Internal Communications on drafting issues and crisis response materials regionally and supports issues management for the organization provincially.
• Flags upcoming regional events, campaigns or stories (internal and external) to team and cross functional staff as appropriate.

Media and Community Relations (35%):

• Develops and executes regional media relations strategy, including creation of traditional media materials such as media calendar, news releases, pitch notes, media advisories, backgrounders, and media tracking.
• Proactively pitches stories to support strategic priorities and strengthening of regional brand identity.
• Strategizes, develops, tracks and supports regular media segments within the region (e.g. regularly scheduled broadcast segments).
• Builds relationships with local members of the media in the region.

• Acts as regional spokesperson where appropriate, which may include general inquiries, program questions, animal welfare trends, etc. as specific to the region or communities within.
• Monitors regional brand reputation and known or emerging issues, and flags, recommends, and/or implements organizational communications response when requested and based on recommendations.

• Attends community and fundraising events regionally, as required.
• Coordinates or supports non-fundraising BC SPCA events such open houses, grand openings, ground breakings, anniversaries, and media events.

• With support from and in collaboration with other departments, develops relationships with community leaders and related organizations (BIA, Chamber of Commerce, Service Clubs), representing the BC SPCA, where strategic.

Strategy and Development (15%):

• Works with the Senior Director, Media and Internal Communications to develop the strategy for media, traditional communications, and public engagement within the assigned region.

• Contributes to developing the corresponding provincial strategy which the regional strategy integrates with.

• Supports key message creation, dissemination and coaches staff in the region to help increase their confidence and excellence in engaging the public and telling the BC SPCA story.
• Collaborates with Volunteer Resources to recruit, train and manage volunteer ambassadors for strategic public engagement at community events around the region (including in community animal centres).

Other (10%):

• Develops and maintains relationships with industry peers.

• Commits to continued education, learning and innovation as it relates to communications and media relations.

• Participates in team, portfolio, unit, department, and organization-wide staff meetings as required.

• Contributes to the growth of a culture of health and safety, and volunteerism.

• Actively seeks opportunities to involve volunteers in work in the portfolio and collaborates with Volunteer Resources on implementation.

• Demonstrates a commitment to BC SPCA values, work-life balance, and principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications you need to have:

• Post-secondary education in communications, public relations, journalism or another relevant discipline plus 5-8 years of experience with media and general communications, or an equivalent combination of education and experience acceptable to the employer.
• Knowledge of media landscape and media relations best practices, including experience building relationships with journalists and pitching appropriate and engaging story ideas.
• Strong writing and editing skills, including but not limited to media materials, web content, articles, and internal briefings.
• Competent photography and videography skills, including editing.
• Demonstrated experience and confidence acting as a spokesperson, representing the organization publicly and building relationships with community leaders.
• Ability to manage, mentor, nurture and empower volunteers. Previous experience in leading volunteers would be considered an asset.

• Comfortable working with data: establishing data points, accurate record keeping, collecting, and analyzing data and using it to support initiatives, and to demonstrate success, needs, and/or areas of concern.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuing professional growth and education.
• Highly organized with a strong attention to detail to ensure consistent, error-free messaging.
• Demonstrated ability to organize work, manage projects, meet priorities and work within a high-volume environment with minimal supervision.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work with a diverse audience of internal and external parties at all levels in a respectful manner.
• Intermediate to advanced skills with Microsoft products.
• Must have a valid BC Class 5 Driver's License.
• Able to travel throughout assigned region and do some weekend and evening work, as necessary.
• Working knowledge of concepts of equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation; able to relate respectfully to a diverse audience.
• Philosophical harmony with the mission, vision, values, and strategic direction of the BC SPCA.

How to apply:
If you are interested in joining our team and are legally entitled to work in Canada, we would like to hear from you. Click on apply now or use the link to apply
We thank you for your interest in the BC SPCA, however; only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls, please.
The BC SPCA is a Registered Charity BN 11881 9036 RR0001

Skills Required