Description:
CanREA is looking to hire a Communications Specialist on a full-time, permanent basis. As part of a small but powerful communications team, you will be responsible for social media (content creation, scheduling and reporting), media relations, writing public-facing content and supporting the communications team as needed, such as website editing in WordPress, tracking impact of media coverage using Meltwater tools, assisting with events, and more.
You will report to the Senior Director of Communications, work closely with the Bilingual Communications Manager and Communications Coordinator, and be part of various committees with staff from the policy, membership and business-development teams.
Duties and Responsibilities
Social Media
- Manage CanREA’s social communities on Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Manage content creation, including thematic, evergreen and promotional material, to maintain a constant stream of engaging posts (three per day).
- Work with Communications Coordinator to create visuals as needed for posts, using Canva or other illustration tools.
- Share and respond to community-generated content on a daily basis.
- Work with the Bilingual Communications Manager to ensure content works in both French & English.
- Assist with social media ad campaigns.
- Track engagement and performance, reporting quarterly and annually.
- Suggest and implement strategic improvements for performance enhancements each quarter.
- Collaborate with the Senior Director of Communications to optimize CanREA’s social media strategy each year.
Media Relations
- Serve as the main point of contact for general media inquiries, managing day-to-day interactions with journalists, and assisting the Senior Communications Director in higher-profile media relations in support of CanREA’s overall strategic communications plan.
- Track media requests, document all interviews using the templates provided, and capture media coverage PDFs.
- Monitor communications inbox for media requests and inquiries.
- Maintain updated media lists in Meltwater.
- Draft, distribute media advisories, press releases to journalists.
- Assist to arrange interviews between journalists and CanREA staff.
- Provide journalists with photos, boilerplates, and other materials as needed.
- Update media room on CanREA website in WordPress when articles about CanREA are published.
Writing public-facing content
- Draft key messages for policy team members preparing for media interviews, referencing the most recent key messages document.
- Interview policy team members and ghost-write their statements, blogs, op-eds and articles on priority issues, when asked by Senior Director of Communications.
- Collect story ideas on priority issues, write story pitches, and pitch to select journalists as part of our proactive media relations strategy, in collaboration with the Senior Director of Communications.
- Attend CanREA events for media relations purposes, also live-tweeting and capturing photography and content to use in future stories, social posts and marketing products, as needed.
- Write event recap articles, as needed.
- Other writing work, as requested.
Additional communications support duties may be assigned as required.
Qualifications
- Degree in communications, journalism, literature, marketing, or an acceptable combination of education and relevant experience.
- At least 3 years of experience in a communications role at a non-profit organization, association or equivalent.
- The ability to write exceptionally well in English is essential, with experience writing on deadline and being edited.
- Media relations experience, or experience as a journalist.
- Experience managing social media in a professional setting, including a proven ability to grow engagement with target audiences, and experience managing issues as they arise.
- High comfort level with Hootsuite, LinkedIn and Twitter.
- Experience taking photos and formatting them for social media use (Canva preferred).
- Proven ability to work effectively and efficiently in a remote capacity.
- Bilingualism (the ability to write in French for social media) is a strong asset.
- Working knowledge of WordPress, MailChimp, Google Analytics and similar comms tools is an asset.
- Experience working in the energy or environment sector is also considered an asset.