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COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Who We Are

Founded in 1889, YWCA Hamilton is known as one of Hamilton's original social innovators and works from a feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive framework. We are dedicated to strengthening women's and girl's voices, broadening their choices, building dynamic leadership and providing essential services that promote safe, inclusive and equitable communities.

YWork for us?

At YWCA Hamilton, we are intentional about fostering a workplace culture that values positive physical and emotional well-being through our values of Intersectional Feminism, People Centred, Belonging, Responsibility, and Partnerships. We invest in our employees so that we can bring our values into the communities in which we live. We offer our employees:

• On-the-job training and professional development opportunities
• Childcare discounts
• Opportunities to get involved in our community
• A competitive total rewards package

If you're passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of women, children, and families every day, we would love for you to join our team!

Position Description

Job Code: 1-DEV-2024

Department: Philanthropy & Communications

Reports to: Department Director

Location: Hamilton, ON

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week

Start Date: TBD

Posting Date: May 14th, 2024

The Communications Specialist will be an integral part of the growing Communications Team, supporting internal and external communications and will be responsible for writing a variety of mediums to support storytelling, marketing, advocacy and philanthropy. The Communications Specialist is a consummate storyteller who understands the connection between brand strength and writing to achieve goals. They will identify engaging storytelling opportunities and develop content that speaks to YWCA Hamilton's mission, vision and values by working cross-departmentally with YWCA Hamilton staff;

Writing & Storytelling

• Identifies opportunities and executes storytelling from all areas of the organization in support of internal and external campaigns and initiatives;
• Increases YWCA Hamilton's profile in community and disseminates work and messages through planning and implementation of communication activities;
• Writes and produces documents including but not limited to fact sheets, success stories, publications, press releases, press briefings, articles, letters to the editor, position papers, blogs, formal reports;
• Collaborates with community partners, clients and staff teams by conducting interviews, working to write blog posts feature storytelling and advocacy/position papers, social media posts, along with accompanying headlines;
• Supports all internal and external communications initiated by the Manager and Director.

Integration/Strategy/Other

• Contributes to the organizational communications calendar and works with the marketing & web team to integrate storytelling plans;
• Supports content-writing for marketing and communications campaigns including but not limited to signature events and advocacy initiatives;
• Works in partnership with Marketing colleagues to ensure integrated and collaborative approaches;
• Integrates organizational stories to further goals when requested;
• Consults with program leads across the organization for storytelling opportunities,
• Ensures that all internal and external communications reflect a unified brand and creative voice that reflects YWCA Hamilton's mission, vision and values;
• Keeps current on emerging trends, practices and industry professional standards in communications;
• Identifies and evaluates risks and takes appropriate action to control the risks with direction;
• Maintains high level of confidentiality when working with YWCA Hamilton leadership, staff, partners;
• Manages and submits marketing and other related invoices in alignment with YWCA Hamilton processes and policies;
• Maintains appropriate record-keeping and expense reporting in accordance with YWCA Hamilton's policies and procedures, and confidentiality/privacy policies;

Media & Public Relations

• Connects organization's work to news in order to make effective media pitches;
• Develops and executes strategies to strengthen public relations objectives including proactive media outreach;
• Works to gain and maintain media coverage to reinforce YWCA Hamilton as the ?top of mind? organization for issues impacting women and gender-diverse people;
• Serves as the media point of contact, under supervision of director, tracking all media inquiries and arranging opportunities with YWCA CEO and/or subject matter experts while staying atop of current affairs to respond with a YWCA perspective in ?real time?;
• Work to ensure professional, positive, and meaningful relationship with media;
• Provide talking points and key messages to YWCA Hamilton leadership for media and key visibility events and meetings;
• Prepare pitch notes, speeches and presentations including preparing appropriate video clips and photographs;
• Provides media reports following events and campaigns to summarize reach visibility and impact and to inform future opportunities;
• Support director and executive leadership in crisis communications and talking points as needed;
• Works safely, reports all workplace hazards and follows all YWCA Hamilton Health and Safety policies and procedures;
• Nurtures and forms meaningful internal and external working relationships and partnerships;
• Understands emerging trends, leading practices, industry professional standards;
• Recommends changes to policies, processes, and systems as appropriate to improve and enhance service delivery;
• Supports YWCA Hamilton mission, vision and values;

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Works a standard 37.50-hour work week;

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in communications, marketing, writing or equivalent;
• Two to three years of relevant experience in communications and marketing;
• Experience working with digital and print media;
• Working understanding of the changing media landscape and methods to adapt;
• Experience writing for a variety of audiences, including: web, community partners, government, event attendees, funders, donors, clients etc.;
• Ability to identify and focus on what makes a relevant and engaging story;
• Experience with Mailchimp and/or similar communications platforms;
• Proficiency in social media platforms, content creation and digital marketing tools (i.e., Google Analytics, Google AdWords, Facebook/ Instagram/ LinkedIn/ Tik-Tok, MailChimp, Canva, etc.);
• Working understanding of SEO/SEM, including keyword research and relationship to successful content creation;
• Excellent time management skills;
• Internal communications experience, basic photography and/or video skills, basic html knowledge and use of content management systems, access to a vehicle, and experience in the non-profit sector an asset;
• Must provide a current Criminal Record Judicial Matters Police check or willingness to obtain at own cost;
• Bilingual English/French or other languages an asset;
• Ability to bring a feminist, anti-racist/anti-oppressive perspective to day to day work and strategic planning.

Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process. Please inform us of any accommodation requests.

Please Note: Personal information collected during the recruitment process will only be used for employment opportunities only in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act. Only applications from individuals eligible to work in Canada will be considered.

Thank you for your interest in YWCA Hamilton. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.