Position Type: Full-time

Territory: Habitat for Humanity Canada (National)

Location(s): Toronto, Ontario

Date ad posted: Monday, January 11, 2021

The Opportunity

Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national charitable organization working toward a world where everyone has a decent and affordable place to call home. We bring communities together to help families build strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership and other housing solutions across Canada and around the world.

The Senior Manager of Communications is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of external and internal communication initiatives. The purpose of this position is to strengthen Habitat for Humanity’s brand in Canada through national efforts spearheaded by Habitat Canada. This position also provides support for 53 local Habitats across Canada under a federated charitable model. The Sr. Manager of Communications is a permanent position that will report to the Director, Communications.

The successful candidate is a collaborative and creative communications professional who, through effective strategic communications, will support the business objectives of program areas, including fundraising efforts, Habitat ReStore (our successful social enterprise), international volunteer program Global Village and government relations. You thrive in a fast paced environment, have experience with traditional and digital media relations and crisis communications and are adept at developing communications plans. You are also an excellent writer, capable of developing engaging content that brings communications plans to life and resonates with a variety of internal and external audiences.

Key responsibilities

Storytelling (content creation)

• Develop written content for partnership announcements, website copy, matte stories, direct mail, op-eds, newsletters, annual reports and other communications materials as required
• Collaborate with cross functional teams and support their communications needs
• Support the development of engaging content for Habitat Canada’s social media platforms, working in collaboration with the Resource Development (Philanthropy) department on paid content
• Support the management and development of habitat.ca and other microsites
• Work with affiliates and vendors to create and/or curate a range of well-written impact stories, videos and photography that highlight Habitat homeowners and the impact of Habitat on the community
• Work closely with other departments to deliver on organizational priorities through strategic communications advice and development of materials including the development of annual key messaging templates, boilerplates, fact sheets and toolkits, speeches, presentations

Communications and Issues Management

• Respond to incoming requests for communications support on a day-to-day basis
• Work closely with the Director, Communications, to help monitor, pro-actively identify and manage issues at Habitat Canada, across the federation and globally
• Provide strategic communications advice and support to affiliate and national staff on both domestic and international issues
• Develop, briefing documents, key messaging and support with media relations training to federation spokespeople as required

Internal (federation-wide) communications and capacity building

• Develop and distribute promotional toolkits for campaigns and national events
• Lead the development, writing, and deployment of a bi-weekly affiliate e-newsletter and other internal communication activities
• Develop and support capacity-building efforts to empower local Habitats through educational and training opportunities (e.g., webinars, workshops and training handbooks/guides)

Media relations

• Support the generation of earned media coverage, through the development and distribution of media releases as well as media relations templates and training materials to local Habitats
• Liaise with agencies, journalists and key influencers to tell the Habitat story and support our philanthropic efforts
• Oversee media monitoring, provide media reports

Administration

• Support the Communications and Partnerships team in planning, project management and implementation
• Support budget development and invoice tracking

Qualifications and skills

• 5-7 years’ experience in communications, media relations, marketing, and/or journalism; agency experience a plus
• Experience working in a fast-past environment
• Experience developing messaging on complex and sensitive issues
• Proven ability to complete work with minimal supervision and meet budget and deadlines
• Non-profit experience, preferably in a federated model, an asset

Skills and Attributes

• Strong communicator with demonstrated success in marketing/communications
• Strong inter-personal skills with ability to influence and inspire others
• Excellent writing and editing skills and the ability to develop engaging content for a variety of platforms, with a keen eye for detail
• Ability to multi-task
• Passionate for the Habitat for Humanity Canada mission
• National media contacts an asset
• Diverse marketing skill-set such as: graphic design, paid media, Search Engine Optimization an asset
• Bilingual English/French is an asset

How to Apply

Please note that we will be reviewing and evaluating applications on an ongoing basis and we therefore encourage early submissions.

Qualified and interested applicants are invited to forward their cover letter and resume as one document to jobs@habitat.ca with the subject line: (Senior Manager, Communications). Please indicate your salary expectations as well as where you saw the job posting.

Applications must be received before 5:00PM EST on January 29th, 2021

Accommodation will be provided in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants need to make any accommodation requests for the interview or selection process known in advance. Habitat for Humanity Canada will arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation for the selection process which will enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.

We thank all applicants for applying however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted (no phone calls please). We are a committed to Equal Opportunity Employment.

About Habitat for Humanity Canada

Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, nonprofit organization working toward a world where everyone has a decent and affordable place to call home. Habitat for Humanity brings communities together to help families build strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership. With the help of volunteers, Habitat homeowners and 53 local Habitats working in every province and territory, we provide a solid foundation for better, healthier lives in Canada and around the world. Habitat for Humanity Canada is a member of Habitat for Humanity International, which was established in 1976 and has grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries.