Position Type: Full-Time Permanent
Annual Salary: $70,000
Schedule: 37.5 hours weekly (1.0 FTE) – regular working hours (approximately 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., 5 days per week – flexible)
Start Date: August 2021 (exact date flexible)
End Date: While considered “permanent,” this position is dependent on future funding, so employment may terminate on March 31, 2022 (adequate notice will be provided as soon as possible)
Location: Flexible within Canada, ideally at one of CBRC’s offices (Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Halifax)
Language: Primary working language is English; French language skills are a strong asset (please indicate language skills in your cover letter or resume).
Reports to: Director, Knowledge Exchange and Policy Development
Application Deadline: July 30, 2021 – 5:00 p.m. EDT
Status: Closed
Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) promotes the health of gay, bisexual, trans, Two-Spirit, and queer men (GBT2Q) through research and intervention development. CBRC’s core pillars – community-led research, knowledge exchange, network building, and leadership development – position the organization as a thought leader, transforming ideas into actions that make a difference in our communities. CBRC was incorporated in 1999 and is a non-profit charitable organization. Our main office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia; we also have satellite offices located in Edmonton, Toronto, and Halifax.
Description
As a member of CBRC’s Directors Team, the Associate Director, Policy and Public Affairs will oversee the development and implementation of CBRC’s policy and advocacy initiatives, and leads public campaigns to mobilize knowledge and evidence across audiences and stakeholders. The successful candidate will also work within CBRC’s Communications, Knowledge Exchange, and Policy Development team, and will play a key role in supporting strategic communications for the organization. The Associate Director, Policy and Public Affairs will report to the Director of Knowledge Exchange and Policy Development, who along with the Executive Director sets the vision for strategic policy mobilization initiatives. The successful candidate will be an expert communicator with demonstrated experience, skills, and passion for leveraging knowledge and research as a tool for health promotion, community engagement, and structural change for GBT2Q communities across Canada.
Education & Prior Experience
At CBRC, we recognize that some applicants have experienced barriers to traditional educational and employment opportunities. We consider various combinations of education, employment, volunteer, and lived experience and encourage applicants to highlight these experiences in their cover letter and resume. However, an undergraduate degree/diploma or higher in one of the following areas would be an asset:
- Communications or Media
- Public Policy, Public Administration, or Political Science
Job Responsibilities
- Develop, lead, and execute CBRC’s policy and advocacy agenda in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective mobilization of knowledge and resources and to achieve measurable public policy goals;
- Develop, lead, and execute public campaigns and strategic communications initiatives using traditional and social media channels to ensure that its audiences and stakeholders are kept aware of key evidence and knowledge on GBT2Q health in Canada;
- Develop reports, briefs, press releases, and other relevant content on GBT2Q health policy, advocacy, and research for a diverse range of audiences and stakeholders (i.e. government officials, GBT2Q communities, service providers);
- Ensure that public affairs activities increase the policy and advocacy reach and impact of the organization, and support CBRC’s research, programming, policy and advocacy priorities;
- Provide strategic communications support to other projects and activities led by the Communications, Knowledge Exchange, and Policy Development team;
- Additional responsibilities may be assigned to ensure the overall success of CBRC’s policy and public affairs activities, as well as the organization’s strategic priorities.
Other Qualifications and Skills
- Post-secondary degree in Communications, Media, Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science or relevant field is a significant asset but not a requirement;
- 5+ years of job-related experience developing and executing successful communications, policy, or public affairs campaigns and initiatives;
- Exceptional communication skills including the ability to write effectively for a diverse range of audiences, platforms, and/or purposes, with the ability to adapt narratives and key messaging;
- Strong consultation skills and ability to exchange information, discuss issues, gain support, and liaise with partners and stakeholders;
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with data, evidence, and research to generate compelling and strategic communications campaigns, products, and/or strategies;
- Media relations experience with demonstrated success pitching stories to media organizations in Canada is an asset;
- Awareness of GBT2Q community-based cultural and political values and sensitivities, including the unique health and social issues facing Two-Spirit, queer, and trans communities in Canada;
- Experience with equity, harm reduction, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive approaches to policy development and communications;
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks and function under tight and/or competing deadlines, and to adapt and work independently and within collaborative team settings;
- Strategic thinker with critical analysis and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated success in managing complex projects involving diverse stakeholders and partners;
- Comfort and familiarity with collaborative work tools (e.g., Google Drive/Docs/Sheets, Asana);
- Bilingual (English and French language) skills are considered an asset.
We recognize that some applicants have experienced barriers to traditional educational and employment opportunities. We consider various combinations of education, employment, volunteer, and lived experience and encourage applicants to highlight these experiences in their cover letter and resume.
How to Apply
Please email your application to Human Resources at [email protected] and put the job you are applying for in the subject line (Associate Director, Policy and Public Affairs). All applicants are required to provide a cover letter, resume, and 2-3 professional writing samples.
Accessibility
If this process presents barriers, please get in touch via email with the subject line Access: Associate Director, Policy and Public Affairs to discuss alternative formats for submitting an application.
The deadline to apply for this position is July 30, 2021 – 5:00 p.m. EDT.
CBRC believes in work led by and for the community. As part of our commitment to employment equity, we encourage applications from lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer and non-binary people, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, Two-Spirit people, people living with HIV, people living with Hepatitis C, people living with chronic health conditions, disabled people/people with disabilities, and other people with fabulous and diverse identities and experiences. CBRC acknowledges that not everyone is able to publicly disclose these identities, and this role does not expect that employees will disclose in the course of their work.
