Communications Specialist

Somerset West Community Health Centre

25d•Remote

About The Position

Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC) is a non-profit, community-governed organization serving over 18,000 clients annually. Established in 1978, SWCHC offers a range of services including primary health care, health promotion, community development, mental health, and harm reduction. The organization is committed to removing barriers to services for vulnerable populations and strives to reflect the diversity of the communities it serves, operating within an anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework. The Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centers aims to coordinate communications, advance collective advocacy, engage partners, and demonstrate the impact of the community health and resource center model through shared tools, coordinated messaging, accessible content, and stories of community impact. The Coalition and SWCHC are dedicated to promoting fair, inclusive, and equitable systems.

Requirements

Degree or diploma in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, digital media, or a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Three to five years of relevant communications experience.
Experience developing or improving communications processes, tools, systems, or infrastructure.
Experience creating communications materials for diverse audiences and multiple channels.
Experience developing digital content, including social media posts, website content, graphics, photography, and video.
Experience working collaboratively across organizations, networks, coalitions, or community partnerships.
Experience using communications analytics to monitor reach, engagement, and content performance.
Experience working within a strategic context and contributing to strategic communications initiatives.
Proficiency with digital communications platforms and content creation tools, including social media platforms, website content management systems, Canva or Adobe Creative Suite, email marketing tools, and communications analytics tools.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in English and French.
Strong written, verbal, technical, and creative communication skills.
Strong content development and storytelling skills, including the ability to translate complex information, data, research, and advocacy priorities into clear, accessible, and engaging content.
Sound judgment and the ability to understand organizational context, nuances, and sensitivities and translate them into appropriate communications approaches.
Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to establish priorities and manage multiple deliverables within limited working hours.
The ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with staff, volunteers, partners, and representatives from multiple organizations.
An understanding of equity, community engagement, accessible communications, confidentiality, consent, and ethical storytelling practices.
The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a coalition and community-based environment.
Flexibility and adaptability in responding to emerging communications opportunities while remaining focused on agreed priorities and deliverables.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with community-based organizations or in social services, advocacy, public policy, or government relations is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Develop the Coalition’s communications infrastructure by assessing existing channels, audiences, assets, tools, and capacity across member organizations.
Establish practical processes for planning, coordinating, and sharing Coalition communications, including a system for member organizations to contribute content.
Create tools, templates, and guidance to facilitate member organization participation in and amplification of Coalition communications and advocacy initiatives.
Develop and maintain strategic contact lists and communications networks for outreach to media, partners, champions, elected officials, funders, and community allies.
Develop and coordinate content, translating Coalition data, research, key messages, and advocacy priorities into accessible materials like infographics, reports, photos, social media content, and short videos.
Identify, collect, and develop stories demonstrating the impact of member organizations and the collective value of the community health and resource center model.
Create adaptable content and templates for member organizations to share through their own channels.
Coordinate the sharing and amplification of priority Coalition content across member organizations.
Develop and strengthen the Coalition’s social media presence by leveraging member organizations' channels and collective reach.
Support selected communications campaigns and engagement initiatives directed toward priority audiences.
Support ethical and engaging storytelling by collaborating to identify meaningful examples of community impact, innovation, collaboration, and service delivery.
Produce stories in various formats, including written content, graphics, photographs, videos, reports, and social media content.
Connect stories of community impact to Coalition data, research, key messages, advocacy priorities, and communications campaigns.
Build relationships with staff, volunteers, partners, and other contributors to support the ongoing development of Coalition stories.
Apply principles of consent, equity, accessibility, confidentiality, and ethical storytelling when collecting and sharing stories.
Monitor communications performance by establishing systems and measures for tracking reach and engagement across the Coalition’s website, social media, email, media coverage, and other channels.
Review communications data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement.
Use data and feedback to refine communications strategies, content, and audience engagement approaches.
Prepare recommendations for future communications priorities, tools, resources, and investments.
Protect the confidentiality of organizational, employee, partner, and community information.
Collect, analyze, and report relevant communications data and information.
Participate actively in meetings, collaborative working groups, and organizational initiatives.
Contribute to the development of work plans, outcome measures, policies, procedures, and program reports.
Comply with all applicable SWCHC policies, procedures, and occupational health and safety requirements.
Participate in required training and professional development activities.