Director of Communications & Government Relations

Islamic Relief Canada • Burlington, ON

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Communications and Government Relations team is at the forefront of shaping and sharing the impact of our humanitarian work and advocacy. We foster strong connections with government officials and policymakers to advocate for meaningful change. With an innovative approach to media relations and public engagement, we work to amplify community stories that highlight our humanitarian efforts around the world.

The Director of Comms & GR serves as an essential member of Islamic Relief Canada's senior leadership team (SLT). The successful candidate will be an active participant in making strategic decisions affecting IRC. In partnership with the SLT, this position is responsible for managing Islamic Relief’s external communications. This role leads the strategic delivery of the organization’s communications and government relations portfolios. This involves overseeing all Media Relations, Public Relations, Advocacy, Government Relations, Brand Management, Institutional Funding, Crisis Communications, Issues & Risk Management and Policy & Research.

Requirements

• Minimum four years’ experience in journalism, PR and/or external relations.
• Experience in preparing press releases, engaging with media and preparing for and conducting media interviews
• Experience of developing and establishing strategies and work plans which help to deliver the wider organisational objectives
• Proven ability to give direction to Canadian and international staff at senior levels through delegation and authority of tasks
• Strong financial and resource management
• Demonstrated skills in networking which lead to positive relationships with external bodies
• Research and writing experience
• Substantial marketing or media, policy and public communications experience work at a senior level

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a newsroom environment an asset

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with national and local media institutions in order to achieve media coverage for IRC’s initiatives
• Work with teams across the IR family to build and develop content for media and government
• Build relationships with key government officials in order to increase the profile of IRC
• Respond to all relevant media enquiries
• Manage media campaigns
• Work with teams across IRC to coordinate media coverage
• Develop and strengthen the messages, profile and recognition of IRC and information on its activities through proactive communications and engagement
• Work with communication, marketing and programs teams to develop content and materials for PR related activities
• Act as spokesperson for IRC and answer written and oral inquiries
• Coordinate special publicity events and promotions for external audiences
• Responsible for coordinating writing and publishing op-ed articles and blogs
• Lead on coordinating IRC’s high level engagements, external relations and advocacy work
• Securing funding from corporate institutions, governments, UN agencies and community-based organizations
• Build relationships with media institutions (journalists, producers, editors) in order to build the profile of Islamic Relief and achieve media coverage through media interviews, blogs, articles and press coverage.
• Collaborate with other leading NGOs on projects and programs.
• Lead on the development and utilization of a consistent, coherent, meaningful and positive IRC image and set of core policy and advocacy messages
• Speak at and learn from conferences and other public forums
• Engage and form partnerships with other NGOs and CBOs
• Represent IRC and engage meaningfully with institutional donor agencies, umbrella organizations, networks and other key stakeholders
• Promote IRC’s mission and values and to act as an IR role model at all times.
• Provide strategic organizational leadership, inspiration and guidance.
• Develop IRC’s media and government relations strategy
• Develop and deploy IRC crisis communications strategy to combat any negative narratives of IRC presented to the public
• Identify, develop, and mentor the development team
• Line management of department staff, including: Setting objectives and work plans, Managing workload and performance through regular one-to-one line management discussions, Plan and implement personal development program for team members in all relevant skills, Undertake annual performance reviews, Forecast hiring needs for the department

Benefits

• Accommodation requests are invited at all stages of IRC recruitment, hiring, and employment processes. We make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations in a timely manner.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed