Public Education & Communications Officer

Full-time, permanent, Bilingual (English/French),

Unionized

Interval House of Ottawa is committed to building a diverse workplace. We encourage candidates to self-identify as members of equity deserving groups such as members of the BIPOC community, 2SLGBTQ+ community and/or people with disabilities. Please let us know if you require accommodation(s) at any stage of the application process.

Interval House of Ottawa is a 30-bed emergency home for those fleeing VAW/GBV and their dependents, and is the only shelter in Ottawa that provides on-site housing for their pets.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Community Engagement and Fund Development Manager, the Public Education & Communications Officer is responsible for raising awareness of Interval House of Ottawa-Maison Interval d’Ottawa (IHO) and the issue of violence against women and children and gender-based violence through public education, social media and events. This will include communications, public education, advocacy and support for events and campaigns.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, an excellent communicator in French and English (orally and in writing) and can stay focused on the big picture without losing sight of the details. They take ownership of the projects they lead, ensuring effective communications and education delivery. They have knowledge of the issue of Violence Against Women (VAW) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and a strong commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and advancing equity and social justice in our community. They are flexible and understand the realities of working in a small non-profit where, at times, priorities shift to meet the needs of service users and ensure smooth operations. This means that we all pitch in and occasionally shovel snow, stuff envelopes, and mop the floor.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

• Maintain a presence on social media for IHO
• Create and maintain a calendar of social media posts that includes acknowledging cultural and religious holidays, current events and announcements related to GBV, donor appreciation, partner events, campaigns and education posts.
• Update the website as needed, ensuring that contacts, the annual report, and list of client needs are kept up-to-date.
• Support with positioning IHO as an expert and source of information for VAW/GBV issues in Ottawa.
• Coordinate public awareness events with community partners.
• Deliver presentations and represent IHO at events that bring attention and awareness to VAW/GBV.
• Develop and deliver public education curriculum to community groups, businesses etc.
• Maintain presentations on file that cater to different audiences with up-to-date information.
• Coordinate with community engagement and/or frontline staff to deliver presentations together, when needed.
• Collaborate with and provide support to the Community Engagement & Development Manager with tasks related to awareness, education, and fundraising as needed.
• Participate in committees and collaborate on projects and events that bring awareness to VAW/GBV in Ottawa, as required

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree (Communications, Public Relations, Education, Marketing, Journalism, Social Work) or equivalent experience
• Demonstrated experience in communications, public relations, writing, education.
• Demonstrated experience in social media and web content
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and comfort connecting with varied audiences
• Knowledge of Violence Against Women and Gender-Based Violence issues, specifically Intimate partner violence.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to intersectional feminist principles
• Demonstrated ability to identify and serve the needs of diverse communities
• Commitment to advancing equity and social justice in our community
• Comfort in learning new technologies as required to perform duties
• Comfort in lifting 30lbs
• Fluency in English and French is required.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle

COMPENSATION & HOURS

• $60,000 per year plus benefits
• 35 hours per week
• Hours of work are flexible and to be determined in consideration of the needs of IHO and the successful candidate, but must be available for a combination of day, evening and weekend events as determined by community requests and organizational needs. Work will be on-site with occasional flexibility to work from home.