Bilingual Communications Specialist | Spécialiste des communications (bilingue)

Are you a savvy bilingual communicator with a passion for story-telling and building brands? Join our team as a Bilingual Communications Specialist and help us make a difference in the lives of children and youth across Canada.

About BGC Canada (formerly Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada)

Community-based services. Positive relationships. Life-changing programs. As Canada’s largest child- and youth-serving charitable organization, BGC Canada provides vital programs and services to over 200,000 young people in 775 communities across Canada.   

We provide safe, supportive places where all kids and teens, of all backgrounds, can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, and develop confidence and skills for life. From anti-racism to Reconciliation to LGBTQ2S+, food security to scholarships to job readiness, our Clubs battle systemic issues with systemic solutions—equity, acceptance, support, opportunity.  

And it works. 69% of alumni say a Club saved their life. We help increase academic performance and decrease risky behaviours. The kids and teens we serve tell us that we’ve helped them feel more confident, get along better with others, and make better choices for themselves.  

Opportunity Changes Everything is our rallying cry and the foundation of BGC Canada’s recent rebranding. It embodies our goals:  

• To become known as Canada’s leading champion of children and youth
• To provide more children and youth with a third place between the realities of home life and the pressures of school
• To nurture Canada’s next generation  

If a young person needs it, BGC Clubs provide it.  

About the Role

BGC Canada’s national team provides Clubs with programs, communications, and resource development, and increases both staff and volunteer capacity with leadership development and national forums for collaboration. We are a fully bilingual organization.  

The Bilingual Communications Specialist is part of our Marketing & Communications team, which operates in a fast-paced and collaborative environment and supports every department at BGC Canada.   

Reporting to the Director, Marketing and Communications, you support initiatives that raise awareness of the BGC brand via pan-Canadian communications initiatives, with a strong focus on the francophone/Québec markets. You will elevate our voice by helping to create and adapt impactful and relevant French content for use on BGC Canada’s communication platforms, as well as with the media.   

The role also contributes to all public-facing and most Club-facing communications in French and supporting francophone Clubs with access to the marketing information and materials they need.

Responsibilities

Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for planning, writing and posting on French social media channels—including creating content specific to the French market
• Supporting BGC Canada in developing and adapting various initiatives, campaigns, templates and PSAs that are relevant to the francophone/Québec markets
• Working closely with the Communications Coordinator to update our French websites
• Writing and publishing our French weekly and monthly newsletters, as well as other important communications, and reviewing key external and internal documents
• Providing media relations support, including local media outreach, developing pitch/press release templates for Clubs, bi-weekly media reports, and managing our media contact database
• Connecting other departments with our external translation agency, and updating our EN/FR lexicon on a regular basis
• Supporting our thought leadership strategy to the francophone/Québec market, including identifying francophone thought leaders on the national team and at Clubs

Our Ideal Candidate

You will ideally have a minimum of three years' experience in bilingual communications, with exceptional writing skills in French, and a demonstrated understanding of social/digital communications. Experience with media relations an asset.   

Some basics we will also look for include:  

• A friendly demeanor, a positive attitude and a team-oriented approach
• English/French bilingualism a requirement
• Superior French writing skills
• Deep understanding of francophone/Québec culture
• Relevant formal education or lived experience
• Skills on various software/platforms, including social media management software, Microsoft 365/Teams, Salesforce, MailChimp, Canva, and media management software like Meltwater or Cision is an asset
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects in a dynamic and complex environment
• Highly organized with strong time management skills and the ability to meet deadlines under pressure
• Experience (or understanding of) working within federated model beneficial 
• Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to BGC values: Belonging, Respect, Encouragement & Support, Working Together, and Speaking Out

Work Conditions

The role is primarily desk-based and requires an ability to work on a computer and over the phone for long periods of time and concentrating, which will require attention to detail and high levels of accuracy.

Working Environment

This can be a remote role. The successful candidate can choose to work remotely if outside Toronto, Ontario; if in Toronto, they will be expected to work in a hybrid model. When working from home, the incumbent must have a space where they can work comfortably and focus on their tasks. BGC Canada will provide the necessary technology required to get the job done.   

How to Apply

We would like to hear from you if you are interested in this role. Please forward your cover letter (in English and French) and resume (in English and French) confidentially to HR@bgccan.com and include “Bilingual Communications Specialist– YOUR NAME” in the subject line of your email.

BGC Canada is committed to providing an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity, values differences, and supports the full participation of all employees. We welcome applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, 2S & LGBTQIA+ persons, and other persons from diverse backgrounds. Upon request, we offer accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout our hiring process.

As leaders in vaccination education, BGC Canada requires all employees to be fully vaccinated. The definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ against COVID-19 is based on the public health requirements for a vaccine passport (or similar official evidence) in the jurisdiction of the employee’s residence. The successful applicant will need to provide proof of vaccination.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those under consideration for the role will be contacted.

This is a full-time, permanent role. The starting salary is $60,000, plus excellent benefits. Starting salaries are based on relevant experience.

Application deadline: Friday, February 10, 2023