Communications – Energy Program

Position: Communications Officer, Canada Energy Program
Organization: International Institute for Sustainable Development
Location: Hybrid, Canada; where IISD has offices ( Ottawa, Toronto or Winnipeg)

About the IISD

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 300 experts come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in nearly 100 countries.

The position is based within the IISD Energy Program (iisd.org//energy), a diverse and dynamic team of more than 50 experts based in IISD’s Geneva, Winnipeg, and Ottawa offices, as well as remotely in India, Indonesia, South Africa, and other countries.

About the Position

The Communications Officer will spend part of their time leading communications for the Re-Energizing Canada project and part of their time working closely with the Digital Communications Officer and the Senior Communications Manager to manage the Energy Program’s social media accounts, organize webinars, draft newsletters, and track analytics. As a member of the wider Energy Program communications team, they will also work closely with the Communications Manager and the program’s Canada-focused policy experts.

The Re-Energizing Canada project aims to shine a light on practical strategies for Canada to mitigate the risk of stranded assets, maintain economic stability, and protect Canadian workers and communities while facilitating the transition from fossil fuels toward secure, affordable, and reliable clean energy. The Communications Officer will also communicate about related topics, including fossil fuel subsidy reform, sustainable finance, sustainable job development, and greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.

The Communications Officer will be responsible for implementing and updating the Re-Energizing Canada project’s communications strategy and communications-related elements of the broader Canada Energy Transitions strategy, advising the team on best practices in communications and coordinating work with internal and external partners and agencies. They will write and edit editorial content related to the work of the program and strategically use digital channels and tools to reach and engage target audiences.

Responsibilities

Creative Content

• Inform, steer, and implement the communications strategy for the Re-Energizing Canada project and related work. This work includes cooperating with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring timelines are adhered to, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting on impact.
• Inform, manage, and implement communications plans for individual research outputs, campaigns, and events from the Canada Energy Transitions team.
• Review written outputs (e.g., blogs, opinion pieces, press releases) for framing, tone, and narrative, ensuring strategic and editorial consistency.
• Regularly share program work and collaborate with IISD’s core communications team to ensure alignment on key messaging and amplification of programmatic expertise in broader, organization-wide communications activities. Contribute to a shared editorial calendar.
• Communicate with IISD’s donors to show how their support has made an impact.
• Track current events related to specific workstreams and communicate these to colleagues, identifying opportunities for further work and/or public engagement.

Digital Strategy

• Refine and implement the project’s digital strategy to maximize growth and engagement among target audiences on IISD channels and beyond.
• Working within content management systems such as WordPress, upload and edit content for websites if needed.
• Ensure monitoring, assessment, and reporting on website traffic and engagement with its digital content, advising where appropriate on opportunities to improve.
• Working with designers and video producers, manage the production of digital content, including social media cards, posters, invitations, and infographics.
• Maintain and update lists of newsletter subscribers within platforms such as MailChimp; draft, edit, and distribute newsletters; help to inform and execute an email outreach strategy.
• Conduct event-related outreach and oversee post-event follow-up (i.e., uploading webinar recordings to YouTube, sending thank-you emails, etc.).

Public Engagement and Media Outreach

• Help inform and execute an email outreach strategy.
• Oversee event-related outreach and post-event follow-up.
• Inform the social media strategy and manage all active social media accounts, ensuring posts are relevant, timely, engaging, and targeted to the needs and interests of key audiences. This may include drafting and/or editing posts, organizing promotions, tracking trending topics and hashtags, and regularly monitoring the feeds of partner organizations to identify opportunities for cross-promotion.

Media Relations

• Develop and implement proactive and reactive media relations strategies for the Re-Energizing Canada project.
• Engage with journalists and influencers, with a focus on relationship building, to secure targeted coverage for IISD research and initiatives in key outlets. Build media lists; maintain and update databases of media contacts.
• Draft, edit, and disseminate press releases, media briefings, and email pitches for reporters and editors. Draft or support other staff in writing and placing op-eds, letters to the editor, etc.
• Facilitate media training for IISD experts and support preparation ahead of speaking to the press, including developing and updating talking points and key messages.
• Ensure media monitoring of relevant topics in Canadian media on a regular basis.

Internal Processes

• Manage internal processes related to the development and dissemination of communications products.

About the Successful Applicant

The successful applicant will be a skilled communicator with some experience in media relations and working with external partners and opinion leaders. They will be confident in shaping communications strategies to reach and engage niche and highly targeted audiences. Experience in climate- or energy-related communications will be considered a strong asset.

The successful applicant will also have the following qualifications:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field (e.g., communications, journalism, political science, economics, environmental or development studies, etc.).
• A minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in journalism or communications.
• Excellent oral and writing skills in English and a track record of written products in English. The ability to work (read, write, speak) in French will be considered an advantage.
• Experience in media relations in Canada.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and project management skills.
• The ability to prioritize and work quickly and accurately while being results-focused, with the flexibility to take on both highly complex and basic tasks.
• A strong ability to work comfortably across different cultures and be inclusive and positive when interacting with different colleagues.
• Strong computer literacy, including Microsoft Office applications and experience in handling web-based communications and management systems, including WordPress, Drupal, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics.

Location: Hybrid, Canada; where IISD has offices ( Ottawa, Toronto or Winnipeg)

Salary: $50,000 - $63,000 CAD Annually. Salary commensurate with experience and location

Term: 1-year contract, with potential to become indefinite.

Start date: Immediate opportunity

Application deadline: March 5, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET.

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for locations where they expect to be based without any sponsorship from IISD.

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English, submissions must be made via BambooHR here.

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