Communications Manager

Position: Communications Manager (Watershed Security)
Organization: Real Estate Foundation of BC
Location: REFBC’s office is located in downtown Vancouver. Hybrid (shared workspace) or remote working arrangements within BC are possible. The position requires some travel, mostly within BC, for in-person meetings, visits to communities, and attendance at workshops, events or other convenings.

Term Position
0.8 FTE (Mon-Thurs)
Salary Range: $70,000 to $85,000

About Us & the Position

The Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) is a philanthropic organization that works to advance sustainable, equitable, and socially-just land use and watershed practices across what’s now known as BC. We do this by funding projects, connecting people, and sharing knowledge.

The Communications Manager (Watershed Security) works with our teams at REFBC and the First Nations Fisheries Council (FNFC) on the B.C. Watershed Security Fund (WSF), with some opportunities to support other strategic communications at REFBC. This is a term position until March 31, 2026, filling a 12-month leave, with some time before and after the leave to support onboarding, transition, and special projects. The position reports to the Director, Strategic Programs and Partnerships at REFBC.

The Foundation believes that a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve strengthens our ability to achieve our mission.

To learn more about us, visit refbc.ca.

Collaborators in the Work

The Real Estate Foundation of BC is working in partnership with the First Nations Water Caucus (Water Caucus), and First Nations Fisheries Council (FNFC) as secretariat to the Water Caucus, to develop and implement a co-development process for the WSF with First Nations and other interests, including co-development and implementation of an interim grant funding program while co-development of a permanent co-governed entity to hold the fund and programs in the longer term is established.

The First Nations Fisheries Council of BC is mandated via the First Nations Leadership Council to implement priorities within the BC First Nations Fisheries Action Plan. FNFC’s priorities are to develop effective governance mechanisms, form collaborative relationships among First Nations organizations, and work together to build a cohesive voice on fisheries and other aquatic resource matters. The First Nations Fisheries Council facilitates the development of the governance structure for the Water Caucus and will support the Water Caucus’s role in the co-development process for the Watershed Security Fund. FNFC, as the secretariat for the Water Caucus, implements goals and priorities of Water Caucus and carries out the substantive operational work.

The First Nations Water Caucus is made up of the First Nation delegates, first convened by the First Nations Fisheries Council in June 2022, who participate in the B.C.-First Nations Water Table. These delegates from major watersheds across British Columbia discuss and identify shared strategic priorities and interests related to fresh water.

The B.C.-First Nations Water Table is a new collaborative and enduring structure that was convened in June 2022. The Water Table addresses water and watershed security issues of concern between First Nations in B.C. and the Province through co-development and consensus. It is made up of representatives from the Province (including the ministries of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship; Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation; Forests; and Health) and delegates from First Nations across B.C. The first task of the Water Table is to co-develop the BC Watershed Security Strategy and associated action plans.

About the Communications Manager (Watershed Security) Position

This position is responsible for planning and implementing REFBC communications strategies to advance sustainable, equitable and socially just land use in BC, with a particular focus on the Watershed Security Fund.

You have credibility working in good relationship with Indigenous and racialized communities in BC, and take care of the words, images, and voices that are reflected in stories that are shared. You have excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong organizational ability, and a high degree of proficiency with design programs and digital communication tools. You can work cooperatively with staff members, either remotely or in a small office environment in downtown Vancouver. You have experience and work well with Indigenous communities, government, the NGO sector, civil society, industry, and other broad interests.

You embrace and uphold responsibilities and opportunities to advance UNDRIP commitments and understand specific, tangible, meaningful, and relational ways of doing that better. You have knowledge and understanding of the history, impacts, and trauma of colonization on First Nations and Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island and within what is now known as B.C. and Canada.

The position reports to the Director of Strategic Programs & Partnerships and works collaboratively with a communications manager at FNFC, and a Communications Manager at REFBC whose focus is on overall REFBC communication, as well as vendors, contractors, Indigenous and non-Indigenous advisors, and community partners. For organization wide initiatives or special projects, the Communications Manager (Watershed Security) also works with other REFBC Directors/Managers, the CEO, and staff team,

As a skilled communicator, you strengthen the capacity of community partners to share their voices and stories, and the ability of staff members, Governors, and advisors to amplify the outcomes and learnings. You seek ways to authentically prioritize equity, diversity, and inclusion in our communications planning, engagement, and storytelling. You like to get people thinking, excited, and curious about the relationships between people, places, and stories we love. You honour and respect Indigenous knowledge, experiences, and ways of knowing in our communications. REFBC’s commitments to equity, decolonizing our practices, reciprocity in relationships, sustainability, and integrity, are exciting to you.

Responsibilities:

Planning and Strategy

• Measures the effectiveness of communications pieces/initiatives and tracks performance.
• Commissions and directs work of contractors and suppliers, where appropriate.
• Creates and implements communications and engagement strategies, plans and activities that align with REFBC and WSF mission and values and enable the team to deliver on key priorities and program goals, while uplifting the work of community partners.
• Adjusts plans as needed to address emerging needs, respond to changes in capacity, and match effort / resources to goals / results.

Content and Branding

• Develops content for website, stories, video production, newsletters, and social accounts.
• Ensures communications materials (including key messages, stories, graphics, presentations, external documents, social posts, videos, newsletters, etc.) meet brand and graphic standards.
• Develops templates, resources, and guidelines to support team members.
• Collaborates with team members to create resources, promote or deliver webinars and events, coordinate or produce video and photography, produce reports and publications.
• Ensures final check on external communications materials.

Digital

• Maintains website – writes copy, develops page content, prepares news and project stories, monitors and optimizes for search traffic.
• Manages social media – works with team members to repurpose web content, write and schedule posts, design graphics, purchase advertising, engage with grantees/partners, follow community trends.
• Email marketing – prepares, writes and designs content for newsletters and special emails. Maintains email contact lists in compliance with CASL and FOIPPA.

Administration, Vendor Management

• Prepares contracts and manages relationships with external content creators, including writers, designers, web developers, videographers, photographers and other communications consultants.
• Tracks spending on communications activities, contracts, print materials, and advertising.

Media, Community & Government Engagement

• Relationship-building with media, community, government, and external partners through outreach, site visits, meetings and events.
• Writes press releases, monitors mentions and trends, responds to media and information requests, prepares spokespeople for interviews or events, creates information packages, and event invitations.
• Supports planning, delivery and marketing for shared learning or other events.
• Coordinates invitations to elected officials, government staff, journalists, external partners.
• Liaises with other communications staff (government, grantee, partners) as needed on shared initiatives or partnerships.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Strong work ethic, integrity, initiative, follow-through, and good judgment.
• Ability to build meaningful contacts and relationships with people from all walks of life.
• Understanding and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and their cultures.
• Experience supporting or advancing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (“UNDRIP”) in your work and practices.
• Capacity to develop strategies, set priorities, and manage workplans for completing tasks in a timely and effective manner.
• Strong interpersonal skills, high degree of emotional intelligence, ability to consider and balance diverse viewpoints, and engage in shared decision making in a constructive, flexible, and positive manner.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience demonstrating skills related to the areas summarized below:
  • Storytelling and content curation (written, digital/video, social media)
  • Writing and editing for various formats
  • Graphic design, branding
  • Media and government relations
  • Providing direction and supervision to contractors and vendors
  • Proficiency with social media applications and analytics
  • Proficiency with software applications, including: MS Office 365, WordPress.org, Adobe Creative Suite, Mailchimp, Salesforce
• A post-secondary degree or diploma in a relevant field (e.g. journalism, communications, public relations), or equivalent career experience.

Time and Money

Job type: Term Position

Salary range: $70,000 to $85,000

Workload: 4 days per week (30 hours per week, Monday – Thursday)

Start date: To be determined with the successful candidate.

REFBC’s office is located in downtown Vancouver. Hybrid (shared workspace) or remote working arrangements within BC are possible. The position requires some travel, mostly within BC, for in-person meetings, visits to communities, and attendance at workshops, events or other convenings.

We offer a comprehensive benefits program, which includes:

• Generous extended health and dental coverage for employees, spouses, and dependents
• 4 weeks annual vacation as a base, plus late December office closure
• Family-friendly workplace policies, a life insurance plan, and a workplace culture with an overarching emphasis on wellness and work-life balance
• RRSP contribution of 10% of salary without a matching requirement
• Health and wellness spending account for each employee
• Flexible work arrangements

How to Apply

To apply, please include “Communications Manager Application” in the subject line and send your resume and cover letter by email to careers@refbc.ca

If you are comfortable self-identifying lived experience working in good relationship with Indigenous and racialized communities, we would be grateful if you could share that in your cover letter.

Please mention you saw this posting at GoodWork.ca.

Application deadline: September 22nd, 2024 (or until filled)