Media Relations and Communications Specialist

**Media Relations and Communications Specialist**
- Central location, close to transit (TTC), bike lanes
- Flexible location of work (remote or hybrid)
- Meaningful non-profit organization work

Dentists like to smile too And there’s nothing that makes them happier than the support of their own, dedicated professional association.

We’re the Ontario Dental Association, and we represent over 90% of dentists in Ontario: advocating on their behalf to improve dentistry for both dentists and patients, and keeping Ontarians smiling.

Working with other health-care professionals, governments, the private sector and the public, the ODA provides a wide range of services, resources and continuing education programs to support ODA dentists in their pursuit of professional excellence and personal fulfillment.

**What we’re looking for**

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and energetic **Media Relations and Communications Specialist**. You’ll help enhance the reputation of dentists in Ontario, promote the importance of oral health to overall health, and maintain the ODA’s role as a primary source of dental news and information in the province.

You’re an expert communicator who knows how to build relationships with the media and internal and external audiences. You think strategically, finding creative, engaging and effective ways to promote the brand of the ODA and its member dentists. Come join our team

**What we offer**

This is a full-time, permanent position, with some flexibility with daily work hours. In addition to a competitive salary, you’ll have access to a benefits plan that includes dental (of course) as well as plenty of vacation days, personal days, and access to a health-spending account.

The position is part of the ODA’s Flexible Location of Work policy, which means you can work remote, in-person at the office, or a combination of the two You’ll have to come into the office occasionally for our staff development days (we have four throughout the year) and attend some in-person member events.

Our office is in a large, open space that used to be a copper factory. We’re located in the heart of Yorkville with nearby parks, shops and restaurants and easy access to transit and bike lanes. Everything downtown Toronto has to offer is just a bus ride away.

**What you’ll do**

In this role, you will work with the Manager, Communications and Public Affairs and be part of a growing creative team. You’ll also work closely with teams inside the department and across the organization, along with external groups, to help us advocate for the profession, promote good oral health and provide support for our members. You will:

- Lead the development, implementation and measurement of our media relations strategy.
- Prepare and manage media relations collateral, including news releases and pitches; media lists; media logs; and response plans.
- Manage proactive media outreach and reactive media requests, and arrange interviews with our spokespeople, identifying opportunities for the ODA to bring the voice of dentists into conversations about oral health in Ontario.
- Coordinate media relations training and coaching on the appropriate delivery for interviews and speeches for our spokespeople.
- Provide on-the-spot and on-site media and public relations support for the ODA President, Board members and other spokespeople.
- Lead the development, implementation and measurement of our speakers’ bureau and Media Contact Dentist program. This includes identifying and securing suitable spokespeople; identifying, pitching and coordinating speaking opportunities; marketing and promoting the programs; ensuring training, coaching, speechwriting and other speaker preparations; and coordinating debrief/evaluation activities.
- Help coordinate and execute our public awareness and advertising campaigns, including Oral Health Month, and support our regional chapters with their own community public-education activities.
- Work with other internal teams to research and write speeches for the ODA President and other Board members when they speak to our regional chapters, at industry events and to external audiences, such as other health care groups and the government.
- Build communications and public relations partnerships with external stakeholders and other organizations.
- Develop content for our publications, including our journal, _Ontario Dentist_, and consumer magazine, _Smile_.
- Support our team by helping with content development for our website and social media channels.

**What you’ll bring**
- Bachelor’s degree or post-graduate certificate in journalism, communications, public relations or equivalent.
- At least five years experience in developing, executing, and evaluating communications, media and/or public relations campaigns and strategies.
- Previous work as a journalist coupled with experience in a professional organization, association, or not-for-profit is definitely an asset
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