Community Relations Advisor

**Objective**:
To support OFIFC and Ontario’s Friendship Centres through the development of relationship management strategies, effective community engagement and outreach, and implementation of advocacy campaigns.

**Key Deliverables**:

- To ensure OFIFC’s overall communications, media relations, digital communications, and branding needs are addressed and coordinated in a consistent, professional manner and are aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities.

**Key Responsibilities**:
Relationship management & outreach (35%):

- Maintain a strong reputation for OFIFC with external partners including friendship centres, community organizations, and different levels of government.
- Liaise with priority community partners, including representing OFIFC at various tables, committees, and working groups.
- Create and oversee a calendar for outreach activities, including community events, workshops, conferences, and other opportunities.
- Represent OFIFC at public events, conferences, and meetings.

Advocacy (35%):

- Coordinate the development and execution of advocacy campaigns on priority issues for the Friendship Centre movement.
- Liaise with community partners and Friendship centres to align messaging and strategies and priority advocacy issues.
- Provide guidance in developing advocacy materials including issues fact sheets, letters, website materials and more

Internal communications (25%):

- Write briefing notes and other communication materials to share relationship knowledge within the organization.
- Provide public speaking support to staff, board members and Friendship Centre Leaders including developing presentations, key messages, and presentation coaching.
- Provide internal training in best practices for a CRM database.

**Education/Work Experience**:

- Completion of post-secondary education or equivalent in Communications, Public Relations, Public Affairs, Political Science, or a related discipline.
- 3-5 years experience in community relations, outreach, community engagement, communications, or a related field.
- Experience with fundraising is an asset.

**Behavioural Competencies**:

- Strong team player & Collaborative
- Passionate about change-making
- Proactive & Takes Initiative
- Political awareness & tact
- Result Oriented

**Technical Competencies**:

- Understanding of complex historical, economic, political, and social factors that impact Urban Indigenous people in Ontario
- Understanding of municipal, provincial, and federal political landscapes
- Strong written communications skills
- Effective oral presentation and public speaking skills
- Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills
- Strong research and analytical skills, including the ability to translate technical policy information into persuasive and accessible key messages
- Experience developing community engagement and public participation strategies
- Skilled at event planning and fundraising
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, as well as CRM tools
- Understanding of public participation strategies and best practices

**What we offer**:

- Culture-based organization
- Pay Range: $70000 - $82000
- Comprehensive Health benefits after probationary period
- Virtual first - Hybrid working model

The OFIFC is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce; we promote employment equity and encourage applicants to indicate if you belong to one of the four designated employment equity groups Women, Indigenous peoples, Persons with disabilities, or Members of visible minorities when you apply. Preference will be given to qualified Turtle Island Indigenous people or members of First Nations, Inuit and Métis including treaty, status or registered Indigenous people, as well as those non-status and non-registered who self-declare as such.

Accommodation:
The OFIFC is committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs.

**Salary**: $70,000.00-$82,000.00 per year

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Toronto, ON M5A 1E8