Communications Manager, Advocacy

A Career Opportunity
UNICEF is the world’s farthest-reaching humanitarian organization for children. Across 190 countries and territories, and in the world’s toughest places, we work day in and day out to help children survive. To defend their rights. To keep them protected, healthy and educated. To give them a fair chance to fulfil their potential. Our work for every child relies entirely on voluntary support, including donations from generous Canadians.

Communications Manager, Advocacy
(Permanent; Full-time; based in Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa)

Reporting to the Director of Communications, the Communications Manager, Advocacy is responsible for managing and implementing proactive, integrated and effective communications strategies to strengthen UNICEF Canada’s advocacy to improve the well-being of children and youth across Canada and defend children’s rights around the world. The manager will advance campaign objectives and brand recognition ensuring messaging is strategic, impactful, and consistent.

This role supports advocacy communication efforts across the country in both English and French as they relate to, the development of communications tools such as media releases, speeches, communications toolkits, key messages and other written communication supports, in close conjunction with the domestic and international advocacy departments and the Director, Communications. The incumbent will work effectively with a number of key internal and external stakeholders to ensure stories and messages reach the public regarding the wellbeing of children in Canada and around the world. They will develop and manage strong, constructive relationships with media; serve as the primary media contact point for both English and French on advocacy issues.

The responsibilities of the position will include:
Strategic Communications (25%)
- Support the development of communication plans and public engagement campaigns that identify approaches, tactics and measurable outcomes in support of advocacy objectives.
- Co-ordinate the development and implementation of communications strategies, leveraging campaigns, stories, and people, to enhance visibility and public understanding of UNICEF Canada’s mission. Supports the Director, Communications, in collaboration with the content manager, in establishing and implementing presidential positioning through development and writing of speaking notes, presentations and other text creation.
- Support efforts to raise the profile of UNICEF Canada’s President & CEO, establishing the organization as the go to expert on the rights, needs and wellbeing of children in Canada and around the world.
- Represent UNICEF Canada and actively participate in communications/public relations committees of interagency working groups.
- Work closely and collaborate where appropriate with likeminded organizations or organizations UNICEF works with in Canada and abroad.
- Develop and maintain effective relationships with UNICEF international communications staff.
- Contribute to the work of cross functional initiatives as required.
- Support the development of a coordinated and integrated supporter engagement strategy.
- Measure, evaluate and adjust strategies as required.
- Works closely with International Policy and Domestic Policy to strategically support their advocacy business objectives.
- **Writing and Editing (60%)**
- Develop, write and coordinate approval process of all communications products for domestic and international advocacy initiatives including key messages, FAQs, backgrounders, press releases, blogs, op-eds, website content and newsletters for use by the organization.
- Project manage communications contributions to public engagement advocacy campaigns for the organization including development of strategy and messaging, and working with Marketing department to ensure brand integration.
- Support the development of communication plans and public engagement campaigns that identify approaches, tactics and measurable outcomes in support of advocacy objectives.
- Coordinate with global communications projects and global moments working in conjunction with both the international and domestic advocacy teams.
- Support media relations with writing and editing Key Messages and Q&A documents.
- Support the content manager with writing, coordinating of blogs, website content and newsletters.
- With the Communications Manager, Digital Media position, write and edit comment moderation guides.

**Emergency Communication Support (15%)**

As member of the Emergency Response Team, support the communications team.
Develop, plan and manage integrated communication strategy to effectively ensure UNICEF Canada positioning on key emergencies, including:

- Supporting the Senior Communications manager, media relations, to update the emergency web pages with regards to written content.
- Supporting the Content Manager in developing an emergency content plan for the website and social media.
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