Communications Manager

**Position Title**: Communications Manager

**Program**:National Conservation

**Position Type**:Full-time

**Salary**:$70,000 - $80,000 annually

**Position Location**:In-person (Toronto) or remote

**Start Date**:Mid-July

**Reports to**:Dan Kraus**, **Director of National Conservation

**Supervises**:Social Media Coordinator, Interns, Consultants, Contractors, etc.

**Position Summary**

The future of nature conservation depends on inspiring people to understand the benefits of biodiversity and to act on their love and connection with the natural world. WCS Canada aims to broaden and deepen conservation engagement with a wide range of audiences — from political leaders to Indigenous communities to the public - and to transform the relationship between society and nature in a way that benefits wildlife, ecosystems, and people.

WCS Canada integrates communications as a key conservation action in our work. The Communications Manager will be embedded in our national conservation initiatives and field programs to help create and share our stories to diverse audiences. You will also work with the WCS Global communications team to explore how new digital tools can help share the stories of Canada’s biodiversity with a global audience.

The Communications Manager will be responsible for leading WCS Canada communications in close coordination with the Director of National Conservation, President, and our fundraising team. You will lead the development and implementation of strategies to strengthen WCS Canada’s position as Canada’s leading on-the-ground conservation science organization. You will supervise and set objectives for WCS Canada’s overall communications strategy, social media channels, website, and newsletter, and spearhead local, national, and international media outreach. The Communications Manager will also have a role to play, in concert our fundraising team, with implementing fundraising campaigns and other marketing initiatives. This role will require skills including process and project management, organization, creativity, enthusiasm for working with a wide variety of people, and a passion for wildlife and community-based conservation.

**Position Objectives**
- Lead and manage WCS Canada’s day to day communication activities in coordination with relevant teams.
- Engage with broad and diverse audiences to amplify our conservation stories and build awareness and support for our work.
- Inspire a knowledge and passion for wildlife in Canada that helps create a better world for nature and people.
- Support WCS Canada’s knowledge mobilization and capacity on science communication and public engagement.

**Principal Responsibilities**

**General**
- Lead communications work of WCS Canada including the development and management of an annual communication budget.
- Lead and manage the implementation, tracking, and adaptation WCS Canada’s communications strategy and its integration with our overall strategic plan.
- Work with field and national programs to develop rolling plans for communicating research findings, conservation successes, and recommended actions.
- Work with our scientists to develop and tell compelling stories about wildlife conservation and the communities where we work. Share best practices and build capacity for science communications across our programs.
- Collaborate with the fund-raising team to develop philanthropy and marketing content and support giving campaigns.
- Develop cohesive issue
- and scientific-communication campaigns across digital platforms.
- Use design software like the Adobe Creative Suite, and Canva to create visuals to support messages, and direct and project manage outside designers and contractors on special projects.
- Work with our GIS staff on using mapping as a communications and storytelling tool.
- Collaborate with senior management, communications consultants, and staff across all our teams to strategize the best use of tools, practices, and metrics to develop/post engaging content and to inform the direction of future conservation communications strategies.
- Assist in reviewing, formatting, and designing reports, presentations, and posters.
- Organize, lead and track action items for bi-weekly communications meetings.
- Track analytics and report on the impact of our communications.
- Manage a calendar of special events and develop content for awareness and marketing campaigns with the Social Media Coordinator (e.g., International Day for Biological Diversity, Giving Tuesday, etc.).
- Work with WCS Global in New York to coordinate messaging and to elevate content on Canadian conservation to the international level.
- Recruit and coordinate consultants and contractors to deliver on communication projects as needed.

**Social media**
- Support and supervise the Social Media Coordinator to develop and implement strategies to grow our social media audiences and impact.
- Help to develop campaign concepts across our social media accoun