Specialist, Strategic Communications - Inclusive Communications

About the role

Canadian Blood Services is looking for a Regular full-time Specialist, Strategic Communications – Inclusive Communications to join our dynamic Communications team in our Donor Engagement and Corporate Reputation (DECR) division.

The Communications team empowers and motivates individuals to join Canada’s Lifeline by creating engaging content, building brand affinity, and preserving confidence in Canadian Blood Services.

In this role, you will support the planning, development and execution of equity-centered and inclusive communications strategies, products, and resources to help advance Canadian Blood Services’ strategic priorities to grow and diversify the donor base and invest in people and culture. You will play a key role to lead, support and deliver on strategic communications activities that have a direct impact on increasing and fostering employee and donor diversity, equity, and inclusion, and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. You will also support the maintenance and evolution of inclusive language and communications standards and resources for Canadian Blood Services, across corporate products and channels.

Formula for success

• Advise, develop, and execute measurable communications strategies and tactics in support of Canadian Blood Services’ corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), reconciliation and sustainability goals and objectives.
• Support the ongoing communications needs of teams across Canadian Blood Services, developing and informing inclusive communications products (key messages, internal communications, stories, website content, press releases, digital content, reports, etc.) that address key business imperatives, priority initiatives and critical issues as they relate to DEI, reconciliation and belonging.
• Play a key role in shaping, evolving and presenting the evolving story of Canadian Blood Services and Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, African, Caribbean, and Black, and other equity-deserving communities we are actively working with to build trust, address barriers to donation, and ensure health equity.  
• Use a diversity of storytelling tools and platforms to produce and develop engaging, equity-centred content for internal and external audiences; leveraging traditional and social channels that will help to influence audiences, drive engagement, and foster transformative change.
• Apply an inclusion and equity lens to organizational content, strategies, products and resources.
• Develop strong relationships and collaborate with colleagues, teams, business partners, employee resource groups and other employee networks across the organization, to co-create and deliver creative, thoughtful, informed, and audience-specific communications.  
• Support collaboration and co-creation of communications materials and initiatives with key community partners and groups; leveraging community perspectives and insights to inform inclusive and responsive communications strategies and products.
• Safeguard our brand and reputation by working with subject matter experts to ensure high-quality, consistent, and accurate content that aligns with our brand and our commitments to DEI, reconciliation and sustainability. 

Desired education and skills

• Post-secondary level education in a relevant discipline, preferably in communications, journalism, public relations, or social sciences (a combination of equivalent education, job-related training and experience in a related position will also be considered).
• 5+ years of experience in journalism, communications, public relations, or a related field, in a corporate or health care environment.
• Experience developing communications with and for diverse, equity-deserving communities (e.g., Indigenous, African, Caribbean, and Black, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities) is strongly preferred.
• Lived experience as a member of an equity-deserving group is strongly preferred.
• Exceptional writing and communication skills with the demonstrated ability to apply a critical, equity lens to content creation for diverse audiences.
• Experience developing and executing innovative and measurable communications plans and tactics to effectively drive business objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and timelines and navigate a complex organization.
• Experience in exercising judgment and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex situations and topics.
• Basic knowledge or demonstrated interest in anti-oppression, anti-racism, equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion frameworks.
• Proven experience providing communications advice to business partners and leaders.
• Experience in creative content development (e.g., video production and editing) is an asset.
• Ability to speak multiple languages is an asset
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings or weekends as required.

What we offer you

• 4 weeks' vacation
• Annual performance award up to 6%
• Comprehensive group health, dental and vision benefits for you and your family
• Defined benefit pension plan
• Employee discounts, wellness program, professional resources

What you can expect

• This role will work in a hybrid environment with requirements to be onsite at Canadian Blood Services location 40% of the time/2 days of the week.
• You may be expected to travel a couple of times per year, and as required.