Director of Communications & Government Relations

Location: Northwest Newfoundland/Eastern Labrador (Mary's Harbour)

Employee Type:
Permanent
Become a change maker with Islamic Relief Canada! Join our team and work towards our mission to mobilize Canadians to transform more lives around the world in the most trusted manner.
About the Department:
The Communications and Government Relations team is at the forefront of shaping and sharing the impact of our humanitarian work and advocacy. We foster strong connections with government officials and policymakers to advocate for meaningful change. With an innovative approach to media relations and public engagement, we work to amplify community stories that highlight our humanitarian efforts around the world.

Job Purpose:

The Director of Comms & GR serves as an essential member of Islamic Relief Canada's senior leadership team (SLT). The successful candidate will be an active participant in making strategic decisions affecting IRC. In partnership with the SLT, this position is responsible for managing Islamic Relief’s external communications. This role leads the strategic delivery of the organization’s communications and government relations portfolios.

This involves overseeing all Media Relations, Public Relations, Advocacy, Government Relations, Brand Management, Institutional Funding, Crisis Communications, Issues & Risk Management and Policy & Research

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Media and Government Relations Build relationships with national and local media institutions in order to achieve media coverage for IRC’s initiatives
Work with teams across the IR family to build and develop content for media and government
Build relationships with key government officials in order to increase the profile of IRC
Respond to all relevant media enquiries
Manage media campaigns
Work with teams across IRC to coordinate media coverage
Develop and strengthen the messages, profile and recognition of IRC and information on its activities through proactive communications and engagement
Work with communication, marketing and programs teams to develop content and materials for PR related activities
Act as spokesperson for IRC and answer written and oral inquiries
Coordinate special publicity events and promotions for external audiences
Responsible for coordinating writing and publishing op-ed articles and blogs
Institutional Funding/Research/Advocacy Lead on coordinating IRC’s high level engagements, external relations and advocacy work
Securing funding from corporate institutions, governments, UN agencies and community-based organizations
Build relationships with media institutions (journalists, producers, editors) in order to build the profile of Islamic Relief and achieve media coverage through media interviews, blogs, articles and press coverage.
Collaborate with other leading NGOs on projects and programs.
Strategy Lead on the development and utilization of a consistent, coherent, meaningful and positive IRC image and set of core policy and advocacy messages
Speak at and learn from conferences and other public forums
Engage and form partnerships with other NGOs and CBOs
Represent IRC and engage meaningfully with institutional donor agencies, umbrella organizations, networks and other key stakeholders
Promote IRC’s mission and values and to act as an IR role model at all times.
Provide strategic organizational leadership, inspiration and guidance.
Develop IRC’s media and government relations strategy
Develop and deploy IRC crisis communications strategy to combat any negative narratives of IRC presented to the public
Staff Management Identify, develop, and mentor the development team
Line management of department staff, including:
Setting objectives and work plans
Managing workload and performance through regular one-to-one line management discussions
Plan and implement personal development program for team members in all relevant skills
Undertake annual performance reviews
Forecast hiring needs for the department
Qualifications & Competencies  Minimum four years’ experience in journalism, PR and/or government relations. Experience in a newsroom or senior government office an asset Experience in preparing press releases, engaging with media and preparing for and conducting media interviews…