Job Title Communications and PR Manager

• Reports to Position Title Director of Operations
• Research Project Title The Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security
• Faculty/ Department The Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security
• FTE (based on 35 paid hr
• work week) 100%
• Duration 12 months. Full-time
• Date Created/Updated May 2024

About the Research

The Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security was established by retired Lieutenant-General the Honorable Rome?o Dallaire, former Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR). Our mission is to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed violence and transform cycles of violence.

The Dallaire Institute's African Centre of Excellence has been funded to finance projects specifically designed to strengthen national security sectors' capacity to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts in Africa.

Job purpose

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Communication and Public Relations Manager

will be responsible for developing and implementing effective communication and public relations strategies to promote the organization's mission, programs, and initiatives. This role will involve managing media relations, creating engaging content, coordinating public outreach campaigns, and enhancing the organization's overall brand and reputation.

Duties and responsibilities

Communication Strategy:

• Implement a comprehensive communication and public relations strategy aligned with the organization's goals and objectives.
• Collaborate with the leadership team to identify key messaging and communication priorities.
• Ensure consistent and coherent messaging across various channels and platforms.

Media Relations:

• Cultivate and maintain positive relationships with media outlets and journalists.
• Develop and distribute press releases, media kits, and other communication materials to relevant media contacts.
• Act as a spokesperson for the organization and coordinate media interviews and press conferences.

Content Creation:

• Create engaging and informative content for various channels, including the organization's website, social media platforms, newsletters, and publications.
• Create and edit press releases, articles, blog posts, and other communication materials.
• Develop multimedia content such as videos, infographics, and presentations to enhance the organization's storytelling efforts.

Public Outreach:

• Coordinate and implement public outreach campaigns to raise awareness of the organization's mission and initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify target audiences and develop tailored communication strategies.
• Organize and participate in community events, conferences, and speaking engagements to promote the organization's work.

Brand Management:

• Ensure consistent branding and messaging across all communication channels.
• Develop and maintain brand guidelines to guide the organization's visual identity and tone of voice.
• Monitor and manage the organization's online presence and reputation, including social media channels and review platforms.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Engage and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders, including partners, donors, government agencies, and community organizations.
• Support the development of partnerships and collaborations to expand the organization's reach and impact.
• Liaise with internal teams to gather information and stories that highlight the organization's achievements and impact.

All staff are additionally responsible to:

• Proactively participate in planning and performance processes as outlined in the Employee Handbook including annual appraisals, regular meetings, and ensuring that annual reviews are an integral component of work plans and priorities.
• Promote a safe and secure work environment in line with the organization's core values including the Dallaire Institute Workplace Principles and foster strong communication between teams within the organization.
• Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of children, particularly the prevention of the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.
• Comply with Dallaire Institute's financial and operational requirements and uphold high standards of honesty and integrity in personal conduct.
• This job description is a general outline of responsibilities and qualifications and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The responsibilities and duties may evolve based on the organization's needs, and additional tasks may be assigned as required.

Qualifications

Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Strong storytelling and content creation abilities, with proficiency in writing for various mediums.
• Strong organizational and project management.
• Excellent ability to forge relationships at all levels and work across multicultural, multilingual, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Adept at handling confidential information with discretion and following Institute research and other professional standards.

Knowledge

• Master's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field.
• Proven 5-7 years of experience in communication, public relations, or a similar role, holding a leadership role in these areas.
• Experience in media relations, including building and maintaining media contacts and managing press events.
• Minimum 3 years of experience with digital marketing and social media management.

Abilities

• To tailor messages to different audiences and platforms.
• Creative mindset and ability to think strategically and innovatively.
• Handle multiple tasks and deadlines.

Assets

• Additional relevant certifications or training in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field.
• Knowledge and understanding of issues related to children's rights, peace, and security.
• Additional language skills, particularly French.
• International work experience in complex environments, preferably in conflict-affected regions
• Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa or other fragile contexts.
• Experience with non-profit organizations, and academic or government institutions.

Working conditions

Hybrid role: The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work on-site and remote work) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and Institute guidelines.

The position is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with the need for traveling up to 25% of the time.

Supervisory/ Managerial

The position is at the managerial level and will lead a functional area as well as a team, in a hierarchical and matrix relationship. The occupant will guide and advise the Executive team regarding any communications and Public Relationship issues.

If you are the ideal candidate for this position, please send your resume and cover letter via Isarta