Identifying Information

Job Title: Communications Manager

Program Area: Strategy & Governance

Job Level: Program Manager

Reports to: Director, Strategy & Governance

Organization Summary

CMHA-Edmonton Region (CMHA-ER) is a non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to ensure that all people experience good mental health and well-being. We increased awareness and understanding of mental health, mental illness, recovery, and suicide prevention through education. We support the resilience and recovery of people in distress including those affected by mental illness or suicide by providing crisis intervention; safe, long-term and affordable housing; peer support; suicide grief and family support; information and referral support; and providing opportunities to improve your wellness.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director, Strategy & Governance, the Communications Manager is an integral part of CMHA-ER's communications team. This position crafts and delivers our message to the community, promoting CMHA-ER and mental health as a cause.

This role is an opportunity for the successful candidate to bring creativity to the role, reimagining our communications and granting proposals, contributing to securing funds for the organization, and promoting the cause of mental health in our community. The successful candidate will be a self-starter who can juggle multiple priorities and deadlines, work well with internal and external stakeholders, and create compelling messages and content that promote mental health for all.

Key Responsibility Areas

External Communications and Marketing

• Liaise and coordinate with management team all key program related promotions and external communications.
• Provide leadership and direction in the development, design, implementation, and evaluation of marketing, communications, organizational advocacy, and production of CMHA materials.
• Promote CMHA-ER programs and services to key audiences including funders and other supporters, current and prospective participants, and their families.
• Coordinate all aspects of communications projects for CMHA-ER programs and services, including advertising, publications, audiovisuals, media relations, employee information, and community relations.
• Manage email marketing and outreach, including the list of supporters and CASL compliance.
• Craft external communications including monthly newsletter.
• Lead the development, design, implementation, and evaluation of communication strategies focusing on customer attraction/retention, public/media awareness, and positive government relations.
• Establish and foster relationships with external stakeholders to support CMHA-ER's advocacy, marketing, and communications activities and events.
• Serve as a representative for CMHA-ER for communications and marketing related community initiatives.
• Coordinate, write, and edit content for website, including photos and photo-stories, ensuring content development is aligned with CMHA-ER's brand, up to date, accurate, consistent, and engaging.
• Work collaboratively with social media and marketing consultants on consistent basis to ensure content is aligned with CMHA-ER's vision.
• Content development through multimedia tools, including video, audio productions, graphics (using programs like Canva) and visualizations of program data and information (or work with external contractors to produce these). In particular, content that presents the stories of people with lived experience of mental health.
• Share stories and authentically present the lived experience of mental health with the people we support.
• Engage with and provide relevant content to diverse audiences on the topic of mental health.

Media Relations

• Serve as a first point of contact for media outreach and inquiries.
• Guide public relations and media outreach.
• Identify opportunities to promote CMHA-ER, its events, and its programs through traditional and new media.
• Through media training and coaching, support management teams with briefings, and support capacity building to increase the ability of staff, volunteers, and clients with lived experience to speak to media.

Project Management

In collaboration with the CMHA-ER management team:

• Lead the planning and implementation of fundraising and events, in consultation with the fund development team.
• Coordinate the development and production of key documents such as the Annual Report, and collateral material to promote CMHA-ER and its programs.
• Provide advice and coordinate design, layout, and procurement of print materials, specialty items, and other production work, on time and within budget.
• Coordinate communications-oriented assignments, promotional campaigns, and contractor projects.

Internal Business Communications and Fund Development Support

• Act as a communications advisor to the Executive team.
• Generate internal newsletters, and content for internal communications.
• Monitor, curate, and adapt external content to engage staff and volunteers.
• Develop and implement marketing and communications plans to support fundraising initiatives including third-party events.
• Prepare narratives which articulate key features, successes, and needs of all CMHE-ER programs and initiatives, for use in grant applications, fund development efforts, funder reporting, and other external business communication channels.
• Shape and produce engaging content in different mediums to appeal to solicit donations and steward donors.
• Generate regular reports detailing funding impact.
• Write content for donor reporting.

Core Competencies

• Action oriented - Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
• Business insight - Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization's goals
• Collaborative - Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with diverse parties to meet shared objectives
• Communicates effectively - Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
• Courage - Steps up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said
• Interpersonal savvy - Relates openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people
• Builds networks - Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside of the organization
• Persuades - Uses compelling arguments and narratives to gain the support and commitment of others
• Balances stakeholders - Anticipates and balances the needs of multiple stakeholders
• Strategic mindset - Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies
• Builds effective teams - Builds strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals
• Instills trust - Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity
• Drives vision and purpose - Paints a compelling picture of the vision and strategies that create buy-in, excitement, and motivation to action.
• Manages risk - Ensures leaders and teammates are aware of risk management issues, and takes steps to mitigate and address potential risks, including those that have implications beyond existing policy or that may have the possibility of affecting the organization's reputation or resources.

Qualifications/Experience

CMHA-ER recognizes that candidates all have different skills and experiences to offer. While we are highlighting desired qualifications in the following sections, it is not a checklist. We encourage everyone interested to apply and indicate how you would successfully take on the role even if you have unconventional experiences or qualifications.

• Post-secondary degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a communications role, ideally with demonstrated success in:
• Being a skilled writer and editor (paramount for this role) (program narratives, reports, proposals, marketing content)
• Media engagement and public awareness
• Non-profit grant writing and fundraising.
• Membership in a professional association such as IABC or CPRS is an asset.
• Basic design skills, including familiarity with programs like Canva. Advanced graphic design skills and audiovisual production skills are an asset.
• Direct experience with Raiser's Edge/NXT considered an asset.
• Valid Class 5 Driver's License.
• Acceptable Police Information Check.

Skills/Abilities

• Self-starter who can bring creativity and innovation to the role.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills including an ability to convey technical information and data in accessible language and formats, including data storytelling.
• Able to manage difficult situations with well-developed conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organization skills.
• Demonstrated initiative and the ability to work independently and operate effectively in a complex multi-program environment.
• Ability to think critically about audiences, and to identify and tailor messaging and content for different sectors.
• Ability to engage people with lived experience to translate their perspectives into meaningful user-centered content.
• Superior organizational, time management and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to produce visually engaging content in different mediums.
• Ability to proficiently use Microsoft Office.

Required Training for the Position

Within the first 3 months of employment:

• Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training
• Workplace Violence and Harassment Training (Immersive)
• Workplace Diversity &Inclusion Training (Immersive)
• IT Risk and Cybersecurity Awareness Training for Employees
• Trauma Informed Care
• GBA+ Training
• First Aid (Optional - based on position requirements)