Communications Manager

Employer: Canadian Co-operative Association - www.coopscanada.coop
Location: Ottawa - , Canada
Closing Date: September 24, 2008

The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) is a national association for co-operatives in Canada, representing more than nine million co-operative and credit union members from over 2,000 organizations. CCA members come from many sectors of the economy, including finance, insurance, agri-food and supply, wholesale and retail, housing, health and the service sector. CCA provides leadership to promote, develop, and unite co-operatives and credit unions for the benefit of people in Canada and around the world

CCA is looking for a Communications Manager to co-ordinate overall organizational communication activities, to manage domestic communications and to develop a new communications strategy to enhance CCA’s media and public presence.

There are four main areas of responsibility:

1.  Communications Strategy and Co-ordination, including:

a)   Responsible for co-ordinating the production and updating of the organizational communications strategy

b)   Responsible for CCA’s communications profile in terms of ensuring a common “look” and appropriate logos and letterhead on all paper and electronic communications and for co-ordinating content, form and release of messaging for all publications, media communications and material for CCA’s presence at conferences and trade shows

2.  Publications and Speeches, including:

a)   Editing, publishing and distributing CCA domestic electronic publications.

b)   Preparing some presentations and speeches for CCA management and Board

c)    Producing CCA reports, such as the Accountability Report, in collaboration with domestic and international staff.

d)   Ensuring overall co-ordination of communications at CCA AGM and Congress

3.  Website and Electronic Materials, including:

a)   Responsible for the overall design, continual updating and maintenance of  the CCA website in collaboration with ID staff responsible for communications

b)   Responsible for ensuring use and development of new web technologies such as e-campaign tools, blogs and digitized spoken word and video

4.  Media, including

a)   Develops and maintains effective media contacts and relations, and identifies opportunities to promote awareness of CCA and co-operatives

b)   Monitors CCA and co-operative presence in media

QUALIFICATIONS

 Essential

1.   Passionate interest in social justice issues and in non-governmental organizations

2.   University degree preferably in journalism, communications or related fields or equivalent experience (3-5 years).

3.   Experience in business communications (public, private or non-profit sectors) such as writing newsletters and articles or scripts for media

4.   Superior oral and written English communication skills.

5.   Demonstrated competence in planning and evaluation.

6.   Knowledge of proven and emerging communication techniques and technologies in a variety of media (print; web; e-mail).

7.   Ability to communicate with varied groups such as co-operatives, media, the general public, and elected officials.

Additional important assets

8.    Fluency in French (both written and oral)

9.    Experience in managing websites

10.  Knowledge of co-operatives or credit unions

A full job description is available upon request, and can also be found on CCA's website www.CoopsCanada.coop

Salary $59,880 - $63,402 with a full benefits package.

Please reply in confidence to John Anderson at john.anderson@coopscanada.coop by September  24.

We thank all applicants, but only those considered for interview will be contacted.