Career Opportunity
Position Title: Communications Specialist
Classification: Administrative Coordinator, Level 3
Job Type: Term, 0.4 FTE (14 Hours per week)- 6 Months Contract with the possibility of renewal
Department: Governance
Location: Work from home
Reporting to: Coalition Coordinator
Compensation: $27.43 - $32.23 /Hr
Deadline to apply: September 11, 2026, at 5:00pm
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About us
We are Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC), a non-profit, community-governed organization that serves over 18,000 clients annually. Established in 1978, SWCHC provides a wide range of health care services such as primary health care, health promotion, community development, mental health, and harm reduction. We are deeply connected to the communities we serve and committed to removing barriers to accessing services for people who experience vulnerabilities because of their age, income, ability, sexual orientation or gender identity, and language or culture.
SWCHC strives to ensure that our team reflects the communities we serve. We work within an anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework that acknowledges the existence and impacts of systemic racism and seeks to ensure that systems are fair and equitable for everyone.
What the Program Entails
The Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centers brings together member organizations to coordinate communications, advance collective advocacy, engage partners and allies, and demonstrate the impact of the community health and resource center model.
Through shared communications tools, coordinated messaging, accessible content, and stories of community impact, the Coalition seeks to strengthen its collective reach, visibility, and engagement with community partners, champions, elected officials, funders, media representatives, and other priority audiences.
The Coalition and Somerset West Community Health Centre work within an anti-racism and anti-oppression framework that recognizes the existence and impact of systemic racism and promotes fair, inclusive, and equitable systems for everyone.
What You’ll Do
Reporting to the Coalition Coordinator, the Communications Specialist will work collaboratively with Coalition members and partner organizations to develop and strengthen the communications infrastructure needed to support coordinated communications, collective advocacy, and engagement with partners, champions, and allies.
During the initial phase of the contract, you will participate in selected meetings and consultations to develop an understanding of the Coalition’s priorities, relationships, audiences, existing communications capacity, and broader communications context. Your work will then increasingly focus on communications planning, systems development, content creation, storytelling, implementation, and performance monitoring.
You will develop high-quality, accessible content for priority audiences while ensuring that Coalition communications effectively reflect and showcase the work and collective impact of member organizations
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What We’re Looking For
We are looking for a skilled communications professional who combines strategic thinking, creativity, sound judgment, and strong project management abilities. You know how to develop clear and engaging content, establish effective communications tools and processes, and collaborate with diverse teams, organizations, and community partners
Education
- Degree or diploma in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, digital media, or another relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Professional Experience
You bring three to five years of relevant communications experience, including:
- Developing or improving communications processes, tools, systems, or infrastructure.
- Creating communications materials for diverse audiences and multiple channels.
- Developing digital content, including social media posts, website content, graphics, photography, and video.
- Working collaboratively across organizations, networks, coalitions, or community partnerships.
- Using communications analytics to monitor reach, engagement, and content performance.
- Working within a strategic context and contributing to strategic communications initiatives.
- Experience working with community-based organizations or in social services, advocacy, public policy, or government relations is considered an asset.
- You are proficient with digital communications platforms and content creation tools, including social media platforms, website content management systems, Canva or Adobe Creative Suite, email marketing tools, and communications analytics tools.
Language Capability
- You are able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in English and French.
What you bring to the table
- Strong written, verbal, technical, and creative communication skills.
- Strong content development and storytelling skills, including the ability to translate complex information, data, research, and advocacy priorities into clear, accessible, and engaging content.
- Sound judgment and the ability to understand organizational context, nuances, and sensitivities and translate them into appropriate communications approaches.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to establish priorities and manage multiple deliverables within limited working hours.
- The ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with staff, volunteers, partners, and representatives from multiple organizations.
- An understanding of equity, community engagement, accessible communications, confidentiality, consent, and ethical storytelling practices.
- The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a coalition and community-based environment.
- Flexibility and adaptability in responding to emerging communications opportunities while remaining focused on agreed priorities and deliverables.
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Your Day-to-Day at a Glance
As our Communications Specialist, your responsibilities will include:
Develop the Coalition’s communications infrastructure
- Assess the Coalition’s existing communications channels, audiences, assets, tools, and communications capacity across member organizations.
- Establish practical processes for planning, coordinating, and sharing Coalition communications.
- Develop a process that enables member organizations to contribute stories, updates, and communications content.
- Create tools, templates, and guidance that make it easier for member organizations to participate in and amplify Coalition communications and advocacy initiatives.
- Develop and maintain strategic contact lists and communications networks to support outreach and engagement with media representatives, partners, champions, elected officials, funders, and community allies.
Develop and coordinate content
- Work with the Coalition team to translate Coalition data, research, key messages, and advocacy priorities into accessible communications materials, including infographics, reports, photos, social media content, and short-form videos.
- Work with the Coalition Coordinator to identify, collect, and develop stories that demonstrate the local impact of member organizations and the collective value of the community health and resource center model.
- Create adaptable content and templates that member organizations can share through their own communications channels.
- Coordinate the sharing and amplification of priority Coalition content across member organizations.
- Develop and strengthen the Coalition’s social media presence by leveraging the communications channels and collective reach of member organizations.
- Support selected communications campaigns and engagement initiatives directed toward priority audiences.
Support ethical and engaging storytelling
- Collaborate with the Coalition Coordinator, member organizations, and key partners to identify meaningful examples of community impact, innovation, collaboration, and service delivery.
- Produce stories in various formats, including written content, graphics, photographs, videos, reports, and social media content.
- Work with the Coalition team to connect stories of community impact to Coalition data, research, key messages, advocacy priorities, and communications campaigns.
- Build relationships with staff, volunteers, partners, and other contributors to support the ongoing development of Coalition stories.
- Apply principles of consent, equity, accessibility, confidentiality, and ethical storytelling when collecting and sharing stories.
Monitor communications performance
- Establish practical systems and measures for tracking communications reach and engagement across the Coalition’s website, social media, email communications, media coverage, and other content channels.
- Review communications data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement.
- Use available data and feedback to refine communications strategies, content, and audience engagement approaches.
- Prepare recommendations for future communications priorities, tools, resources, and investments.
Contribute to SWCHC’s organizational responsibilities
- Protect the confidentiality of organizational, employee, partner, and community information.
- Collect, analyze, and report relevant communications data and information.
- Participate actively in meetings, collaborative working groups, and organizational initiatives, as required.
- Contribute to the development of work plans, outcome measures, policies, procedures, and program reports.
- Comply with all applicable SWCHC policies, procedures, and occupational health and safety requirements.
- Participate in required training and professional development activities
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Somerset West Community Health Centre is an equal opportunity employer that values the diversity of the individuals and communities we serve.
This posting is for a currently vacant position that we intend to fill through this recruitment process.
We welcome and encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and members of other equity-seeking groups.
If you are interested in this opportunity but do not meet every qualification listed, we still encourage you to apply. We recognize that relevant experience, transferable skills, and different career paths can bring valuable perspectives and strengths to our team.
Applicants are encouraged to share any accessibility needs during the application process, and every effort will be made to provide appropriate accommodation.
We sincerely appreciate your interest in working with us. Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to confirm receipt of or respond to inquiries regarding individual applications. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted
