Senior Communications Specialist, Storytelling and Public Affairs

Senior Communications Specialist, Storytelling and Public Affairs

Black Women’s Institute for Health

Employment: Full time

Location: Ontario, with travel across Ontario and Canada when required

Reports to: Executive Director

Salary: $88,000 CAD annually, plus full benefits and participation in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)

Apply: Send a résumé and cover letter to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed as received.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE

The Black Women’s Institute for Health (BWIH) is a Black-led national charity advancing health equity for Black women and girls across the social determinants of health. We bring together community programmes, research, public education, and policy advocacy to change the conditions shaping Black women’s health and wellbeing.

THE OPPORTUNITY

BWIH is seeking a seasoned communications professional who can develop strategy and deliver the work. You will bring every element of a campaign together: compelling stories, interviews, photography, video, social media, web content, media relations, thought leadership, and opportunities for public action.

You will lead communications, curate and preserve the organization’s story, manage its website and public materials, and lead the annual report process. Working closely with the Executive Director, you will strengthen her public profile and document the leadership, relationships, and milestones shaping the Institute’s impact.

An external consultant will support specialized government relations work. You will oversee the consultant’s deliverables, coordinate internal contributions, and align communications with BWIH’s advocacy priorities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Integrated campaigns and content production

• Develop campaigns connecting organizational priorities with audiences, messages, evidence, partners, and actions.
• Plan and execute integrated campaigns across video, photography, social media, web, email, media relations, public education, events, and partner channels.
• Manage production from concept to publication, including story development, interview questions, outreach, consent, scheduling, location booking, equipment, filming, editing, captions, approvals, and distribution.
• Personally capture and edit video, conduct interviews, take photographs, and produce content suited to different platforms.
• Gather stories ethically, respecting privacy, informed consent, cultural context, and participants’ control over their experiences.

Executive Director visibility and thought leadership

• Work with the Executive Director to develop a purposeful public profile aligned with BWIH’s mission and advocacy priorities.
• Develop op-eds, speeches, articles, talking points, briefing notes, interview preparation, and digital thought leadership.
• Attend selected engagements to photograph, film, and record speeches, interviews, advocacy activities, and community interactions.
• Turn public appearances into timely, accessible content that extends their reach and strengthens understanding of BWIH’s work.
• Preserve the Executive Director’s voice through strong writing, editorial judgement, preparation, and approvals.
• Treat leadership documentation as part of the Institute’s institutional history, capturing the context and contribution behind significant moments.

Organizational storytelling and archives

• Curate a coherent organizational story connecting BWIH’s origins, programmes, research, partnerships, advocacy, and impact.
• Identify and document important events, community contributions, milestones, and lessons.
• Maintain a searchable archive of photographs, videos, interviews, speeches, media coverage, campaign materials, event records, and annual reports.

Strategic communications and media relations

• Lead communications strategy, editorial planning, media relations, brand consistency, and public engagement.
• Translate research, programme learning, health information, and community priorities into clear messages for communities, journalists, funders, partners, and decision makers.
• Build relationships with journalists, producers, editors, sector communicators, and trusted community messengers.
• Prepare pitches, releases, advisories, statements, key messages, presentations, newsletters, and responses to emerging issues.
• Apply plain language, accessible formats, and culturally responsive practices across communications.

Annual report leadership and public materials

• Lead and manage the annual report process from planning through publication and distribution.
• Establish the workplan, production schedule, responsibilities, content requirements, review stages, and approval deadlines.
• Coordinate contributions from leadership, programmes, research, operations, and other relevant teams.
• Draft and edit content into a cohesive account of BWIH’s work, achievements, learning, and priorities.
• Coordinate designers, translators, and contributors, managing timelines, quality, accessibility, and version control.
• Develop a distribution plan and repurpose report content for social media, newsletters, presentations, and partner communications.
• Produce and oversee one-pagers, pamphlets, brochures, fact sheets, reports, presentations, and digital resources.

Website strategy and content management

• Manage and curate BWIH’s website as a current source of information about programmes, services, research, campaigns, events, and resources.
• Review content and structure, identify gaps, remove outdated information, and write or streamline pages.
• Improve navigation, accessibility, search visibility, and the ease with which visitors find information or take action.
• Develop campaign landing pages and coordinate updates with internal teams and external technical support.
• Use website analytics and audience feedback to identify improvements and assess results.
• Develop web and digital advertising copy reflecting BWIH’s voice and campaign goals.

Event communications and documentation

• Lead communications for organizational events, research launches, public discussions, advocacy activities, and selected Executive Director engagements.
• Develop messaging, invitations, promotional content, media materials, speaker briefing packages, presentations, and audience resources.
• Plan photography, filming, interviews, and consent processes so key moments are captured professionally and respectfully.
• Support communications production logistics, including interview spaces, recording arrangements, and content schedules.
• Deliver timely event coverage and follow-up content, including highlights, video clips, photographs, and key messages.

Government relations oversight and advocacy coordination

• Work with the Executive Director to define advocacy priorities, policy outcomes, and measures of progress.
• Oversee the external consultant’s workplan, deliverables, timelines, and alignment with BWIH’s priorities.
• Coordinate evidence, background materials, briefing notes, meeting preparation, and follow-up actions.
• Track policy developments, consultations, meetings, commitments, partner actions, and next steps.
• Support coalition relationships through shared communications, advocacy materials, and coordinated action.
• Align communications with legislative and policy priorities, including the Health Equity for Black Women Act and work toward a National Black Health Equity Framework.

Measurement and coordination

• Set indicators for reach, engagement, media visibility, audience action, relationships, and policy progress.
• Use performance data and community feedback to improve communications.
• Manage workplans, budgets, contractors, resources, approvals, and reporting.
• Collaborate with programme, research, clinical, operations, and leadership colleagues.

WHAT YOU BRING

• At least seven years of progressive experience in communications, public affairs, advocacy, journalism, or a related field.
• Leadership of integrated campaigns from planning through delivery, with evidence of personal execution.
• A portfolio demonstrating writing, multimedia production, audience engagement, and campaign outcomes.
• Practical photography, interview, video production, and editing skills, including sound, captions, platform edits, and publication.
• Excellent writing and editorial judgement across op-eds, speeches, media materials, reports, and campaigns.
• Experience managing annual reports or comparable publications with multiple contributors and approvals.
• Experience managing website content and using audience insights to improve engagement.
• Experience preparing senior leaders for interviews, panels, and public events.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to balance planned work with emerging priorities.
• Working knowledge of Canadian policy processes and judgement to oversee a government relations consultant.
• Commitment to addressing anti-Black racism and advancing equity through communications and partnership.
• Sound judgement with sensitive information, consent, public risk, and stories involving health, trauma, or discrimination.

Relevant education or equivalent experience in communications, journalism, public affairs, or a related field is welcome. Experience with Black-led organizations, Black women and girls, health equity, or community advocacy is an asset. French language skills are an asset.

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS, AND PENSION

This position offers $88,000 CAD annually, full benefits, and participation in HOOPP, the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan.

HOOPP is a defined benefit pension plan providing a predictable monthly pension in retirement, calculated using earnings and years of service. Both you and BWIH contribute, helping you build long-term financial security alongside your salary and benefits.

HOW TO APPLY

Send your résumé and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and interest in BWIH to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed as received.