Senior Director Of Communications And Engagement

Position Overview

Reporting to the Vice President of Public Support, the Senior Director of Communications and Community Engagement will establish and drive Birds Canada’s multi-channel communications, marketing, and public engagement; ensuring a strong brand, voice, and organizational integrity. This is a key role in helping to mobilize more people in Canada to join in taking meaningful actions to conserve birds.

Responsibilities

This is a career opportunity for a communications and engagement professional to build a national profile and advocate for one of Canada’s pre-eminent wildlife and environmental organizations. The leadership and oversight responsibilities of the Senior Director, Communications and Community Engagement cover communications and marketing, community engagement, management and leadership, and some fundraising. All are central to the success of Birds Canada in its mission.

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING (50%)

• Liaise with senior communications counterparts at partner organizations (e.g. governments, NGOs, funders) to ensure the alignment of public messaging of Birds Canada work, as needed
• Oversee the creation of scientifically accurate and engaging content, for multiple platforms, drawing from the expertise of Birds Canada’s program staff. Develop timely and newsworthy editor/producer pitches
• Develop and oversee initiatives to promote the Birds Canada brand in an effective and consistent manner (e.g. promotional materials and merchandise; visibility opportunities such as corporate co-brands and paid advertisement)
• Position Birds Canada nationally as the primary source, disseminator, and conduit of bird science and conservation information
• Develop and oversee a data-driven strategy to ensure that Birds Canada’s communications capacity is optimally invested across the right mix of platforms (e.g. podcast, magazine, websites, social media, traditional media) and that our voice and tone are appropriate and consistent. When necessary, initiate and oversee significant initiatives (e.g. website redesign)
• Ensure that the impact of Birds Canada’s science, conservation and outreach programming is communicated effectively to our target audiences
• Monitor key performance indicators and results to ensure audience growth
• Manage media relations and develop contacts with relevant parties including community and business leaders, members of the media, and influencers. Guide key staff in media relations and act as a spokesperson for Birds Canada when appropriate

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (30%)

• Improve Birds Canada’s leveraging of its CRM (Raiser’s Edge and Engaging Networks software) to provide data for decision- making and deepen supporter engagement
• Develop an overarching strategy and tools to recruit, train, and steward our tens of thousands of volunteers across Canada, providing guidance and support to program staff who work directly with these volunteers
• Oversee the delivery of key community engagement programs at Birds Canada which typically involve thousands of volunteers or event participants (e.g. Project FeederWatch, Christmas Bird Count, Toronto Bird Celebration, and visitors to the Long Point Bird Observatory). Expand recruitment and marketing efforts and conversion of participants.
• Leverage Birds Canada’s new Learning Management System to improve online community engagement
• Develop and oversee a strategy to ensure that Birds Canada maintains the right mix of community engagement initiatives – inclusive, impactful programming which is financially sustainable and reaches our target audiences.
• Oversees internal stakeholder engagement, including employees, volunteers, board members, and advisory committees

MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP (10%)

• Establish departmental and individual goals and metrics and track and report on progress
• Oversee a team of6 professional communications and community engagement staff, ensuring efforts remain focused on Birds Canada’s mission and aligned with our guiding principles of Impact, People, and Forward-looking
• Play a key role to ensure that Birds Canada’s Program and Communications staff are well coordinated and mutually supporting key outcomes
• Identify and manage organizational risks related to Communications and Engagement
• Develop and oversee budgets related to communications and community engagement. Work with Senior Director of Finance to monitor expenditures.
• As a member of the national Management Team, participate in developing organizational strategy and building a positive culture. Provide strategic recommendations to Leadership Team.

FUNDRAISING (10%)

• In collaboration with Development Director, develop and implement an innovative supporter/sponsor recognition program and public engagement campaigns
• Ensure that our communications are reflective of a supporter-centric approach, recognizing the tens of thousands of volunteers and donors who are at the heart of our work.

Qualifications

• Excellent communications skills (written and verbal) and a passionate and persuasive storyteller
• Strong understanding of the charitable sector and non-profit specific communications, including CRM systems, conversion strategies, KPIs, etc.
• Strong experience managing large significant budgets
• Knowledge and a passion for environmental and bird conservation, and science communications are very strong assets
• A communications and public relations professional with a minimum 10 years of experience and a demonstrated track record of successful media and public engagement.
• Minimum 5 years in team management. Strong management skills – decisive, strong delegator and well versed in team development.
• Operational management and excellent organizational skills are a strength
• Strong relationship building skills for engagement with both external and internal stakeholders
• Fluent bilingualism (English and French) would be a very strong asset

Other Critical Competencies

• Self-motivation
• Ability to be an influencer
• This role requires the incumbent to be highly personable with the ability to build and maintain a collegial and supportive atmosphere where all team members feel heard and valued

Education

The Senior Director holds a degree in an appropriate field or equivalent experience

Location

This position can be held remotely with occasional travel to Birds Canada headquarters and other regional offices and events

Travel

This position may require some travel throughout Canada for team meetings at National Headquarters, regional offices, and/or supporter and community engagement events

Total Compensation for this Role Includes:

• 5% of annual salary for all regular staff after 12 months of service)
• 12 paid personal health days per year
• Insurance, AD&D, and health-related travel coverage.
• Competitive extended primarily company-paid benefits programs, including Health/Prescription Drug/Dental Coverage, Vision Coverage, short- and long-term disability
• 3 weeks’ vacation per year to start, PLUS up to 3 extra paid days off between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
• Participation in the Birds Canada RRSP matching program (Birds Canada will match contributions totaling to
• Competitive Salary

About Birds Canada

Birds Canada is a leading national organization dedicated to bird conservation. Every day, our thousands of caring donors, 100+ passionate staff, and 70,000+ outstanding volunteers are taking action to help us better understand, appreciate, and conserve birds and their habitats. Together, we are Canada’s voice for birds.

A $9 million non-profit, charitable organization, Birds Canada works to assess the health of bird populations in Canada, collaborate internationally throughout the hemisphere, protect Canada’s Key Biodiversity Areas, take action for species most at risk, and engage and inspire the nearly 30% of people in Canada who participate in birding.We believe the most effective conservation results arise from a multi-faceted approach which addresses the needs of habitats, species, and people.

Vision: Wild birds of Canada thrive in sustainable ecosystems.

Mission: To drive action to better understand, appreciate and conserve birds in Canada.

Guiding Principles:

Impact

Across our programs, we have a clear idea of the changes we are seeking. We measure and communicate our impact effectively, adapting our approach as needed to optimize results.

People

We understand that our successes come from people – staff, volunteers, donors, and collaborators. We will be exemplary in how we value, communicate, and harness these contributions.

Forward-looking

We are a modern organization which stays ahead of the curve by innovating, foreseeing important trends, and adapting to changing contexts.

Application Information:

This search is being conducted on behalf of Birds Canada by crawfordconnect, a search firm specializing in recruiting non-profit and charitable professionals for Canada’s non-profit sector. If someone you know may be interested in this position, feel free to forward this document – we would be pleased to connect with them.

If you have any questions about this position or the status of your application, please reach out to Ann Armstrong directly at 647-261-3566 or [email protected]

Application Details:

Qualified applicants are invited to submit their resume and cover letter in confidence to Senior Search Consultant, Ann Armstrong, at [email protected] by May 8, 2023.

We thank all applicants for applying, however, only qualified candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Birds Canada is committed to improving levels of diversity among its volunteers, donors, staff, and board that reflects the diversity of communities across the country. In an effort to do so, we are actively tracking and seeking to improve our ability to reach all candidates with our job postings. Applicants belonging to racialized groups, who identify as Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, or who have differing abilities are therefore welcome to self-identify in their cover letter, if they feel comfortable, although this is not a requirement.