JOB TITLE: Communications Director

LOCATION: Calgary or Edmonton

Download this position description as a PDF.

Alberta Ecotrust is a registered charity created through a unique partnership between the corporate sector and the environmental community in 1991. Leading boldly ever since, our programs have expanded to build bridges across sectors, communities, and cultures, focus on solutions and skills, and financially support hundreds of high impact environmental organizations, programs and projects across Alberta. 

We increasingly utilize a co-benefits approach to ecosystem challenges, looking for outcomes that also include cleaner air, job creation in new economies, public health benefits, and energy-efficient affordable housing. Beyond grants, we are mobilizing  and financing pathways to a sustainable, low carbon future. Our environmental priorities include:

• Nature-based Solutions & Conservation

• Climate Resilience & Emissions Reduction

• Circular Economy

Alberta Ecotrust respectfully acknowledges that our programs are delivered across the province of Alberta, comprising Treaty 6, Treaty 7, and Treaty 8 territory, the traditional lands of First Nations and Métis Peoples. We increasingly utilize a multi-solving approach to ecosystem challenges and pathways to a low carbon future and are committed to creating a safe, warm and welcoming environment for all people interested in applying for our positions.

Communications Director

The Communications Director plays a key leadership and implementer role on the Alberta Ecotrust Foundation’s team. In addition to supporting the entire Alberta Ecotrust suite of programming and fundraising efforts, the Communications Director is a critical team member of Alberta Ecotrust’s emerging Building Information Exchange (BIX) and Retrofit Accelerator services.  

Alberta Ecotrust provides a suite of programs and services and is a long standing fixture on the Alberta landscape.  With the support of Alberta Ecotrust’s Communications Manager, the Communications Director is responsible for organization-wide communications with a particular focus on Alberta Ecotrust’s emerging Building Information Exchange (BIX).

The BIX is a new development that will serve as a Centre of Excellence for industry that strengthens the public, private, and civic capacities for zero-emissions buildings in Calgary, Edmonton and throughout Alberta. Over the next 12 months, the BIX will be developed in partnership and collaboration with industry, government, and other key stakeholders. Over the long-term, it is our vision that BIX will be a catalytic, amplifying member of the Alberta-based community of practice that exchanges knowledge of how to decarbonize the building sector. 

Your goal in this position will be to develop, implement, monitor, and continually improve Alberta Ecotrust’s communications, marketing program, and events management by maintaining a robust marketing and communications strategy. Working closely with the team member leading each initiative, you will implement Alberta Ecotrust’s communications, media relations, and brand management through a shared services model. 

This position is responsible for the following:

Strategy, Management and Planning 

• Lead the implementation, maintenance and management of strategic communications. marketing and event plans for Alberta Ecotrust. This includes a comprehensive education, outreach, and events plan for the Building Information Exchange (to be developed with Program staff).

• Lead in identifying key messages for internal and external communications, crafted in partnership with internal and external stakeholders.

• Manage all media relations and public relations activities.

• Understand our strategic approaches and impact, and lead the Building team to capture and share insights, information and analysis in ways meaningful to our audiences and stakeholders.

• Evaluate, track KPIs, and perform analytics of communications strategy and channels; Provide regular reports on the status of key communications deliverables.

• Manage procurement and external communications consulting contracts if/when needed.

Staff Supervision and Direct Reports

• Oversee and guide the communications staff and develop a long term resourcing plan that is coincident with current and forecasted funding levels.  Current direct reports include one Communications Manager.

 Media Relations and Events

• Build and manage media relations and develop contacts with media members, influencers, and community leaders to enhance the visibility and reputation of Alberta Ecotrust.

• Manage relationships with media contacts, manage media releases and advisories, track media requests and track our success in growing a positive presence as a result of Alberta Ecotrust’s programs.  .

• Develop marketing, outreach, media and partnership strategies for events..

BIX Training and Capacity Building Programming

• The Director will take a lead role in supporting Alberta Ecotrust’s Building Information Exchange.  This will require close collaboration with the buildings team to develop a training and educational consortium with different providers across Alberta to help support, expand, and amplify their offerings related to emissions neutral buildings.

• As part of the Building Information Exchange, the Communications Director will develop and maintain a calendar of training events as well as an applicable marketing plan for these training events.

Content Development and Brand Management

• Oversee the design, content (with the support of subject matter expertise), and production of all communications materials including social media, web presence, video content, podcasts, written reports, case studies, and guidelines.

• Curate consistent use of key messages and brand identity with internal and external stakeholders; train team on key message use and established brand identity rules and guidelines

• Oversee consistency of brand, key messages and style

• Manage procurement and external communications consulting contracts if/when needed.

• Complete or manage (if outsourced), editing and distribution of regular communication to a variety of stakeholders, including social media, email newsletters, case studies, research reports, media such as video and audio, and annual reporting.

• Manage the Alberta Ecotrust website and associated websites/webpages including the Building Information Exchange.

• Development and implementation of standard templates for a variety of communication pieces.

• Update of public presentation materials, including, displays, brochures, solicitation materials, reports, case studies,  and powerpoint presentations.

• Establish and ensure effective CRM usage including use of communication and query tools for building marketing lists and crafting messaging for emails and text messaging platforms.

• Coordinate opportunities for the promotion and inclusion of Alberta Ecotrust at significant events.

• Assist in building positive and effective relationships with the organization’s key stakeholders including business and community leaders, volunteers, funders and government officials.

Event Support

• Provide turn key event management services through internal staff allocations and/or external contracts as necessary. 

• Implement marketing, outreach, media and partnership strategies for events.

• Develop marketing materials for workshops, conferences, and events hosted or supported by Alberta Ecotrust.

• Support the Alberta Ecotrust team in managing online information and registration for events.

• Host, record and share online events.

Strategic Partnerships, Business Planning and Fundraising

• Assist the Strategic Partnerships Director in developing fundraising campaigns, cases for support, fulfillment reports, and other collateral to maintain partnerships and achieve fundraising targets

• Contribute to the annual business plan, participate in board meetings, and assist the team in developing annual reports.

• Contribute ideas and expertise to strategic discussions, and annual budgeting.

Qualifications

You will be part of the extended Leadership Team and report directly to the Vice President of Alberta Ecotrust. Your role requires consistent and frequent collaboration with the various Alberta Ecotrust teams.  Particular effort is required to start-up the Building Information Exchange in collaboration with the technical buildings staff in order to generate impactful and compelling capacity building programs, skill building events and educational content. Alberta Ecotrust’s head office is in Calgary, however, the successful candidate can be located in either Calgary or Edmonton.

 A successful candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• At least ten years experience in communications, marketing and public relations

• Direct experience in providing communications support for an environment, energy, or building related organization would be an asset. 

• Post-secondary education in a field, such as business, marketing, communications, public relations with demonstrated experience and interest in the environment and the built form of our cities.  An education in environment, public policy, science or engineering will also be considered with the right practical experience in communications.

• Experience with non-profit communications including fundraising campaigns, funding proposals and impact reporting is an asset.

• Proven excellence in writing, editing and verbal communications across traditional and new media (e.g. socials).

• Experience in email marketing, list segmentation, and client relationship management software (CRM).

• Previous experience coordinating the writing, design and printing of publications in a small team.

• Proven track record in media relations.

• Curriculum development or teaching experience would be an asset.

• Graphic design experience would be an asset.

• Familiarity with communications tools, including: Wordpress, Google Analytics, Microsoft Office/G Suite, Sprout Social, Fundraise Up, Constant Contact, social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube), NeonCRM, design software such as Adobe Creative Suite and/or Canva, Zoom Webinars. 

• Experience planning and organizing events and workshops.

• Knowledge of the Alberta environmental, clean tech, and green building sector is an asset.

Workplace Culture 

Alberta Ecotrust provides a flexible schedule and a positive, collaborative team culture. Our staff are extremely motivated to make a difference, and you’ll be part of an innovative team that gets to do interesting, meaningful work aligned with their shared values and desire to improve the world.  The work arrangement is hybrid at this time with a mix of remote, home based work combined with periodic in person office hours at either the Calgary head office or Edmonton coworking space.

Remuneration

This is a full-time, 37.5-hour work week with every third Friday EDO, permanent position with a competitive salary range of $90,000 - $110,000 per year, commensurate with experience, plus paid health benefits, three weeks vacation and a Christmas break.

How to Apply

1. Submit your application to Alberta Ecotrust via our online recruitment system by midnight on April 30th, 2023.

2. Combine your cover letter and resume as one PDF document, named as follows: LastName_FirstName_Communications_Director

3. Your cover letter and resume combined must not exceed four pages

Applicants are encouraged to identify in their applications if they are Indigenous Peoples, Black People, People of Colour, women, youth, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ2SAI+ communities, new immigrants, refugees, and/or are members of other diverse communities. 

If we can make this easier through accommodation in the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing s.berry@albertaecotrust.com. Please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We thank everyone who applies.