Communications Officer – Knowledge Translation & Exchange, Indigenous Portfolio

Data. Discovery. Better Health.

ICES is a world-leading health research and analytics institute. With a wealth of data and analytic expertise, we create trusted evidence that has changed health policy and practice and helps ensure better health for all.

Ready to discover more with us? Join our outstanding, collaborative team where your skills, knowledge and curiosity are valued and can change the future of health care.

At ICES, we recognize what matters most to our employees. Some of the great benefits of working at ICES include:

Flexible remote work arrangements anywhere in Ontario
Competitive Compensation
Comprehensive Benefits Program
HOOPP Pension Plan (Defined Pension)
Employee Assistance Program and Dialogue Well Being Program
Generous vacation, float and caregiver days for all employees
Education Fund and Dedicated Education Days
Holiday Closure
Perkopolis Employee Discount Program

Introduction:

ICES is seeking a Communications Officer, Knowledge Translation & Exchange to join the ICES Indigenous Portfolio team. Reporting to the Director, Strategic Partnerships, the Communications Officer, Knowledge Translation & Exchange (KTE) will focus on two broad areas. First, the successful candidate will be responsible for developing and disseminating KTE products based on Weeneebayko Area Health Authority’s (WAHA) public health and community-based initiatives that are targeted at a variety of parties. In addition, they will be supporting KTE activities related to Indigenous Community-led research projects that ICES supports.

Acting as a resource to internal and external partners, the Communications Officer will help ensure that information is transferred and exchanged in a way that meets the needs of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and Urban Indigenous partners.

Responsibilities of the position include, but may not be limited to:

Support the development of a WAHA KTE-specific communications strategy by acting as an integral member of the ICES and WAHA Minomathasowin public health team, providing input towards all communications initiatives;
Work closely with the various members of the Indigenous Portfolio team to creating knowledge products for Indigenous Communities and organizations.
Work with the ICES and WAHA public health team media advisor and communications director to develop and review James and Hudson Bay community manuscripts and reports slated for publication; identify and recommend those that would be best suited for additional KTE efforts;
In collaboration with the WAHA Minomathasowin public health team, tactically develop and support KTE campaigns for targeted James and Hudson Bay manuscripts and reports and lead the production and dissemination of various products to be used in those campaigns, including videos, infographics, briefing notes, research summaries and other promotional materials for dissemination to different audiences;
Maintaining connections with project team members and collaborators from the WAHA and ICES side;
Develop and maintain KTE products, ensuring that public facing materials are developed to promote public health/COVID-19 messaging in alignment with WAHA public health & communications parameters, and to be aligned with current public health and COVID-19 trends within the WAHA region, provincially, nationally and internationally;
With guidance from WAHA, ensuring that distributed public health content is reflective of the overall vision for WAHA Communications and Public Health, and health promotion within all-encompassing Cree culture, worldviews and epistemologies;
Identify relevant external parties for KTE campaigns, build and sustain positive and mutually supportive relationships, and anticipate and respond to their needs;
Support education and consultation to facilitate KTE, grow the KTE program to meet the needs of James and Hudson Bay Region, build relationships internally and externally, and engage in knowledge sharing activities at the organizational, system, provincial and national levels;
Compile and maintain inventories of knowledge translation/evidence-informed best practice literature tools, resources and capacity building materials that are applicable to the Indigenous population;
Work collaboratively with ICES scientists to optimize messaging for KTE deliverables and to ensure broad outreach to relevant partners and other parties;
Evaluate KTE programs and vehicles on an ongoing basis; revise and refine efforts to ensure maximum effectiveness and impact;
Work collaboratively with ICES and WAHA Minomathasowin public health team members
Bring ingenuity and creativity to the broader communications department at ICES and WAHA, including the development and implementation of new ideas, products, initiatives and processes that support Communities.
Other duties as may be assigned within the scope of this position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities required:

Certificate or diploma in Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Communications or related field;
Knowledge of Indigenous models of health service delivery and a willingness to learn about Indigenous data governance;
Knowledge of Indigenous research methodologies, approaches and ethical requirements such as OCAP;
Experience working with Indigenous communities and/or Northern isolated communities;
Experience integrating local Indigenous knowledge and applying this knowledge to the work;
The successful candidate must have a demonstrated knowledge of Indigenous cultures in Canada, preferably through personal lived experiences;
Three or more years of directly related communications experience; healthcare sector or research sector experience is an asset;
Demonstrated experience with designing and implementing KTE initiatives
Graphic design abilities in Canva, In Design and Illustrator would be an asset, but at minimum, candidate should be proficiency using Canva required
Ability to research, analyze, plan and execute in the areas of: message development, communications vehicle development and communications effectiveness measurement;
Needs to be a self-starter, creative/idea-generator and experienced in taking complex content and making it accurate, concise and eloquent;
Public relations, editing, proofreading and writing skills; proven technical and persuasive writing skills;
Ability to adapt style for specific mediums, voices and formats and distill complex technical content for an Indigenous audience;
Collaborative working style with demonstrated success in a team- and community-based environment;
Familiarity with scientific literature, including statistical information, and experience with translating research materials into lay language that can be translated into Indigenous languages;
Organizational skills and the proven ability to manage multiple projects, workflows and timelines;
Ability to work independently and reliably and take initiative;
In-depth knowledge of Indigenous provincial and national health care, research and policy organizations;
Strong computer proficiency including Microsoft Office;
Social media competence and experience;
Video and photography skills, including editing, are an asset.

This position is one year contract with possibility of renewal and it’s located at ICES Central in Toronto.

Security clearance may be required.