Government Relations Specialist

Become a changemaker with Islamic Relief Canada! Join our team and work towards our mission to mobilize Canadians to transform more lives around the world in the most trusted manner.

Location: Remote

About the Department:

The Communications and Government Relations team is at the forefront of shaping and sharing the impact of our humanitarian work and advocacy. We foster strong connections with government officials and policymakers to advocate for meaningful change. With an innovative approach to media relations and public engagement, we work to amplify community stories that highlight our humanitarian efforts around the world.

Job Purpose:

Primary responsibilities of this role include drafting briefings, coordinating government meetings, networking with key stakeholders, and attending Ottawa meetings and events. This role reports to the Government Relations Manager.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Media Relations
   • Lead and coordinate Islamic Relief’s media relations functions
   • Preparing, writing, and editing press releases, Op Eds, statements, blog posts, reports, and other materials to generate media coverage for IRC
   • Generating media hits and coverage for Islamic Relief’s programs, campaigns, events, and research projects
   • Working with other departments to coordinate media coverage
   • Networking and building relationships with journalists, editors, producers
   • Monitoring all social media channels for positive and negative media coverage and keeping track on what is being said about IRC across the world
   • Responding to media requests in a timely manner
   • Being proactive in securing media coverage for the organization
   • Preparing media and reputation management reports
   • Organizing press conferences
   • Acting as the media liaison at events, press events, briefings
   • Preparing media messaging documents for CEO, SLT and other staff members
   • Conducting media training for staff
   • Providing strategic advice to the department head and other team members
2. Content Management
   • Working with the marketing team to prepare different types of content (such as emails, social media posts, speeches)
   • Preparing internal messaging documents, speeches, reports
   • Working collaboratively across the organization to coordinate content and messaging for campaigns
   • Proofreading and editing content
3. Other Duties
   • Managing and overseeing the media and content team
   • Attending events when needed
   • Performing other duties as assigned by the Department head

Qualifications & Competencies

• Significant media experience and knowledge
• Strong track record of securing positive media coverage for an organization (preferably in an NGO setting)
• Leadership and managerial experience
• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Experience as a copywriter (highly desirable)
• Excellent written and spoken skills in English are required, including strong analytical and report-writing capability and strong attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal and team skills
• Demonstrates IRC’s values of Hunger, Humility and People Smart
• Relationship Builder
• Demonstrated capacity to work both in a self-directed manner and collaboratively with other staff and stakeholders
• Demonstrated capacity to work effectively in a wide range of cultural and political settings
• Be able to work comfortably in a fast-paced environment
• Strong time management and prioritization skills
• Proficient with Gmail, MS Office suite, Adobe Acrobat
• This role requires occasional weekend and evening work
• Must be eligible to work in Canada

This is a remote position based anywhere in Canada. The candidate will be required to attend occasional in-person meetings and staff events throughout the year.

Starting Salary:

$58,500.00

Please note: The posted starting salary is intended to provide potential candidates with a general understanding of the compensation associated with the position. The actual salary offered will start at this figure, with adjustments possible based on individual qualifications and other relevant factors.