Job Opening: Blue Futures Pathways Communications Manager

About The SOI Foundation
The SOI Foundation is recognized globally for delivering life-changing polar expeditions. But that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our mission. Our planet is facing unprecedented challenges, making youth voices, ideas, and action more important than ever. Through educational expeditions, cross-cultural experiences, science and outreach initiatives in the Arctic, Antarctic, and places in between, the SOI Foundation inspires new perspectives, ideas, connections and collaborative solutions for a nature-positive world. The outcome is a global network that takes action and contributes to building healthy communities and a sustainable future for people and our planet. 

About Blue Futures Pathways
Blue Futures Pathways, an initiative of the SOI Foundation, is a bilingual program that connects young people aged 15-35 with education, employment and funding opportunities that inspire and support them in exploring successful careers in the emerging Sustainable Blue Economy.

In line with SOI’s mandate, Blue Futures Pathways (BFP) places particular emphasis on under-represented and Indigenous young people, and activities that support those in remote and rural areas. BFP also offers partner organizations a platform to communicate opportunities, as well as support to employers and educators wishing to engage and retain young people along their pathways.

About the UN Early Career Ocean Professional Program
BFP is an officially endorsed action under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030. From September 2024, the SOI Foundation will also become the administrative home of the Early Career Ocean Professional Network (ECOP) in Canada, a node of the UN Ocean Decade ECOP Global Program. The UN ECOP Global vision is to elevate and strengthen the diverse perspectives of new generations of ocean professionals through a collective voice, ensuring that knowledge is transferred between experienced professionals and ECOPs to promote ocean sustainability for “The Ocean We Want”. 

Scope of the role
Reporting to the Director of Programs, the Communications Manager will also collaborate closely with the ECOP Program Manager and the SOI Communications and Marketing Team in order to lead the communications for both BFP and the ECOP Program.

Strategic Communications 65%

• Assist in developing a communications and marketing strategy with a budget to support the outreach of the BFP program and the ECOP Canada program
• Create an action plan to implement the communications and marketing strategy including:
  • Together with the SOI Comms Team and the ECOP network, creating a social media and web content calendar for BFP content and the ECOP platforms.
• Work with key SOI team members, to identify key policy issues/moves, and trends among SOI audiences
• Source content for regular newsletters including:
  • Interviewing sources for relevant stories
  • Liaising with partners for cross-sharing content
  • Liaising with the SOI Communications team for cross-sharing content
• Write articles, newsletters, blog posts, captions, content for learning resources
• Collaborate with partners on written content 
• Guide blog contributors to cater to the BFP and ECOP audiences
• Support and amplify BFP and ECOP events online and in-person (including social media and slide decks for webinars, workshops, info sessions)
• Manage a media list 
• Pitch BFP and ECOP stories to media 
• Source interviews/content for media coverage of BFP and ECOP Canada
• Write key messages presentations delivered by other team members 

The PORT and Social Media 25%

• Review all media and communications assets related to BFP and ECOP Canada (video, graphics, reports, social media posts)
• Oversee the creation of  social media and web content for BFP and ECOP Canada
• Oversee updates and edits of the PORT
• Record mentions, coverage and partners’ shares of BFP and ECOP content
• Co-create ads and source ad placements to promote BFP and ECOP programs

SOI Comms 5%:

• Collaborate and provide content to the Communications team for the broader SOI audience
• Write blogs, social media captions and articles for the wider SOI audience
• Support with expedition communications and social media needs as required

General 5%

• Overseeing day-to-day tasks and deliverables in coordination with other SOI staff members;
• Contribute to a collaborative and positive work environment by participating in internal SOI Foundation activities, representing SOI Foundation at external events and conferences when applicable (sometimes requires travel, evenings, weekends), attending all-staff meetings, and assisting with other duties as assigned.  

Eligibility

• While a degree in journalism or communications is not mandatory, equivalent experience in communication management roles is required.
• Open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and those who have been granted refugee status in Canada. 

Skill set:

• At least 5 years in a communications management role
• Assist in developing and implementing a communications strategy
• Storytelling for various audiences
• Understanding of different audience segments, particularly youth
• Writing for blog, social media, articles, reports, presentations and scripts
• Can work under pressure and tight deadlines
• Social media and website analytics
• Good working knowledge of social media publishing tools, virtual event/meeting tools, Canva, Adobe Suite and WordPress
• Big picture thinking and connecting dots
• Takes initiative and independent, but also a team player
• Passion for the environment, ocean/water
• A good understanding of EDI terms, issues, best practices (particularly those relevant to Indigenous peoples)
• Relationship building and maintenance
• Fluency in English 
• Skills in French or Inuktut an advantage

Location
Due to the collaborative nature of this role, it will be primarily based out of the Gatineau office in Quebec. The SOI Foundation’s hybrid workplace model combines both in-person work (Tue, Wed, Thu) and focused remote work. 

Compensation and Benefits
The SOI Foundation offers all employees a competitive salary and benefits package including a 4.5 day work week, 20 days paid vacation, paid sick leave, office closure over Christmas and New Year, a health and benefits package, flexible working hours and a hybrid working environment. 

Application process
SOI is committed to enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion among its staff and programs and invites all qualified applicants to submit a resume and cover letter to tara@soifoundation.org. While we thank all applicants for their application, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.