Communications Officer
Top Benefits
About the role
Department: Communications and Public Relations
Posting Date: July 15, 2025 - July 28, 2025
Term: Fixed-term contract until July 30, 2027
Hiring Range: $55,000 - $65,000
Benefits: Extensive benefit package inclusive of health, dental, RRSP matching, and paid personal days. Hybrid working options available for team members.
Vacancy: Existing Position
Background
The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) is a charitable non-profit organization that partners with the University of Waterloo, Conestoga College, and Schlegel Villages to enhance care and quality of life for older adults. Through engagement with key partners and collaborators, RIA supports practice-relevant research and knowledge mobilization. Research evidence is used to inform programs, education and training, and influence practice and policy.
The Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) is a program of the RIA, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Bruyère, that partners with the long-term care (LTC) sector to enhance the health and well-being of those who live and work in LTC homes. We provide programs and resources to train and engage the current and future workforce. The Ontario CLRI is funded by the Government of Ontario.
Primary Purpose
The Communications Officer provides support to the day-to-day activities of communications for various projects of the RIA’s Ontario CLRI program. The position is responsible for supporting communications plans in collaboration with project leads and the communications team. The Communications Officer will prepare and implement an overall communications plan for projects, tailoring key messages for different audiences in collaboration with the project/communications team, developing written and basic visual content, and managing project website/web pages.
The role will support RIA’s vision, mission, and values as well as have an interest and passion for enhancing quality of life and care for older adults and those who care for them.
Key Accountabilities
- Project communications: Support the development and implementation of project communication plans in alignment with the goals and the objectives of projects. Support the day-to-day communications activities, including preparing communication materials (e.g., newsletter articles, email communications, webpage content, social posts) for diverse audiences. Review materials to ensure alignment with Ontario CLRI brand. Monitor and report on key communication metrics to ensure objectives are being achieved.
- Digital content creation: Manage and maintain project websites/web pages and contribute project-specific social media content in alignment with the project communications plans, including content creation, regular content updates and monitoring analytics.
- Knowledge mobilization : Support the development and dissemination of knowledge mobilization products (e.g., research summaries, toolkits, resources, presentations) in collaboration with project teams and researchers.
- Events : Support event promotion and communications for virtual and in-person events, including supporting event logistics as needed such as organizing, preparing and shipping marketing and communication collateral. Prepare materials for and represent RIA at both internal and external events.
- Teamwork and consultation: Pro-actively and regularly communicate with supervisor and project team regarding assigned work, including communicating obstacles and challenges as they arise. Consult with team members about their needs and liaise between team members and supervisor. Actively participate in team and organization-wide meetings virtually and in-person.
- Other: Take on a variety of additional projects and activities, as they arise.
Position Requirements
Education:
College diploma or University degree in a communications, marketing, or public relations field. Training or equivalent experience in communications is required.
Skills and Experience:
- A minimum of 1 year experience in a communications role.
- Experience with creating and implementing communication plans and monitoring key metrics to evaluate impact.
- Knowledge of AODA requirements and compliance for digital and print communications.
- Experience engaging with various partners including researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience, specifically tailoring messaging and communication materials for different audiences, including the general public.
- Strong written skills and demonstrated ability to write in plain language, including experience writing web and social content, reports, research summaries, and newsletter articles.
- Experience using various systems/technologies (website content, graphic design software, social media software) to optimize project outcomes.
- Understanding of knowledge mobilization theories and best practices, and have experience developing and disseminating knowledge mobilization resources, tools and products.
- Ability to work in a collaborative team environment.
- Ability to adapt to change and manage competing priorities.
- Self-starter with a proactive attitude who can anticipate needs with strong organizational skills.
- Experience and fluency using Microsoft, Google Workspace products, online survey platforms, webinar platforms and virtual meeting software.
Additional Requirements:
- Fluency in English. Fluency in French is an asset but not required.
- Must have a valid driver’s licence and be available for occasional travel.
- Eligible to obtain a clear police background and record check.
- Eligible to work in Canada.
Scope of Work:
- Interpersonal Skills: Communicates effectively with internal team members and external partners; professionally represents the RIA in all communications and at events.
- Level of Responsibility: Responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient implementation of the project in alignment with the goals and objectives.
- Decision-Making Authority: Accountable to make operational decisions for the day-to-day operations of the project with support from the supervisor.
- Physical and Sensory Demands: Minimal demands, typical of a position operating within an office environment; periods of extensive sitting at a desk and in meetings and concentrated use of visual senses; substantial repetitive keyboard/mouse movement; high sensory demands because of required concentration and attentiveness to detail and regular distractions and interruptions.
- Working Environment : Much of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position with frequent opportunities to move about. Office is located in a comfortable indoor area and options for hybrid work are available for this position. The work is varied and assignments may change frequently. Work will involve regular interaction with RIA team members and external partners and collaborators. There are deadline pressures, while at the same time there is a demand for thoroughness and accuracy. Occasional travel is required.
Vaccination Statement
All researchers, employees and students of the RIA who will work with long-term care homes, colleges, universities and other partners are required to comply with the vaccination policies of those external organizations to complete their work. Of note, vaccination policies are subject to change. The requirement to comply with those evolving policies does not change.
Equity Statement
The RIA is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion within its community and organization. We strongly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, racialized groups, women, 2SLGBTQI+ people, persons with disabilities and people from other equity-deserving groups.
The RIA is pleased to accommodate individual needs in accordance with the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) within our recruitment process. If you require accommodation at any time throughout the recruitment process, please let us know.
Funding Statement
Please note that all positions at the RIA and the continuation of these positions are conditional upon funding.
How to Apply
RIA invites applications (cover letter and resume) to be submitted by email to applications@the-ria.ca. Please include the job title in the subject line of the email.
About Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA)
As a charitable, non-profit foundation, the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) enhances the quality of life and care of older adults through partnerships in research, education and practice.
RIA has core partnerships with Schlegel Villages, University of Waterloo and Conestoga College, but collaborates with a number of other organizations and academic institutions.
Through these collaborations, RIA supports practice-relevant research and mobilizes research evidence so it can inform programs, be integrated into education and training, and influence practice and policy. What is learned is then shared to benefit older adults everywhere.
Communications Officer
Top Benefits
About the role
Department: Communications and Public Relations
Posting Date: July 15, 2025 - July 28, 2025
Term: Fixed-term contract until July 30, 2027
Hiring Range: $55,000 - $65,000
Benefits: Extensive benefit package inclusive of health, dental, RRSP matching, and paid personal days. Hybrid working options available for team members.
Vacancy: Existing Position
Background
The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) is a charitable non-profit organization that partners with the University of Waterloo, Conestoga College, and Schlegel Villages to enhance care and quality of life for older adults. Through engagement with key partners and collaborators, RIA supports practice-relevant research and knowledge mobilization. Research evidence is used to inform programs, education and training, and influence practice and policy.
The Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) is a program of the RIA, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Bruyère, that partners with the long-term care (LTC) sector to enhance the health and well-being of those who live and work in LTC homes. We provide programs and resources to train and engage the current and future workforce. The Ontario CLRI is funded by the Government of Ontario.
Primary Purpose
The Communications Officer provides support to the day-to-day activities of communications for various projects of the RIA’s Ontario CLRI program. The position is responsible for supporting communications plans in collaboration with project leads and the communications team. The Communications Officer will prepare and implement an overall communications plan for projects, tailoring key messages for different audiences in collaboration with the project/communications team, developing written and basic visual content, and managing project website/web pages.
The role will support RIA’s vision, mission, and values as well as have an interest and passion for enhancing quality of life and care for older adults and those who care for them.
Key Accountabilities
- Project communications: Support the development and implementation of project communication plans in alignment with the goals and the objectives of projects. Support the day-to-day communications activities, including preparing communication materials (e.g., newsletter articles, email communications, webpage content, social posts) for diverse audiences. Review materials to ensure alignment with Ontario CLRI brand. Monitor and report on key communication metrics to ensure objectives are being achieved.
- Digital content creation: Manage and maintain project websites/web pages and contribute project-specific social media content in alignment with the project communications plans, including content creation, regular content updates and monitoring analytics.
- Knowledge mobilization : Support the development and dissemination of knowledge mobilization products (e.g., research summaries, toolkits, resources, presentations) in collaboration with project teams and researchers.
- Events : Support event promotion and communications for virtual and in-person events, including supporting event logistics as needed such as organizing, preparing and shipping marketing and communication collateral. Prepare materials for and represent RIA at both internal and external events.
- Teamwork and consultation: Pro-actively and regularly communicate with supervisor and project team regarding assigned work, including communicating obstacles and challenges as they arise. Consult with team members about their needs and liaise between team members and supervisor. Actively participate in team and organization-wide meetings virtually and in-person.
- Other: Take on a variety of additional projects and activities, as they arise.
Position Requirements
Education:
College diploma or University degree in a communications, marketing, or public relations field. Training or equivalent experience in communications is required.
Skills and Experience:
- A minimum of 1 year experience in a communications role.
- Experience with creating and implementing communication plans and monitoring key metrics to evaluate impact.
- Knowledge of AODA requirements and compliance for digital and print communications.
- Experience engaging with various partners including researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience, specifically tailoring messaging and communication materials for different audiences, including the general public.
- Strong written skills and demonstrated ability to write in plain language, including experience writing web and social content, reports, research summaries, and newsletter articles.
- Experience using various systems/technologies (website content, graphic design software, social media software) to optimize project outcomes.
- Understanding of knowledge mobilization theories and best practices, and have experience developing and disseminating knowledge mobilization resources, tools and products.
- Ability to work in a collaborative team environment.
- Ability to adapt to change and manage competing priorities.
- Self-starter with a proactive attitude who can anticipate needs with strong organizational skills.
- Experience and fluency using Microsoft, Google Workspace products, online survey platforms, webinar platforms and virtual meeting software.
Additional Requirements:
- Fluency in English. Fluency in French is an asset but not required.
- Must have a valid driver’s licence and be available for occasional travel.
- Eligible to obtain a clear police background and record check.
- Eligible to work in Canada.
Scope of Work:
- Interpersonal Skills: Communicates effectively with internal team members and external partners; professionally represents the RIA in all communications and at events.
- Level of Responsibility: Responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient implementation of the project in alignment with the goals and objectives.
- Decision-Making Authority: Accountable to make operational decisions for the day-to-day operations of the project with support from the supervisor.
- Physical and Sensory Demands: Minimal demands, typical of a position operating within an office environment; periods of extensive sitting at a desk and in meetings and concentrated use of visual senses; substantial repetitive keyboard/mouse movement; high sensory demands because of required concentration and attentiveness to detail and regular distractions and interruptions.
- Working Environment : Much of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position with frequent opportunities to move about. Office is located in a comfortable indoor area and options for hybrid work are available for this position. The work is varied and assignments may change frequently. Work will involve regular interaction with RIA team members and external partners and collaborators. There are deadline pressures, while at the same time there is a demand for thoroughness and accuracy. Occasional travel is required.
Vaccination Statement
All researchers, employees and students of the RIA who will work with long-term care homes, colleges, universities and other partners are required to comply with the vaccination policies of those external organizations to complete their work. Of note, vaccination policies are subject to change. The requirement to comply with those evolving policies does not change.
Equity Statement
The RIA is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion within its community and organization. We strongly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, racialized groups, women, 2SLGBTQI+ people, persons with disabilities and people from other equity-deserving groups.
The RIA is pleased to accommodate individual needs in accordance with the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) within our recruitment process. If you require accommodation at any time throughout the recruitment process, please let us know.
Funding Statement
Please note that all positions at the RIA and the continuation of these positions are conditional upon funding.
How to Apply
RIA invites applications (cover letter and resume) to be submitted by email to applications@the-ria.ca. Please include the job title in the subject line of the email.
About Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA)
As a charitable, non-profit foundation, the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) enhances the quality of life and care of older adults through partnerships in research, education and practice.
RIA has core partnerships with Schlegel Villages, University of Waterloo and Conestoga College, but collaborates with a number of other organizations and academic institutions.
Through these collaborations, RIA supports practice-relevant research and mobilizes research evidence so it can inform programs, be integrated into education and training, and influence practice and policy. What is learned is then shared to benefit older adults everywhere.