About SickKids

Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built - nor could it be maintained - without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.

When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world's best in paediatric healthcare.

Position Description

Communications and Events Officer

As part of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) team, headquartered at the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, the Communications and Events Officer supports the Scientific Director and Assistant Directors in implementing IMHA's vision and communications strategy, and is responsible for ensuring the appropriate representation of CIHR-IMHA in print, visual and social media and at IMHA hosted events. This role plays a key part in ensuring IMHA's national presence and engagement through communications, knowledge translation, and event planning activities.

Here's What You'll Get to Do:

Communications

• Develop and implement communications plans, including articles, newsletters, researcher profiles, and web content.
• Develop and update reports, analyses, briefings, and presentations to support Institute staff and initiatives.
• Liaise with IMHA team members, researchers, and diverse external contacts/partners to design and deliver tailored communications materials.
• Generate visual materials to support effective communication and engagement.
• Prepare materials such as reference documents, presentation slides, and briefings for Institute Advisory Board meetings and other events.

Knowledge Translation and Engagement

• Implement outreach and engagement strategies to grow the audience across Communications channels, including with trainees and community organizations.
• Identify gaps and opportunities for Knowledge Translation activities, develop plans, and co-create content.

Media and Social Media

• Create and execute a social media strategy, prepare monthly content plans, develop content, manage scheduling and track key performance metrics.
• Coordinate with media partners and CIHR's central communications team to ensure accurate and timely representation of IMHA activities.

Event Planning and Coordination

• Development of Communications materials for events, including posters and booth assets.
• Collaborate with other team members to support planning of IMHA events, meetings, and webinars (in-person and hybrid).

Research and Administration

• Conduct environmental scans and background research (including social listening), and stay current on relevant technologies and trends, to inform communication strategies and Institute initiatives.
• Ensure that Communications reflect best practices for inclusive language, accessible digital design, and ethical use of digital technologies (including AI assistants).
• Conduct a review of the IMHA web pages on the CIHR site, including relevant metrics, and work with the web team to improve clarity and structure of the content.

Here's What You'll Need:

Essential Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, with a minimum of two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with experience preparing scientific reports, newsletters, and other public-facing materials.
• Proficiency with MS Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook at an advanced level.
• Illustration and design skills, including experience creating digital assets for social media; proficiency with content design software such as Canva, InDesign, Photoshop
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and respect for diverse perspectives.
• Ability to obtain Government of Canada Reliability Security Clearance is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certification in communications, digital communications, public relations
• Experience in health and life science communication (including interviewing subject matter experts and translating content to accessible communications materials) and social media analytics.
• Experience collaborating with media providers and coordinating outreach campaigns.
• Experience planning and managing public and external contact/partner-facing events.
• Basic video editing skills
• Fluency in both official languages is an asset.

Here's What You'll Love:

Impact

The opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to improving health outcomes for Canadians by supporting research across the entire IMHA mandate by leading IMHA's communications strategies.

Benefits

Eligible for employee benefits coverage, including health and dental benefits (details provided upon offer).
Access to staff wellness programs and a supportive work environment.
A workplace that values equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Employment Type:

• Full-time, 2-year contract (renewable), based in Toronto, with occasional travel within Canada to attend workshops, meetings, and conferences.

Our Commitment to Diversity

SickKids is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do, fostering an intentionally inclusive and culturally safe environment that reflects the diversity of the patients, families and communities we serve. Learn more about workplace inclusion.

Accessibility & Accommodation

If you require accommodation during the application process, please reach out to our aSKHR team. SickKids can provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and selection process as well as to ensure candidates are able to perform their duties once successfully hired. If you are invited for an interview and require accommodation, please let us know at the time of your invitation to interview. Information received related to access, inclusion or accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

How To Apply

Technical difficulties? Email ask.hr@sickkids.ca with a short description of the issues you are experiencing. We will not accept resumes sent to this inbox but we are happy to respond to requests for technical assistance.

Tip: Combine your cover letter and resume into ONE document of 20 pages or less as you cannot upload multiple documents as part of your application.