Job Type:
Fixed-term contract until March 31, 2026
Location:
Hybrid position working in Guelph, Ontario two days per week
Hiring Range:
$56,700 – $63,800
Posting:
Application Deadline:
Open until filled
Position Overview:
The Communications Content Specialist is responsible for creating, curating, and managing content across various platforms to effectively communicate the mission, values, and impact of the organization. Working closely with the staff team, researchers, partner organizations and people with lived experience, the specialist will develop and implement content that engages diverse audiences, increases awareness of the organization’s programs and initiatives, communicates research findings and promotes fundraising efforts. The ideal candidate is a creative storyteller with a passion for mental health and substance use health and a commitment to advancing the organization’s goals.
Key Responsibilities
Content Creation:
- Develop and produce compelling content for the organization’s website, social media platforms, newsletters, email campaigns and other communication channels.
- Write and edit engaging stories that highlight the impact of the organization’s programs, donors, and beneficiaries.
- Tailor content to specific audience segments, ensuring appropriate tone, language, and medium.
- Develop and create multimedia content (graphics, carousels, video clips, etc.) to enhance storytelling and user engagement.
- Update and maintain content on the organization’s website and social media platforms, ensuring accuracy, consistency and relevance.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of the communications calendar, ensuring timely execution of campaigns and content delivery.
Knowledge Translation Support
- Proactively identify story opportunities to gather information and/or conduct interviews in collaboration with the manager of communications.
- Lead or support the development and distribution of knowledge translation products such as infographics, videos, and plain language summaries.
- Support knowledge translation events/webinars and promotional campaigns (e.g., HRI Talks).
- Maintain the HRI Publications Directory.
Social Media Platform Management:
- Manage social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, etc.), ensuring timely, relevant, and impactful content.
- Monitor social media trends and best practices to increase engagement and community interaction.
- Respond to online inquiries and engage with followers to build a vibrant and engaged community.
Collaboration and Coordination:
- Proactively and regularly communicate with manager, the staff team, researchers and others to gather stories, data, and insights that showcase the impact of the organization’s work.
- Maintain consistency in the organization’s voice and visual identity across all communication materials.
- Work with external vendors, such as designers or videographers, to produce high-quality content.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines are met.
Other
- Take on a variety of HRI projects and activities, as they arise.
Position Requirements
Education
Post-secondary degree or diploma in communications, journalism, public relations, knowledge translation or a related field.
Skills and Competencies
- Experience writing copy and creating graphics for social media and other web-based platforms, preferably within the nonprofit sector.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills in English, with the ability to create compelling and accurate content for diverse platforms and audiences.
- Ability to synthesize research findings into plain language.
- Strong computer literacy skills for social and digital platforms (experience in WordPress, Hootsuite, Mail Chimp, Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud, video editing, and the Microsoft suite of products).
- Knowledge of SEO, web analytics, and digital communication trends.
- Strong working knowledge of digital accessibility and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
- Ability to adapt to change and manage multiple competing priorities to meet deadlines.
- Self-starter with a proactive attitude who can anticipate needs.
- Strong interpersonal skills, and experience working in a collaborative environment, partnering with multiple teams and stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
- Passion for the nonprofit sector and a commitment to the organization’s mission in mental health and substance use health.
- Commitment to values of anti-oppression equity and inclusion and support for related organizational goals and activities.
- English/French bilingual capacity would be considered an asset.
- Eligible to obtain a police background/criminal record check.
Anti-Oppression, Equity and Inclusion Focus
At HRI, we believe that people and organizations thrive when we embrace the richness of the human experience and invite all voices to contribute to a shared goal. We are passionate about our vision: “No life held back or cut short by mental illness or substance use health.” This vision encompasses everyone, including (but not limited to) people who have historically experienced oppression, inequity and exclusion. We are working continuously to move AOEI values into action through our organizational culture, policies, and research activities. HRI 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.
Vaccine Policy
At HRI, our researchers, employees, and students often collaborate with partner organizations and universities. Those who work with our partners are required to comply with the vaccination policies of these external organizations to complete their work. Please note, vaccination policies are subject to change and the requirement to comply with those evolving policies remains in effect.
About HRI
Homewood Research Institute (HRI) is an independent, national charitable organization dedicated to research that transforms mental health and substance use treatment in Canada and around the world. HRI is uniquely positioned to innovate, test discoveries, and accelerate the process that turns research into solutions through strategic partnerships with some of Canada’s most influential scientists, researchers, clinicians, and people with lived and living experience. Our organizational culture values real-world impact and excellence, partnership and collaboration, and discovery and innovation through research.
How to Apply
HRI invites applicants to submit a cover letter and résumé to careers@hriresearch.com. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.