CharityVillage

INSTITUTE FOR CHRISTIAN STUDIES
Job Opening ­– Communications Coordinator

Job Type: Full Time

Salary Range: $45,000 ­– $50,000

Location: Toronto, ON

Posting/Open Date: June 23, 2024

Application/Close Date: August 16, 2024

Job Start Date (Expected): September 16, 2024 (subject to negotiation)

Target Audience: 3 – 5 Years of Experience

Job Category: Communications/Marketing 

Organization Overview:

The Institute for Christian Studies (ICS) is a community-supported, independent Christian graduate school with a charter to grant MA and PhD degrees in philosophy (including an Educational Leadership stream within the MA program), as well as an MWS-ART (Master of Worldview Studies in Art, Religion, and Theology). At ICS, the expertise of our experienced and widely-published faculty combines with the intimacy of a small school to create a hospitable academic community that welcomes the whole person. ICS is an affiliate member of the Toronto School of Theology, located in the Knox College building at the heart of the historic University of Toronto campus, and has a large network of supporting communities within the Christian Reformed Church of Canada.

Position Overview:

The Communications Coordinator will organize and synthesize ICS’s suite of communications, including marketing materials, advancement communications, web development, social media, and promotion of public outreach events, ensuring consistent messaging to diverse audiences in pursuit of ICS’s mission in Christian higher education. The Communications Coordinator reports to the President and works closely with other staff, including the Academic Office (Dean, Registrar, and Recruitment Coordinator), the Advancement Office (Advancement Director and Donor Relations Manager), and ICS’s Centre for Philosophy, Religion, and Social Ethics (Director and Associate Director). The Communications Coordinator will also facilitate effective public communication of ICS’s three main academic program areas: 1) MA/PhD in philosophy; 2) The professional development Educational Leadership stream of our MA program; and 3) lifelong learning.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain and develop the ICS website, including search engine optimization
• Write and publish up-to-date website, Ground Motive blog, and monthly ENewsletter content
• Manage creation and print production of ICS’s semi-annual newsletter, Perspective
• Curate, create, and edit content for Critical Faith podcast episodes
• Create marketing and promotional materials for ICS’s programs, in consultation with program directors and the Academic Office
• Work with advancement staff in aligning public relations and donor relations communications, including ICS’s Annual Report, fundraising appeals, and gift acknowledgements.
• Maintain ICS’s social media accounts, including Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, including content creation and curation
• Identify and develop relationships with media contacts (Christian Courier, The Banner, The Globe and Mail, etc.), community partners (The Canadian Interfaith Conversation, the Christian Reformed Church, etc.), and academic partners (Martin Luther University College, The King’s University, the Toronto School of Theology, etc.) to promote ICS programs and events
• Coordinate media requests and follow up, while serving as the secondary media contact as needed
• Assist with other external and internal communications duties as needed

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 1-3 years of experience creating and implementing communications strategies
• Experience with website and social media development, including content creation/curation and search engine optimization
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills and strong attention to detail
• Ability to work independently as part of an entrepreneurial team and to collaborate with several teams at once
• Copy editing and/or professional writing experience
• Troubleshooting various technical issues, e.g., with Google Workspace and file formatting
• Adept with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Workspace Apps (including Gmail and Sites administration), and Zoom
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Acrobat, Audition)
• Ability to translate complex intellectual concepts into language easily comprehensible to diverse audiences.
• Ability to prioritize among competing goals to execute on tight deadlines

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of fundraising communications techniques including, but not limited to, proposal writing, public relations, donor relations and stewardship, and prospect research
• Graphic design skills
• Ability to set up and monitor virtual/hybrid meetings and events
• Database experience