Youth Engagement Officer (bilingual EN/FR)

About this position

POSITION TITLE: Youth Engagement Officer

POSITION LOCATION: Ottawa, Canada (Hybrid)

REPORTS TO: Manager, Public Engagement and Manager, Canadian Programming, Durable Solutions for Refugees

CONTRACT TERM: Indeterminate

SALARY LEVEL: PRO1 (50K – 56K)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 7, 2023

EXPECTED START DATE: July 2023

LANGUAGES: Bilingual English / French

BACKGROUND

WUSC is a Canadian non-profit organization that works to build a more equitable, sustainable world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of professionals, volunteers, students, education institutions, governments and businesses who share this vision. We develop and implement initiatives that address inequality and youth exclusion, and that expand education, economic and empowerment opportunities for young people, particularly young women and young refugees.

We have an annual budget of approximately CAD $40 million; 90 people working from our Ottawa office; and over 200 people working in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. We have a portfolio of 20+ initiatives funded by Global Affairs Canada, the UK government, multilateral organizations and financial institutions, and private foundations.

CONTEXT

Volunteering for development is one of the important ways in which WUSC pursues its mission. WUSC’s Volunteer Cooperation Program (VCP) has ambitious targets to mobilize hundreds of skilled Canadian volunteers each year to support partners in developing countries where we are working to advance gender equality and facilitate economic opportunities for poor and marginalized young people, especially young women and refugees. Overseas, our volunteers collaborate with a wide variety of partners, including enterprise and social enterprise development incubators, skills training centres, enterprises, women’s organizations, and youth groups. In Canada, WUSC works with institutions and individuals to identify, prepare, and support volunteers who travel overseas to support our partners for various durations of time. Our network in Canada also works with WUSC to raise awareness among Canadians to inspire greater action on global development issues. Our collective focus is on sustainable and inclusive changes to create a better world for youth.

WUSC YOUTH NETWORK

Active on more than 100 college, CEGEP, and university campuses, WUSC’s student-run Local Committees make up the largest network of student groups in Canada who are dedicated to international and forced migration issues. Through their engagement, Local Committee members promote and support WUSC’s Student Refugee Program (SRP), public engagement, and international volunteering initiatives.

The SRP provides refugee youth living in countries of asylum an opportunity to pursue their education at Canadian post-secondary institutions and resettle to Canada as permanent residents. Each year, over 130 students are accepted into the program and supported by WUSC Local Committees, who provide financial, academic, and settlement support for a minimum period of 12 months.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Manager, Public Engagement and Manager, Canadian Programming, Durable Solutions for Refugees , the Youth Engagement Officer plays a key role in the mobilization of WUSC’s 100+ campus-based and student-led Local Committees across the country to deliver public engagement campaigns, activities, and events on their campuses and in their communities.

Communication and Digital Engagement

• Coordinate communications channels (e.g. social media, email) designed to raise awareness and motivate Local Committee members to stay involved.
• Participate in the development of electronic resources to support WUSC Local Committees, including content for blogs, and web pages;
• Develop written content and support the dissemination of regional and cross-Canada communications;
• Translate and/or facilitate translation (English and French) of materials, documents, and correspondence with WUSC’s bilingual Local Committee network;

Local Committee Mobilization and Training

• Coordinate the development of a mobilization strategy for Local Committee members to deliver public engagement activities on their campuses and in their communities, in collaboration with the public engagement and campus teams.
• Support the design, development, and organization of training activities and budgets for Local Committee members, in person and online, in collaboration with the public engagement and campus team.
• Prepare and deliver training sessions for Local Committee members in both official languages.
• Coordinate the logistics of training sessions.

Public Engagement Campaigns, Activities, and Events

• Coordinate the development of Local Committee-specific public engagement campaigns, in collaboration with the public engagement and campus teams.
• Develop and implement dissemination strategy for campaigns for Local Committees, in collaboration with the public engagement team.
• Work with Local Committees to adapt campaign materials to their campus.
• Provide one-on-one support for Local Committee engagement activities, offering guidance and answering questions as needed.
• Oversee requests and allocation of funds for Local Committee public engagement activities.
• Review and advise promotional materials developed by Local Committees to promote their visibility on campus to ensure brand alignment and design best practices are being followed. Review campaigns developed by Local Committees.
• Collaborate closely with other public engagement colleagues to amplify public engagement activities of Local Committees through corporate communications channels to corporate communications audiences.
• Collaborate with other organizations present on Canadian campus and in communities to participate in campus-wide and community-wide public engagement campaigns and activities.
• Be a spokesperson for WUSC on campus at Local Committee events, as required.

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Support the evaluation of training delivery and training needs and evolve the training program to respond appropriately.
• Support Local Committee members to track the activities, reach, and impact of their public engagement efforts, in collaboration with the public engagement team.
• Provide public engagement, training and social media engagement results for relevant monthly, quarterly or annual reports to funders.
• Contribute, in collaboration with the public engagement team, to improving the strategies and monitoring tools for public engagement results
• Lead on capturing results of audience surveys for Local Committees events and training.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Education

• University degree in communications, or a related field

Experience & Competencies

• At least three years of work experience working in public engagement and youth programing
• At least one or two years of work experience designing and delivery training targeting youth
• A minimum of two years in project management in the area of public engagement or communications
• Demonstrated experience with creation of dynamic tools and resources for diverse audiences
• Proficiency with information technologies (multimedia) and social media
• Experience in organizing large-scale events and workshops
• Experience in supervising junior staff
• Experience in community-based advocacy an asset
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of gender equality
• Experience as an international volunteer or working in global development is considered a strong asset
• Excellent computer skills; experience with google suite an asset
• Ability to prioritize, organize, work independently, and take initiative
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills
• Excellent public speaking skills
• Curious, enthusiastic and willing to innovate and adapt
• Available to work evenings and weekends as required
• Ability to travel within Canada

Languages

• Complete fluency in English and French is required.

WHY WORK WITH WUSC?

Join Us. Our work is important, cutting-edge, and rewarding. We encourage curiosity, innovation, and flexibility.

WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference in the lives of youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, economic opportunities and empowerment.

Here’s some of what you can expect working with us in Canada:

• 35-hour workweek, ability to work flexible hours
• Remote-friendly workplace, with free access to our Ottawa office
• 4 weeks annual leave, plus the week between Christmas and New Year
• Paid sick days (10) and special leave days (5)
• Extensive health and dental coverage for you and your dependents, 100% covered by us
• Group RRSP contributions, from day 1
• 300$ reimbursement for home office equipment
• Parental leave top-up
• Being part of a friendly, caring and enthusiastic team!

APPLICATIONS

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check where appropriate.

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls please.