JOB OPPORTUNITY

Position: Communications and Membership Manager
Organization: Organic Council of Ontario
Location: Remote, Anywhere in Ontario

Start Date: May 2024
Hours: 30 - 37.5 hours per week
Contract: 1-2 year contract pending funding
Salary: 52,000 - 62,000 pending experience
Benefits: OCO compensates staff for personal device use, internet and other small office expenses pending approval. We offer a health savings account for staff who work for longer than one year. Employees get three weeks of paid vacation starting immediately. We have a flexible working environment and endeavour to support our staff in their career advancement.

Eligibility: This role will be funded in part through a wage subsidy program. In order to qualify, you must: 

• Be a post-secondary graduate
• No more than 30 years of age at the start of the internship
• A Canadian citizen, permanent residents or persons granted refugee status in Canada*
• Legally allowed to work according to the relevant provincial and Canadian legislation and regulations at the time of hiring.

OCO is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion. OCO actively encourages applications from equity deserving groups. We invite you to self-identify in your application and to inform us should you have any accessibility or accommodation needs.

About the Organic Council of Ontario:

The Organic Council of Ontario (OCO) is the Voice for Organics in Ontario. It represents Ontario’s organic sector value chains and has a membership of over 1400 producers, processors, businesses and consumers. Our mission is to support the growth of the Ontario organic sector through advocacy, research, farmer support, collaboration and public engagement.

About the Job:

The Organic Council of Ontario is looking for an enthusiastic, dedicated and dynamic Communications and Membership Manager who is passionate about agriculture and the environment. OCO has a small staff team with a broad scope: we punch above our weight! Ideal candidates will have a balance of left and right brain thinking with both sharp attention to detail, technical know-how, problem solving skills, administrative and logistical prowess; as well as an eye for digital marketing, the capacity to parse complex issues into clear sentences, strategic thinking and political acumen. A successful candidate will be equally at ease calling farmers as they are conversing on Google chat.

Job Description:

While the below duties fall within the purview of the Communications and Membership Manager, these duties are typically managed by a team of at least two to three people and contractors. Applicants should consider applying if they possess skills and experience for roughly 70% of the below activities.

General Communications and Outreach

• Oversee and implement the development, design, branding and maintenance of OCO communications channels including website, e-news, social media and general correspondence;
• Ensure OCO’s communications and messaging are consistent, professional and relevant to our mandate and membership;
• Oversee the creation of relevant and timely content for OCO’s communications;
• Oversee and implement the creation of media releases to showcase OCO’s accomplishments and relevant activities;
• Ensure OCO’s board, staff and members are aware of and respond in a timely and professional way to relevant media and news items;
• Assist with the tracking and analytics of OCO communications and outreach, adjusting strategy and content to continuously improve OCO’s reach and relevance to target audiences;
• Assist with promoting and organizing OCO events and outreach;
• Continuously evaluate existing communications infrastructure and impact and offer recommendations for improvements, efficiencies, and expansions;

Membership and Directory

• Oversee and implement OCO’s annual membership strategy and collections contributions;
• Continuously improve and communicate OCO’s benefits and value to members in order to expand and retain membership;
• Oversee and implement tracking of members and contact communications/analytics to ensure OCO continuously improves its capacity to address member and sector issues, requests and needs;
• Oversee administration and payment of membership fees, advertising strategy and other fee for service programs related to the directory and membership;
• Oversee and implement the ongoing maintenance of OCO’s Ontario organic directory, working with certifying bodies and developers to ensure accuracy of data and ease of use;
• Assist with CRM and directory maintenance by researching contact information and refreshing images;
• Identify new and potential members and devise new approaches for attracting and retaining them;
• Assist with marketing and outreach events for OCO;
• Oversee the development and design of new OCO print materials to assist with member outreach and general OCO branding;

Guelph Organic Conference:

• Manage, update and improve the Guelph Organic Conference website;
• Manage GOC email lists and social media;
• Support the design and development of the GOC program and signage;
• Support conference mail-outs;

Ontario Organic

• Manage, update and improve the Ontario Organic campaign and website and social media channels;
• Continue to build out the sponsorship program and meet current sponsorship commitments;
• Develop the next phase of the Ontario Organic campaign including building a retailer partnership program and in-store marketing;
• Pending funding, develop a marketing plan for promoting and tracking impressions;
• Manage campaign assets such as Ontario Organic signs and baggage;

Promotions and Digital Marketing

• Oversee and implement new promotions and marketing campaigns to showcase Ontario organic businesses and branding;
• Liaise with Foodland Ontario and other commodity/farmer groups to participate in Ontario agri-food sector marketing opportunities;
• Engage with members and organic sector retailers to further promote Ontario Organic;
• Work with partners to promote Organic Week campaign;

Projects and Policy

• Assist with OCO special projects and policy research and communication needs as they arise.

The Ideal Candidate

• Is highly motivated, can work independently and in a team;
• Knows how to juggle multiple competing priorities;
• Takes initiative to constantly improve their work and the work of the organization;
• Sets and achieves growth targets;
• Is an excellent communicator, both written and orally, with an eye for design and flow;
• Has excellent problem solving and digital skills;
• Is passionate and knowledgeable about organic agriculture;
• Is a strategic thinker with fund development, membership recruitment, and/or digital marketing experience;
• Has experience with soliciting sponsorship, event planning and management;
• Has experience using or is comfortable learning to use various online communications and website platforms and tools (e.g. Wordpress, Statamic, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, Canva, Google Suite)
• Has experience managing and evaluating digital marketing campaigns with Key performance indicator targets and paid social media opportunities;
• Has experience managing websites, developer contracts, and troubleshooting basic Wordpress, Mailchimp and website issues;
• Experience with Hubspot or similar contact management tools a strong asset;
• Has experience with non-profit management;
• Experience managing or implementing graphic design an asset;
• French language skills are an asset.

To apply, send a resume and cover letter in one pdf document to hiring@organiccouncil.ca by May 1st, 2024 with Communications and Membership Manager in the subject line. Please provide two samples of previous communications work highlighting your writing, design and technical skills. Please indicate you saw this posting at GoodWork.ca.