Communications Officer (1 year, temporary)

Status: Full time, 1 year, temporary
Location: Ottawa, Ontario or Toronto, Ontario (hybrid)
Closing date: May 2, 2025
Salary range: $77,520 to $+6,+00 per year

Canada’s Drug Agency is a pan-Canadian health organization. We are an independent, not-for-profit organization headquartered in Ottawa, with a satellite office in Toronto. Created and funded by Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial governments, we drive better coordination, alignment, and public value within Canada’s drug and health technology landscape. We provide Canada’s health system leaders with independent evidence and advice so they can make informed drug, health technology, and health system decisions, and we collaborate with national and international partners to enhance our collective impact.

We are proud to be a 2025 National Capital Region Top Employer. This recognition celebrates our dedication to fostering a work environment that nurtures growth; innovation; and inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA). It reaffirms our ongoing efforts to create an outstanding workplace where our employees thrive and feel valued.

Most of our employees participate in a hybrid workspace arrangement that allows for flexibility and enhanced work-life balance. We believe in the positive impact of in-person collaboration and the importance of team building. Added consideration is given to qualified candidates who live near our offices and can participate in a hybrid arrangement. Those applying must be located in Ontario, except in rare circumstances where the employment position is remote.

Primary Focus
Working in a collaborative team environment, the Communications Officer will support developing and implementing integrated internal and external communications plans and tactics. In partnership with other teams, the Communications Officer will develop product-specific communications products and advice for internal teams and leaders and establish relationships with key interested parties to educate, inform, and advance the organization’s strategic priorities.

What do the daily responsibilities look like?

On any given day, the Communications Officer will:
contribute to the development of communications that are aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities (strategies and tactics may support public relations, marketing campaigns, product launches, brand management initiatives, social media campaigns, media outreach, and issues management)
work proactively with internal and external subject matter experts to conceive and write audience-appropriate content for the corporate website, intranet, social media channels, events, and presentations aimed at diverse audiences
simplify the findings from complex reports into clear, compelling, and accessible content for technical and nontechnical audiences
coordinate, write, and distribute broadcast emails to subscribers and interested parties, collaborating with the Social Media Specialist
establish objectives and implement tactics to clearly communicate the value of the organization’s work and the findings of high-profile reports and projects to pan-Canadian health system decision-makers
build and maintain a database of health system influencers — partner organizations, health care thought leaders, government departments and decision-makers, academic groups, industry leaders, and others — to ensure that the organization’s messages consistently reach intended audiences
provide communications support, advice, and updates, including analysis and recommendations, to the Communications Manager and/or Director
incorporate best practices in search optimization and writing content for the web and other digital platforms that increase the readability and accessibility of the organization’s work
ensure the delivery of high-quality content with consistent audience-appropriate language by working in close collaboration with graphic designers, copy-editors, translators, and digital publishing specialists
provide collaborative media relations support, including writing news releases, pitching stories, developing speaking points, triaging media requests, developing media responses, and building relationships with journalists focusing on health care
identify emerging issues that could affect the organization’s reputation and provide risk management and crisis communication support
collaborate with experts to prepare briefing notes, Q&As, tailored speaking points, corporate statements, and other necessary communications
contribute to the measurement, benchmarking, analysis, and reporting of communications activities' effectiveness, and analyze results to recommend improvements and expand on the organization’s reach
uphold the organization’s reputation and align communications with visual identity and brand guidelines, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and French language requirements.
Is this the right role for you?

The Communications Officer will likely have:
completed postsecondary education from a recognized academic institution in a related field such as public relations, journalism, or communications coupled with recent related experiences normally attained over a period of no less than 3 years
extensive experience researching, writing, editing, and producing corporate collateral
exceptional writing and editorial skills
proven ability to work well under pressure and demonstrated ability to meet deadlines
knowledge about social and traditional media – including Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook
a natural curiosity to investigate details, drive deliverables to completion, and be a self-starter
the ability to adapt the complexity, tone, and style of communications to suit different audiences
the ability to make links between external and internal communications
the ability to multitask effectively, be detail-oriented, take initiative, and function well in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities
effective time management and prioritization skills
proven ability to balance and deliver on multiple projects
experience establishing communications measurements, plans and tracking results and analyzing and reporting on outcomes
excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills
What will set you apart?

The following are considered asset qualifications:
fluency in French.
What’s in it for you?

At Canada’s Drug Agency, you will find:
a team-focused, supportive, and inclusive work environment
a competitive compensation package, including participation in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) — 1 of Canada’s largest and most successful defined benefit pension plans
a comprehensive benefits package for employees and dependents, including health, dental, life, and travel insurance; a health spending account; and an employee assistance program
paid time off (including a minimum of 4 weeks of vacation leave as well as sick leave and life leave, a December holiday closure, and other leave options)
opportunities to work with and learn from highly specialized professionals
personal growth through professional development opportunities, corporate training, and support for continuing education
a friendly culture that supports community engagement
the opportunity to make a difference for people living in Canada and effect positive change.
To apply for this position, visit the Careers section of our website. Your résumé must clearly identify how your skills and experience relate to the requirements of this role. Applications for this opportunity may be used for future staffing vacancies. We thank you for your interest; however, only those candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. Please visit our website regularly for new opportunities.

At Canada’s Drug Agency, we actively celebrate, support, and flourish through our differences. Our employees are people with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds, who share a passion for building the future of health care. We demonstrate a commitment to IDEA through continuous training, modelling inclusive behaviours, and proactively managing biases. We highly encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including people of all places of origin and religions, people with disabilities, people who are neurodivergent, people who are Black or racialized, Indigenous people, women, and people from the 2SLGBTQ+ community. We also provide accommodations during all phases of the recruitment process. If you require any accommodations during the recruitment process, please let the Talent Acquisition team know when they contact you. We will work with you to meet your needs.

Please note that, as a condition of employment, successful candidates will be required to complete a confidential pre-employment background check, including criminal, employment, and educational verifications.

Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Canada. We regret that we are unable to sponsor employment visas at this time.

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