Senior Public Engagement Strategist

  • Full-time

Company Description

Join the largest environmental organization in Canada and become an agent of change!

About the David Suzuki Foundation

We find solutions for living within the limits of nature. Through evidence-based research, education and policy analysis, we work to conserve and protect the natural environment, and help create a sustainable Canada. Our Foundation is an independent charity, supported by over 30,000 donors from across Canada and abroad. With headquarters in Vancouver and offices in Toronto and Montreal, we address issues from coast to coast to coast, in both official languages. With the support of scientists, academics, progressive businesses, governments, non-governmental organizations and tens of thousands of Canadian we aim to achieve this vision: That we all act every day on the understanding that we are one with nature. 

You can learn more about us at www.davidsuzuki.org

The David Suzuki Foundation hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equality and diversity within its community and to a welcoming and inclusive workplace. We especially welcome applications from Indigenous persons, visible minority group members, women, persons with disabilities, people of all sexual orientations and genders, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. 

Job Description

Position Title: Senior Public Engagement Manager

Location: Based at our Vancouver office

Reporting to: Director, Communications & Public Engagement

Terms: Permanent, full-time (34 hours/ 4-day week)

As the Senior Public Engagement Manager, you are responsible for turbo charging our in-house grassroots initiatives and helping catalyze external citizen movements in service of protecting nature and building a renewable energy future for all. You bring forward-looking leadership to your work, plus confident partnership building and stewardship skills.

You bring digital organizing, grassroots campaigning experience and are adept at combining old and new forms of citizen power to achieve measurable results. In conjunction with the digital and development departments, you have oversight of our engagement pyramid with responsibility for every level from attracting new community members through to the active stewardship of leaders.

The portfolio of work includes but is not limited to: volunteers, Suzuki Speaks, Suzuki Elders, Fellowships, Queen of Green, Indigenous engagement, Sustainable Diversity Network, Butterflyway Rangers, community/ grassroots organizing, distributed leadership strategies, prize/ contest development, and partnerships.

Responsibilities:

Works with public engagement teams, volunteers & partners across Canada.

  • Boosts DSF’s public engagement work to align with strategic campaigns by developing and championing programming that make the most of the foundation’s unique assets
  • Manages a portfolio of public engagement work and campaigns: including setting impact goals and measuring and reporting out on successes and learnings
  • Ensures DSF public engagement strategy is interdisciplinary and well integrated to programmatic work. Develops approaches to support as necessary.
  • Accelerates DSF’s work towards becoming a leading edge public engagement and community building practice by bringing innovative thinking and best practices to the campaign work
  • Provides direct management to a core team and dotted line management across the organization
  • Responsible for elements of DSF’s Indigenous Peoples Protocol implementation and related practices

Engages in partnerships and external activities: 

  • Partnering with third parties to amplify the reach of DSF’s mission. Broaden our community and increase impact.
  • Events, conferences, festivals: co-designs and implements a cohesive plan around DSF’s presence at external events for maximum results against capacity invested. Acts publically as the DSF representative or general spokesperson, as suitable. 

Qualifications

Skills, experience and knowledge required

You have:

  • Undergraduate degree in marketing, communications, community development or a related discipline is required
  • At least five years of relevant work experience, including management experience in leading a team

 What you bring to the role:

  • People person, resilient, self-starter
  • Movement builder and broker of partnerships. Familiar with digital organizing and data analytics.
  • Expert in leading volunteer boards and committees, with demonstrated success in engaging and deploying members
  • Demonstrated knowledge of public engagement strategies with a strong understanding of what it means to “put people at the center” in ways that can be brought to scale to maximize social change
  • Successful team management experience, preferably including strategic services within a matrix (project and department) organizational structure
  • Change-leadership experience navigating and leading change successfully
  • An understanding of best practices around diversity and inclusion. Experience with Indigenous communities an asset.
  • Empowering attitude as a positive team player who thrives and works well in a busy, dynamic and information-rich workplace 
  • Excellent communication skills, interpersonally and in public. Confident negotiation, facilitation and conflict management skills. 
  • Superb written and spoken English language skills required. French language skills are an asset.  

Additional Information

Application Process 

Please submit your cover letter and your resume online by going to http://www.davidsuzuki.org/about/employment/. The position will remain open until filled. Only qualified applicants will be contacted. 

We recognize the importance of a diversified workforce, and we encourage women, First Nations, Inuit and Metis candidates, members of visible minorities and persons with disabilities to apply.