Communications Specialist

About LGBT YouthLine  

The Lesbian Gay Bi Trans YouthLine is a 2SLGBTQ+ youth-led organization that affirms and supports the experiences of youth (29 & under) across Ontario. We do this by:  

• Providing anonymous peer support & referrals;  
• Training youth to provide support to other youth; &  
• Providing resources so youth can make informed decisions.  

Our Values and Strategic Plan can be found at youthline.ca  

-------------- 

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Communications Specialist is responsible for leading the organization’s communications strategy, with a focus on strengthening our storytelling and program promotions. The Specialist will also develop and implement engagement strategies to strengthen communication with potential and current donors. The Specialist will work in partnership with staff, consultants, and Board members. 

Compensation:  
$45,000 to $50,500 per year (Commensurate with experience)  
3 weeks of vacation and 4 weeks of sick time 
1.5% Professional Development Budget  
Health & Dental Benefits (after completion of 3-month probation) 

Responsibilities: 

Communications (50%) 

• Develop and implement a communications strategy to increase and strengthen engagement with various stakeholders, including 2SLGBTQ+ youth, donors, community partners, alumni, media, and service providers across Ontario. 
• Develop and maintain communications tools, planning calendars, and processes that support contributions from program staff and volunteers. 
• Support staff, Board members, and volunteers with communication and engagement, including outreach and promotion of YouthLine programs, events, and information. 
• Develop risk management plans to support staff-wide ability to troubleshoot issues, post instantly, and engage with replies and comments, where necessary. 
• Supervise and support contract staff and consultants to create and maintain up-to-date and relevant content for YouthLine’s social media, website, and e-newsletters.  
• Conduct regular monitoring and analysis of website, newsletter and social media content, identifying opportunities to strengthen our online presence to meet our goals. 

Donors Engagement (25%) 

• Lead the development and implementation of donor engagement strategies, including holiday and Pride campaigns. 
• Support the development and implementation of donor campaigns, including donor acquisition and stewardship drives. 
• Coordinate and support third-party events and community initiatives. 
• Support promotions for special events (e.g., Youth Awards, Dare2Workshops), on an as-needed basis. 

Projects and Media (20%) 

• Work closely with the Executive Director and Management team to create op-ed articles, advocacy statements, and press releases. 
• Monitor and distribute media mentions and published work of YouthLine. 
• Coordinate the development, layout, and design of soft and hard copy publications, including the Annual Report, reports, and outreach materials.  
• Oversee the creation of graphics, designs, photography/video, and other media. 

Other (5%) 

• Monitor and keep up-to-date with trends and best practices that will benefit YouthLine’s presence with different stakeholders. 
• Assist the Operations and Management teams with other special projects, as necessary. 
• Participate in YouthLine meetings, committees, and events; 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Required Skills:  

• Knowledgeable and comfortable with the diverse issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, Two-Spirit, queer, asexual, and questioning youth across Ontario. 
• Understands and supports anti-oppression and anti-racism, through lived, theoretical, and practical methods.  
• Combination of education and/or work/volunteer experience in communications, marketing, fundraising, or related field. 
• Excellent writing, analytic, and verbal/presentation skills with the ability to summarize information and connect with a variety of audiences (2SLGBTQ+ youth, educators, service providers, donors, media, volunteers). 
• Experience developing and coordinating content for different communication mediums utilizing content management systems (e.g., social media, e-Newsletters, websites etc.). 
• Fluent or ability to adapt to using Office365, MailChimp, WordPress, Canva, Hootsuite.  
• Experience in graphic design, video editing, or HTML/CSS, an asset.  
• Strong interpersonal, problem solving, and planning skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to work both in a team environment, as well as independently.  
• Strong interest in communication issues related to digital strategy, donor engagement, and non-profit development. 

Work Environment:  

• Total hours per week: 37.5. 
• Flexible balance required in scheduling of work (based on deliverables required). Daily work is within normal office conditions but occasional evening and weekend work is required.  
• Location: Remote, home-based position. Access to reliable internet is required. 
• The position is supervised by the Executive Director. 

 
Application for Consideration 

LGBT YouthLine only considers applicants that identify as part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.  

Grounded in principles of Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression, we recognize and encourage applications from communities that are further marginalized in employment opportunities, including: Black, Indigenous, and people of colour, Trans-feminine people, Disabled people, people with experiences of migration, and people who have experiences of poverty. We particularly welcome applicants from these communities who are youth (under the age of 29). Applicants are strongly encouraged to self-identify in their cover letters, which will be kept confidential.  
 
Applications from qualified candidates who live in Northern regions across Ontario are encouraged.  

Submit your resume and cover letter focusing on demonstrated skills and examples of relevant experience, why the position appeals to you, and what you can bring to YouthLine. Please include two relevant writing samples. 

We would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this position and value the time you have put into applying. Due to limited resources and time constraints, only candidates who are selected for interviews will be contacted. 

Please send applications by Sunday, September 25 at 11:59pm EST