Communications Coordinator

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

As the Communications Coordinator, you are a highly motivated and creative self-starter with a passion for storytelling, communications, content, marketing, and all things related to innovation. As an active and engaged member of the Marketing Department, you are able to manage multiple projects simultaneously, have excellent attention to detail and can use your communication skills to connect with the innovation community.

The Communications Coordinator is responsible for writing, storytelling and implementing communications for our brands, including feature stories, articles, blogs, copywriting, and press releases. You will be responsible for client-first-focused storytelling that brings our purpose and values to life with content grounded in opportunities and challenges faced by our target audiences. The Communications Coordinator is also responsible for developing the organization’s public relations activities as well as copywriting for websites, programs and marketing collateral.

This is a full-time, contract position that reports to the Director of Marketing and works collaboratively with all teams within Innovation Factory to understand their strategies and needs from a marketing and communication perspective.

Core Responsibilities

Communications Planning and Strategy Support

• Support the overall communications strategy for our brands to build out our marketing and content efforts that drive growth, awareness, and engagement
• Consult with various internal teams on communication concepting and help suggest new campaign opportunities and/or strategic changes
• Build and improve on repeatable processes for communication delivery, including templates, frameworks, calendars and briefs
• Develop an understanding of the target audiences and their business challenges as well as industry trends to establish content themes, thought leadership and stories

Communications Development, Writing and Storytelling

• Research, interview subject matter experts, and find inspiration, as well as take direction from project owners to balance the interests of multiple stakeholders
• Write, edit and deliver quality and creative communications, long-form content and original articles, ensuring all assets are engaging, in line with brand standards, and error-free
• Implement writing best practices for SEO, AEO, and Google’s EEAT
• Develop engaging copy for marketing materials, reports, website content and other collateral
• Translate program strategy into powerful and purposeful copy that engages, informs and inspires target audiences to take action

Public Relations

• Develop press releases, media kits and advisories aligned with brand strategies
• Identify relevant or timely media opportunities by keeping up-to-date with industry trends, competitive landscape, and program knowledge
• Conduct research and outreach to foster relationships with media, and support media requests and opportunities
• Identify external/ecosystem media and news opportunities to leverage and promote organizational PR objectives to create brand awareness
• Develop scripts and speaking notes to support live events and media appearances

Analytics and Reporting

• Develop and review reporting to measure the effectiveness of our communications, and show continuous improvement
• Continuously research and analyze past communication campaigns, competitor campaigns, industry trends and best practices to determine the most effective methods of communicating with target audiences
• Prepare media activity reports and track media mentions for organizational brands and clients

Special Projects and Cross-Functional Support

• Work closely with other Marketing team members to support the curation and creation of social media content including campaigns and promotional packages
• Contribute to quarterly government reporting as well as media and partner reports
• Coordinate and maintain photo and video library and digital assets in collaboration with other Marketing team members
• Actively participate in team and organization meetings, and maintain strong and effective communication with the team through a variety of inter-team software tools including Slack, Zoom and G-Suite
• Represent Innovation Factory at community events, and conferences (which can fall in and outside of typical business hours and in-person or virtual)
• Other duties as assigned Qualifications
• Post-secondary diploma or degree in a related discipline (marketing, journalism/public relations or communications) or equivalent experience
• 1-3 years of relevant experience in communications
• Strong English language verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated through error-free writing abilities
• Experience writing original communications, long-form content, stories, blogs, articles and press releases
• Ability to conceptualize easily, work within brand guidelines and bring out the tone of a brand
• Knowledge of trends and motivated to keep up with best practices and changes in marketing used to increase awareness, generate leads and increase client base
• Effective project management skills and ability to contribute and collaborate as part of a team
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat, Canva, and other tools/apps such as CRM system
• Self-starter, able to work both independently with minimal supervision as well as collaboratively with cross-functional groups to achieve desired outcomes
• Customer service oriented, strong attention to detail and the ability to balance multiple demands and deadlines through effective time management and organizational skills

Assets

• Experience liaising with news media
• Previous experience with photography, videography and/or Adobe Creative Suite and graphic design
• Familiarity with the life science or transportation sectors
• Marketing or communication agency experience

Working Conditions

• 5 days per week; 37.5 hours per week, regular daytime business hours are between 9 am EST to 5 pm EST.
• Opportunity for a hybrid work model, allowing some remote work
• Some localized travel required

Location

• B21-175 Longwood Rd S, Hamilton, ON
• 5151 New St, Burlington, ON

Please note that AI-assisted tools may be used to support the preliminary screening of applications. All applicant assessments and hiring decisions involve human oversight.

About Innovation Factory

Innovation Factory (iF) is a not-for-profit business accelerator, providing entrepreneurs with business services, training, mentorship and strategic connections to help bring disruptive technologies to market, increase revenues, attract investment and create jobs.

Our mission is to be the primary catalyst for technology innovation in the greater Hamilton and Halton areas with a vision to make the region Canada’s fastest-growing innovation community and the first port of call for innovators. We will do this via direct 1-1 support for companies; creating partnerships, and building community. We will create an environment and culture that draws people into the region as a place to invest, live, learn, work and start businesses.

The Innovation Factory is committed to a fair and inclusive work environment. We are an equal opportunity employer that hires and attracts talent regardless of age, race, creed, colour, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, status as a protected veteran or any other legally protected grounds and will not discriminate on these bases. Accommodation will be provided throughout the hiring process, as required. Applicants must make their needs known in advance.

For more information please visit