Communications Officer

The Communications Officer is a key member of the foundation team and is an integral part of the TFS Foundation’s $40M capital campaign.

Reporting to the Development Communications Manager, the Communications Officer is responsible for creating engaging fundraising content to share with donors, alumni, and parents. They will work closely with the Foundation staff and the school’s Communications and Marketing team to help support copywriting, content creation, photojournalism, videography, graphic design, and editing. They will help make all printed and digital school communication look professional, engaging, and consistent with the TFS brand. All communications materials will have a focus on fundraising, engagement, and stewardship. The Communications Officer will be responsible for ensuring written and visual materials have a consistent look and professional feel, while being inspiring and compelling.

In addition, the Communications Officer will work closely with the President and Executive Director of Philanthropy on all campaign-related materials.

The Communications Officer works within the context of a fast-paced and interactive school environment and will be immersed in the daily school life at TFS, using those interactions to proactively seek out effective and interesting stories and content.

Key Responsibilities:

Communications Planning (10%)

Work with the school’s Marketing and Communications team to collaborate on school-wide communication initiatives.
Work closely with the Manager of Communications and Director of Operations on yearly communication plans and schedules.
Maintain the Communications team’s content calendar.

Written Communication & Content (50%)

Write speaking notes and materials for the President and ED of Advancement and Head of School on all things related to philanthropy and campaign execution.
Write well-crafted stewardship materials that are compelling and inspirational, highlighting the impact of donor dollars.
Write personalized proposals for major gifts donors that are tailored to the individual donor’s interests and needs.
Seek out content opportunities within the TFS community and provide strategic input and creative focus that can be leveraged across all platforms.
Write many of the fantastic TFS stories to share with donors and alumni.

Graphic Design (15%)

Create visually appealing templates, elevating the current design of documents including major gift proposals, social media posts, alumni magazines.
Conceptualize graphic and visual images and templates for a variety of communication materials, including event promotion, proposals, and other campaign materials.

Social Media/Digital (15%)

Create social media content leveraging the right content and social media platforms to reach alumni and donors based on communication priorities.
Create and execute a unified and engaging digital media action plan for the school.
Execute the Foundation’s digital communications, ensuring integration of all communications on site, online, and across multiple social media platforms.
Develop a strong awareness of the current digital media landscape, along with the capacity and willingness to seek out emerging trends and tools.

Video and Photography (10%)

Support the communications team with high-impact pictures and videos to be used in campaign-oriented materials.
Document school life through photos and video, vetting, sorting, and archiving images for current and future use.
Creation of digital video content for use on social media and elsewhere.

The school may, from time-to-time, alter these duties and/or assign additional duties and responsibilities at its sole discretion.

What we offer:

TFS is an exceptional place to work, and our offers are generous as well as competitive in the marketplace in terms of:

A competitive compensation
An attractive group insurance package and participation in a RRSP plan or OTPP
Generous vacation policy and additional paid time off
A stimulating working environment
Multiple Professional development opportunities
A rewarding career where you can make a difference.

Who we are looking for:

We recruit candidates who embrace our TFS values of integrity, discernment, respect, and engagement. The ideal individual for this position will have the below:

Postsecondary education, ideally in communications, marketing, and design.
5 plus years of diverse experience with written and visual/graphic assignments including proposals, donor meeting notes, stewardship reporting, alumni engagement, and campaign writing, ideally acquired in a charity organization with campaign and major gift/philanthropy experience.
Experience in an educational institution and understanding of the cyclical nature of working in a school setting and what makes a compelling story would be an asset.
Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple tasks while maintaining a strong attention to detail and accuracy.
Knowledge of and experience with design software (Adobe Suite, Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Bridge, Dreamweaver).
A high level of proficiency with SLR photography and videography.
Experience editing video with Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, and/or Adobe After Effects or comparable software.
Has superior proficiency with computer applications (Microsoft Office, GSuite, Blackbaud, or similar programs).
Hard-working, energetic, and up for new challenges.

TFS welcomes applications from Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and all others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. If you require accommodation, please notify us in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs. TFS is committed to providing accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process.

Effective for the 2023-24 school year, TFS highly recommends COVID-19 vaccination for all members of the community. New employees may share their vaccination status with the Human Resources Department upon the start of their employment if they so choose.

To apply, please submit, in confidence, a resumé along with a cover letter that sets out your interest in the role and highlights your relevant experience. The preferred method of application is online at https://searchsmartconnect.com/jobs/ by December 8, 2023.

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