Manager, Media Relations & Influencer Engagement

Job Description

Position Title :

Media Relations & Influencer Engagement Manager

Department :

Brand, Storytelling & Communications (BSC)

Reports To :

Executive Director, Strategic Storytelling & Communications

Salary Range : $77,000 - $86,600

$77,000 - $86,600

Job Type :

Full Time, Hybrid, 2-3 days in Office

Location : Toronto, Ontario

Toronto, Ontario

Job Posting Close Date :

June 30, 2024

Last Reviewed : June 2024

June 2024

Hi there,

We're so glad you found us.

It is an exciting time at Kids Help Phone. We are on a transformational journey, one that will reshape the landscape of youth mental health in Canada.

In March of last year, we launched Feel Out Loud, a historic, national movement anchored by a fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $300 million by the end of 2024 to reach young people in every corner of Canada with expanded access to e-mental health services.

We're adding to our innovative fundraising team who will help fuel this mission. If the thought of making a positive impact on the mental health of young people in Canada inspires you, this could be for you.

First, here's a bit about our story :

Kids Help Phone is Canada's only free, 24 / 7 service offering professional counselling, information, referrals, and texting support for young people in both English and French.

We provide life-changing support to youth millions of times each year

We began in 1989as a unique telephone counselling service, and for nearly 35 years, we've evolved our response and innovated our offerings and technology to stay relevant to youth, recognizing the complexity of issues they face.

Today, Kids Help Phone has become more essential than ever before. So has our goal of transforming to meet the needs of young people in Canada.

As a part of our strategic objective of maximizing access, we're committed now more than ever to reaching more people in every corner of Canada.

Do you want to join our journey and make a meaningful impact?

Unlock your potential. Carve out a career as unique as yourself. Grow with us.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Executive Director, Strategic Storytelling & Communications, the Media Relations & Influencer Engagement Manager position is responsible for all things media, influence and public profile.

This position will elevate Kids Help Phone as a thought leader and attract influencers to help amplify the brand, service, and its programs.

Under your guidance, Kids Help Phone will not only be in demand by national media as the expert in youth mental health and as keynote speakers at conferences, councils and webinars, but also heralded as the innovator building unprecedented access for every young person who needs our help.

The Media Relations & Influencer Engagement Manager role has accountability in four key areas

• Media relations
• Influencer engagement
• Thought leadership
• Crisis communication

The Media Relations and Thought Leadership Manager must possess exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.

The candidate will have proven experience leading the development, management and implementation of media strategies to enhance awareness, understanding and support for Kids Help Phone, and be an ambassador and change agent both internally and externally to the organization.

What You'll Contribute :

• Activate the current affairs desk responsible for media and influencer relations
• Develop and deploy media relations plans inclusive of pitching, media monitoring and reporting for key programs, announcements and campaign milestones
• Develop strong strategic relationships with journalists and media influencers
• Craft prepare and support KHP spokespeople for media interviews and speaking engagements
• Write press releases and thought-leadership pieces
• Develop proactive story ideas and pitch media
• Provide media training to staff at all levels of the organization
• Support the implementation of Kids Help Phone participation in events and conferences
• Coordinate speaking events and lead external events, ie : press conferences
• Monitor and report on activities, issues and opportunities
• Support in any crisis communication

What does a typical day in the role look like

• Act as the main point of contact for all incoming media requests
• Assess asks and evaluate for potential opportunities and risks
• Determine appropriate spokesperson within the organization
• Coordinate interviews and develop interview briefs to prep spokesperson
• Engage team members to develop or promote relevant content on our channels that coincide with the media ask

What You'll Need : Must-Have Skills

Must-Have Skills

The successful candidate should have a Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field; or equivalent combination of education and at least five (5) years' experience.

Post-graduate degree in Corporate Communications is an asset.

• Possess strong national media relationships or be able to develop them
• Demonstrated experience in executing influencer marketing campaigns and PR announcements
• Strong media skills and ability to strengthen and build relationships
• Ability to be flexible in a fast paced environment
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and a natural problem solver
• Effective communication and collaboration skills
• A preference towards collaboration and working in teams
• Strong written and oral communicator
• A strategic thinker with ability to execute or pivot plans
• Able to remain calm under pressure

Why Kids Help Phone?

• Meaningful opportunities to make an impact.
• Modern, collaborative space and an environment where you are valued and appreciated.
• Employee Wellness programs.
• Extensive medical, dental and optical coverage.
• Work / life balance and flexibility.
• We take great pride in our first-class team and culture. Open-door approach at all levels.
• Rapidly growing organization with a focus on continuous innovation.
• Real-time coaching and feedback, growth opportunities, and a supportive and collaborative team.

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you may be asked to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role and the overall business objectives of Kids Help Phone.

Don't meet every single qualification and requirement? Studies have shown that women and racialized people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification.

At Kids Help Phone, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways.

You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles that Kids Help Phone is recruiting for.

Applications for this position should be submitted online, before 11 : 59pm on the job posting close date listed above. Submissions received, by any other means or after this time may not be considered.

To learn more about Feel Out Loud : the largest youth mental health movement in Canadian history :

• The Feel Out Loud Campaign Cabinet - a group of extraordinary philanthropic and business leaders who are deeply committed to unlocking hope for all youth across Canada
• What I Wouldn't Do (North Star Calling) - a star-studded anthem and video created by over 50 Canadian artists who united across the country to form the musical collective Artists for Feel Out Loud , with the sole purpose of amplifying the conversation around mental health and empowering young people to feel out loud.

Join us!

Visit our careers page and apply now !

For more information about Kids Help Phone, please visit our website : https : / / kidshelpphone.ca / Accredited member, Imagine Canada Standards Program.

Benefits :

• Hybrid Work Model Health care
• Life insurance Vision care
• Wellness Program Pension Plan
• Flex Time Dental care
• Life Insurance Emergency Travel Assistance
• Accidental Death Insurance

The Small Print :

Accommodation Statement :

Kids Help Phone welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities, as such reasonable accommodations are available upon request from a candidate with a disability, thus ensuring you can take part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.

If, as a qualified job applicant, you make an accommodation request, we will consult with you and provide reasonable accommodation according to your accessibility needs.

If you wish to make a request, please provide a cover letter when applying for this position.

The successful candidate to this role may be asked to complete a background screen, which may include criminal, credit, employment, educational checks and / or COVID 19 vaccination checks.

All offers of employment are conditional on the receipt of satisfactory results of any applicable check.

Statement on Inclusion Diversity Equity Accessibility (I.D.E.A.) :

Kids Help Phone provides services in one of the most diverse countries in the world. The diversity of our communities takes many forms.

It includes differences related, amongst others to race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, gender expression and presentation, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, and socioeconomic status.

We see diversity as an asset to our organization and communities and strive to be reflective of the communities that we serve.

We commit ourselves to promoting better understanding and appreciation of our human diversity; a commitment which is best realized through our individual and collective effort.

We are professionally and personally committed to celebrating the rich diversity, equity and inclusion of people who work in our company, to those who live in our communities, and to those who access our services and resources.

We believe that it is critical that our services empower freedom of thought and opinion in an environment of mutual respect.

All our activities and interactions are enriched by accepting each other as we are and by celebrating our uniqueness as well as our commonality.

We are guided by the principle that celebrating diversity, equity and inclusion enriches and empowers the lives of all people.

Message to Agencies :

Kids Help Phone does not accept unsolicited telephone calls, referrals or resumes from any source other than directly from candidates.

Kids Help Phone will not consider unsolicited telephone calls, referrals and / or resumes from vendors including and without limitation, search firms, staffing agencies, fee-based referral services and recruiting agencies.

The submission of referrals or resumes by anyone other than a candidate directly to Kids Help Phone is not welcome. Unsolicited referrals and resumes sent to Kids Help Phone will be deemed gratuitous, and Kids Help Phone will not be obligated or bound in any way to pay a referral or any other fee if a person referred to us from a source other than a direct candidate is subsequently hired.