Administrative Assistant - Social Media, Communications and Events

Department: Faculty of Community Services
Position supervisor:  Dr. Karen Soldatic
Contract length: 1 year from start date
Hours of work per week: Hours per week = 21.75 hours per week (FTE 0.6 of 36.25 hours per week)
Position type: Non Union Casual
Rate of pay: $35/hr

At the intersection of mind and action, Toronto Metropolitan University is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Integral to this path is the placement of equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our institutional culture. Our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do.

Toronto Metropolitan University welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

As an employer, we are working towards a people first culture and are proud to have been selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and a Greater Toronto’s Top Employer for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. To learn more about our work environment, colleagues, leaders, students and innovative educational environment, visit www.torontomu.ca , check out @TorontoMet (external link)  , @TorontoMetHR (external link)  and @ECItorontomet (external link)  on Twitter, and visit our LinkedIn company page (external link)  .

The Canada Excellence Research Chair in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing (CERC) program is a transformative research initiative that employs an engaged community partnership approach to expand our understanding, practice and delivery of health outcomes for all members of our communities. Collaborating closely with a network of healthcare institutions, service providers and civil society organisations, the CERC in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing aims for a paradigm shift – one that challenges a siloed, expert-driven approach to health and well-being and moves, instead, towards a community-engaged, preventative model of wellbeing. Uniquely applying a critical disability lens, the research program aims to not only reduce health disparities that are inextricable from their social contexts but to embed community knowledge into health-care institutions, systems and models of delivery.

Learn more about the CERC here: https://www.torontomu.ca/cerc-health-equity/

The Administrative Assistant (AA) provides administrative support to both the CERC and the ED inclusive of front–line client support, media and communication. This position reports to the CERC Lead and will assist the research team to support outreach activities, inclusive of front–line community support, media, events, and communication.

The successful candidate will also generate appropriate communications materials and assist in planning and coordinating community engagement events, research mobilization, and dissemination across stakeholder groups.

Educational Background:

• Successful completion of a post-secondary education in a relevant field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant work experience in assisting with community engagement, social media and digital platforms, public relations and communication projects with the following requirements;
• Writing communications and research recruitment materials; 
• Experience in composing digital content from concept to delivery, professional correspondence and managing social media accounts;
• Coordinating all aspects of an event including liaising with internal and external stakeholders, members of the public and potential, community leaders and government officials.

Knowledge and Communication Skills:

•  Capacity and willingness to learn and adapt materials to University communication requirements;
• Strong communication skills, digital communication capacity, judgment and demonstrated research, writing and editing skills.
• Ability to support community engagement events, including meetings, research round tables, workshops, etc.
• Knowledge of accessible event practices is an asset and/or willingness to learn and apply community accessibility practices.
• Ability to translate research materials for diverse audiences across social media, written reports, and engagement events.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in various digital channels/platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. 
•  Knowledge of communication principles and practice, priorities and objectives related to digital
• communications and the complexities of writing, editing, overseeing digital content in a busy environment.

Events Planning & Assistance:

• Experience of assisting with public facing events, research events and other research activities that involve with internal and external stakeholders, members of the public and potential, community leaders and government officials;
• Ability to plan and work collaboratively with researchers, stakeholders and partners to successfully deliver small to mid-scale events;
• Willingness to learn event planning and delivery accessibility and inclusion to support the participation of diverse members.

Financial and Business Acumen:

• Knowledge of basic budget practices and capacity to work within budget requirements for events coordination and knowledge translation activities.
• Maintaining small budgets in relation to events, communications and participant honorariums.

Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion:

• Demonstrated commitment to principles and professional practice of accessibility, diversity and inclusion;
• Willingness to learn and implement disability accessibility standards into all areas of work;
• Preparedness to undertake training on disability access and inclusion in the workplace and to apply into everyday tasks and outputs;
• Knowledge of expansive accessibility practices is an asset.

Please send your resume and cover letter to:

CERC Chair,  Dr. Karen Soldatic at [email protected] . Please add the subject line ‘Application - Social Media, Comms and Events’. 

• We encourage all First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples or Indigenous peoples of North America, to self-identify in their applications. If you are an Indigenous applicant and require support during the recruitment process, please reach out to James McKay, Indigenous HR Lead at [email protected] .
• Toronto Metropolitan University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and aims to ensure that independence, dignity, integration and equality of opportunity are embedded in all aspects of the university culture.
• We will provide an accessible experience for applicants, students, employees, and members of the Toronto Metropolitan University community. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the recruitment process. If you have restrictions that need to be accommodated to fully participate in any phase of the recruitment process,please reach out to Human Resources: 
• All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.