ABOUT THE STUDENTS’ UNION
The Students’ Union (SU) is one of the leading undergraduate student associations in Canada. We are a not-for-profit organization that works to ensure that University of Calgary undergraduate students have the best possible university experience through advocacy, representation, and providing valuable on-campus services and programs. We also manage several businesses within the MacEwan Student Centre including a restaurant and bar, two concert venues, a convenience store, a used bookstore and copy centre, and the MacEwan Conference & Event Centre.
We’re in the business of student leadership, and so SU staff are all teachers in some capacity. We coach, mentor, and work alongside the elected members of our student government to help them develop skills and make good decisions for the organization. As such, the SU is a nimble and leading-edge organization that can pivot quickly to address emerging issues and trends.
The SU offers all our employees a competitive, market-determined salary. Our benefits, though, tend to exceed the market. These include:
- Five weeks paid vacation, to start
- Unlimited paid sick time
- A six percent RRSP matching program
- Full health and dental benefits plus a health spending account
- A mission-driven culture that values work-life balance, diverse experiences, and kindness
People love working for the SU because we care about our employees and empower them to thrive and succeed. The result is a very low turnover and a long-serving staff who are passionate about what they do. If you’re tired of being treated like a cog in a machine and want to do something that matters without sacrificing your home life, the SU might just be the right fit for you.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the Manager, Communications and Government Relations, the Advocacy Coordinator is responsible for supporting and, when necessary, planning and implementing initiatives in support of SU advocacy initiatives for University of Calgary undergraduate students. In addition to a focus on government relations and strategic communications, this role will develop and execute strategies to assist the SU in directly engaging the students who are our primary stakeholders.
SALARY
For this position, the hiring range is $47,000 to $53,000 and the offered salary will be negotiated based on a candidate’s relative experience. As a not-for-profit organization, it is extremely unlikely that we will be able to offer a successful candidate a salary outside of this range.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Communications and Media Relations
- Prepares and coordinates briefing materials, discussion papers, reports, media releases, articles, marketing copy, and correspondence on current issues as required
- Maintains information related to government contacts, public representatives, allied organizations, etc.
- Builds strong consultative relationships with the Vice President External (and other Executives as necessary) and supports them in orientation/transition and event coordination
- Assists in advising the Executives on external messaging and preparing them for media interviews
- Supports the orientation and training sessions for the elected officials as they are transitioning into their roles
- Other duties as assigned by the Manager, Communications and Government Relations
Government Relations
- Assists with planning government relations and advocacy activities, including lobby days with the municipal and provincial governments
- Ensures that advocacy documents are consistently updated
- Develops an understanding of the key individuals, organizations, and government leaders at all three orders of government
- Drafts correspondence to elected officials to engage them in SU advocacy
Community Engagement and Organizing
- Builds, nurtures, sustains, and leverages relationships with undergraduate students, student clubs, and other on- and off-campus student organizations to support existing and new campaigns
- Collaboratively plans, builds capacity for, and executes grassroots, student-led issue-based campaigns
- Provides guidance and strategies to the Executives, SLC’s elected officials (faculty representatives), and SU staff on stakeholder relations and consultation
- Collaborates with the Student Services department to ensure the effective implementation of advocacy and stakeholder relations events and programs (e.g., rallies, forums, focus groups, etc.)
- Develops and conducts workshops, meetings, trainings, and strategy sessions that engage students as critical thinkers, change agents, and unified members working toward common goals
- Facilitates students’ development of student-to-student key messaging and framing
- Trains students to participate in and/or lead campaign and coalition/movement building activities
Research
- Conducts research to support internal and external communications such as newsletters, research reports, presentations, briefing notes, and supporting material for the SU’s advocacy initiatives and campaign goals
- Monitors the external environment (including news media, social media, and other relevant information sources) to identify student issues, attitudes, and needs, as well as policy solutions
Event Planning
- Plans and execute protests, rallies, direct action, Get Out the Vote (GOTV) activities, and other events as required
- Support the Manager, Communications and Government Relations and Vice President External with event management for the Calgary Leaders Dinner
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate for this position will have a university degree or equivalent in social sciences, communications, public relations, or any other people-focused discipline complimented with 2-3 years of relevant experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered. Understanding of the postsecondary environment is considered an asset. Previous experience gained within government, public sector, or non-profit and/or issue-based campaigns is preferred.
For more information, check out the position description.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send a resume and cover letter to resumes@su.ucalgary.ca. We are accepting applications until May 12, 2024, or until we find the right person. We’re hoping to interview candidates and make a decision in late May/early June.
STATEMENT ON EMPLOYMENT EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
The Students’ Union is committed to ensuring that members of equity-deserving groups, from a broad range of communities, feel empowered to apply for positions within the organization. We strongly encourage qualified candidates from Black, Indigenous, and/or other racialized communities to apply. Qualified candidates who identify as 2Spirit and/or LGBTQIA+ or are otherwise marginalized on the grounds of gender expression, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation are also strongly encouraged to apply.
The Students’ Union welcomes applications from people with disabilities and believes strongly in accessibility in the work we do. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process – please advise us at any point and we will work with you to meet your needs while respecting your privacy as much as possible.
The Students’ Union is grateful to work on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Siksika, Piikuni, and Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. The University of Calgary is situated on land adjacent to where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, and the traditional Blackfoot name of this place is Moh’kins’tsis, which we now call the City of Calgary. The Students’ Union also recognizes that land acknowledgments are not enough. We need to pursue truth, reconciliation, decolonization, and allyship in an ongoing effort to make right with all our relations.
