Department: Communications/ des communications

Employment Type: Permanent-Full-Time

Minimum Experience: Mid-level

Communications Officer

Internal/ External Posting
Full-time/ Term
Location: Ottawa is preferred, open to other locations if a suitable applicant is found.

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience and education.

AFN offers competitive salaries, generous time off (3 weeks of paid vacation per year to start 3 weeks of paid sick leave per year, 9 days of special leave per year), a pension and benefit plan, annual amounts towards physical fitness and professional development, and maternity & parental leave top up.

Who We Are

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is an advocacy organization, taking direction and fulfilling mandates as directed by First Nations in-Assembly through resolutions. As a national advocacy organization for First Nations, the AFN seeks to advance First Nations inherent and Treaty rights through the development policy, public education, and where applicable, the co-development of legislation.

The AFN was created out of a desire among First Nations leadership for a strong and effective collective advocacy organization. From this, values such as respect for human rights, diversity, justice, and the sovereignty of each rights-holding First Nations guide the work of the organization.

About the Role:

Reporting to the Director of Communications, the Communications Officer researches, writes, and edits a wide range of internal and external communications products while developing and implementing communications plans, activities, and initiatives for the national organization representing First Nations peoples in Canada. The successful candidate is dynamic and team-oriented, with exceptional writing skills, attention to detail, and the ability to meet strict deadlines. The Communications Officer works in coordination with the Communications Sector to support the AFN Secretariat and the National Chief’s Office, providing strategic communications, media relations, public engagement, and education efforts to advance First Nations priorities and organizational goals. Additionally, the Communications Officer coordinates media interviews and maintains a robust network of internal and external stakeholders, including building effective working relationships with media.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide timely, accurate, and quality strategic communications advice and recommendations in alignment with research, political direction, and the organizational mandate.
• Research, write, and edit a variety of communications materials, including communications plans, briefing notes, speaking notes, press releases, newsletters, web and social media content, for internal and external audiences.
• Respond to media inquiries and proactively manage media outreach.
• Coordinate and prioritize media interviews and maintain a network of media contacts.
• Monitor media coverage, conduct analysis, and forecast potential opportunities and issues management.
• Lead, design, coordinate, and implement special communications projects and activities.
• Collaborate within the Communications Sector to identify opportunities for support and alignment across AFN sectors.
• Work closely with AFN Sectors and the National Chief’s Office to achieve strategic communications goals.
• Contribute to sector meetings and contribute to discussions on challenges, solutions, and opportunities.
• Build and maintain relationships with media, First Nations leaders, organizations, government officials, and others.
• Monitor First Nations regional activities for promotion and collaboration.