Careers

CCA Seeking a Communications Manager – October 2024

Location: Calgary / Ottawa

Position Overview

The Communications Manager is essential in helping achieve CCA’s mandate of advancing an economic, environmental, and socially sustainable Canadian Beef Industry. This internal and external communications role is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to develop and deliver CCA policy communications and to lead adapting and implementing new communication channels, tools, and technologies. This role has a significant operations component, communicating strategy set from senior leadership through various communication channels with a focus on writing. In addition to leading the development and implementation of strategic communications, this person will work alongside all departments, divisions, and provincial members to ensure consistent messaging on CCA policy and advocacy positions. CCA communications also includes the value and purpose of CCA to all stakeholders from farms and ranches to retail and food service to policy makers in the nation’s capital.

Key Responsibilities

Communications and Media

• Facilitate the delivery of consistent policy and advocacy messaging across the organization.
• Facilitate the delivery of internal and external policy and advocacy content, such as industry briefings, fact sheets, position papers, marketing materials, press releases, social and other digital resources for dissemination across various platforms.
• Lead the CCA’s media and other communications partner relationships, including preparing and distributing releases and statements, responding to media enquiries, social media management and preparing CCA spokespeople for interviews.
• Develop and maintain positive media relationships.
• Develop and implement social media strategies; lead on drafting CCA’s policy and advocacy social media presence.
• Maintain an active convening role in the collaborative National Communications Managers Meetings working collaboratively with provincial cattle associations’ staff.
• Write, proof-read, and edit content for a wide variety of written and presentation material.
• Measure the effectiveness of communications efforts and recommend improvements.
• Research emerging trends, best practices, and opportunities in the field of communications with the goal of improvement.
• Write and distribute Action News, President’s Reports, Annual Reports, Semi-Annual Reports, and content for provincial member AGMs, website content, and oversee CCA’s social platforms and other channels.
• Write scripts and presentations for public engagement and speaking events for the Executive Leadership team.
• Manage and maintain the CCA’s Crisis Communication Plan and assist in coordination during an emergency event and act as a point-person and resource for industry issues.

Policy / Government Relations

• Support the advancement of policy positions that benefit the Canadian beef cattle industry through creation and collaboration with policy team.
• Support the development and execution of industry events and work in close partnership with provincial and associated members.
• Contribute to advocacy campaigns, providing a communications lens as well as logistical support with our communications tools.
• Provide communications support for advocacy events including social media, photography, visuals, etc.

Business Planning and Leadership

• Manage the department’s annual budget, ensuring results, accountability and value for dollars spent.
• Build and maintain relationships with key partners including: other CCA Division Communications teams, provincial communication managers, committees and Board; government employees and officials; and strategic stakeholders.
• Manage and renew the CCA communications strategy as needed.

Qualifications

• Five plus years’ experience in communications with a track record of creating innovative communications plans and strategies that employ measurable tools and tactics.
• Post-secondary education in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or related degree/diploma.
• Strong media relations experience.
• Proven experience in social media campaigns and influencer marketing.
• Excellent spoken and interpersonal communication skills, with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills, both internally and externally. Teamwork and a service orientation are key to longevity in this dynamic role.  
• Experience in a non-profit organization considered an asset.
• Ability to develop and enhance strong communications standards, workflows, and branding guidelines while disseminating content across multiple mediums, including social media, newsletters, and more.
• Independent thinking with openness and excitement for new ideas; passion for team environment and working with multiple colleagues on different projects at the same time.
• A positive outlook that thrives in a changing, fast-paced, high-performing world-class organization.
• Familiarity with the Canadian cattle industry is considered a strong asset.
• Ability to communicate fluently in both English and French considered an asset.

Working Conditions

Location: Calgary office / Ottawa office
Status: Full-time
Office hours: Regular business hours, Monday through Friday
Travel: Some travel required
Compensation: CCA offers a competitive compensation and benefits package and flexible working conditions conducive to the performance requirements.
Physical requirements: Minimal physical requirements.
Direct reports: No direct reports (currently).
Reports to: General Manager

Please send your resume and cover letter to:

Ryder Lee

General Manager

Canadian Cattle Association

180, 6815-8th Street NE
Calgary, AB T2E 7H7

Email: ryder@cattle.ca

Canadian Cattle Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: CCA is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at CCA are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, colour, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in Canada.

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Summer Interns – 2025  – Posted October 2024 
Location: Calgary 
Overview: 
The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is the national voice of Canada’s 60,000 beef producers. Founded by producers and led by a producer-elected Board, CCA works to address issues of concern to Canada’s beef producers.   

The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) is a division of CCA. The CRSB is a collaborative, multi-stakeholder initiative focused on advancing environmental, social and economic sustainability in the Canadian beef industry. It has over 100 members representing the beef value chain and beyond. 

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is Canada’s industry-led funding agency for beef, cattle and forage research. The BCRC is committed to delivering and supporting initiatives that effectively accelerate the development and uptake of research findings and outcomes by industry.  

The Public and Stakeholder Engagement (PSE) team works with national and provincial beef organizations to address consumer questions and issues that could erode consumer and public confidence in the beef industry. 

CCA, CRSB, BCRC and PSE are each looking for a talented, self-motivated individual to participate in our CCA Summer Intern Program. There are a total of four (4) internships available.
 
Job Description: 
These internship positions provide a unique opportunity for students interested in the Canadian beef industry across a broad range of topics including (but not limited to) public policy, research, sustainability, communications, and advocacy. Interns will have the opportunity to engage directly with CCA and its divisions’ staff, Board Members, Councils, and key industry stakeholders to help overcome challenges and advance priorities important to the Canadian beef industry Students are also encouraged to propose summer projects for consideration.  

Canadian Cattle Association internship 

Responsibilities: 

• Assist with youth program delivery (Canadian Cattle Young Leaders & Canadian Cattle Youth Council), including activities at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference  

• Assist in communications of advocacy efforts and policy enactment (social media, stakeholder outreach, media management, website maintenance, etc.) 

• Assist with the development of communication updates to member organizations 

• Observe association meetings (board, committees, working groups) 

Perform other duties as assigned to advance CCA activities 

CRSB internship 

Responsibilities: 

• Assist with event preparation and delivery 

• Support program and project development, delivery and reporting 

• Support communications activities 

• Conduct literature reviews 

• Assist with administrative tasks 

• Perform other duties as assigned 

BCRC internship  

Responsibilities: 

• Support BCRC knowledge and technology transfer efforts including website and social media content development  

• Assist with event preparation and development 

• Assist with content development for BCRC’s regular publications  

• Support scientific and special topic reviews in a wide variety of areas and assist in BCRC’s research evaluation processes 

• Perform other duties as assigned 

 PSE internship

Responsibilities

• Support tradeshow and event organization  

• Attend various public facing events on behalf of the program (Calgary Stampede)  

• Help with communication activities (writing, graphic design, video editing)  

• Support overall delivery of business plan objectives  

• Assist with administrative tasks 

• Perform other duties as assigned 

Qualifications: 

• Applicants must be enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate studies 

• Applicants should be enrolled in an agriculture or associated program, have beef production experience, and/or an expressed interest in pursuing a career in the Canadian beef industry 

• Must be available for the duration of the internship 

• Must have excellent research, writing, and communication skills 

• Must be able to work in CCA’s Calgary office 

Please send cover letters and resumes to Sherin at chopras@cattle.ca with the subject line: CCA Summer Intern and indicate on your cover letter which division’s internship (or divisions’ internships) you are interested in. Candidates can apply to more than one internship. The deadline for applications is November 15, 2024. 

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.  

Canadian Cattle Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: CCA is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at CCA are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, colour, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service,family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in Canada.