Job overview

Basis: Temporary, Full-Time

Location: Anywhere in B.C.

Salary Range: $78,400 – $110,800

Starting Salary: $91,360 

BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner (BCOHRC) exists to address the root causes of inequality, discrimination and injustice in B.C. by shifting laws, policies, practices and cultures. We do this work through education, research, advocacy, inquiry and monitoring.

Reporting to the Communications Manager, the Communications Advisor will be a key player in the development and execution of the communications strategies and initiatives that support BCOHRC’s mandate. This role requires strategic thinking, cross-team collaboration and excellent written communication and design skills.

Accountabilities

• Develops a variety of communications collateral including reports, marketing and brand materials, brochures, templates and presentation materials, including graphic design and layout for print and digital materials.
• Oversees the quality of materials to ensure that they are consistent with the organization's brand and messaging.
• Working closely with the Digital Specialist, this role supports BCOHRC’s social media strategy across all platforms (Facebook, Linkedln, lnstagram, YouTube, etc.); including frequent posting, community monitoring, analytics and reporting.
• Collaborates on the production of videos and multimedia content, convening key stakeholders and working with outsourced suppliers to ensure successful completion.
• Leads the day-to-day operation of BCOHRC's website, including updating and publishing content on a consistent basis.
• Produces sharable digital content and manages the digital editorial calendar to build online engagement.
• Supports issues management through media monitoring, including identifying issues, gathering information and escalating issues to the Director.
• Supports BCOHRC participation in external public events, including logistics and materials coordination.
• Contributes to the planning and execution of BCOHRC events, including event management and event oversight, as well as measuring the event outcomes.
• Supports the execution of the BCOHRC internal communications strategy to ensure staff have access to key information and stay connected with each other’s work.
• Works collaboratively across internal teams to build relationships, identify and implement opportunities to support education, outreach, research and policy objectives through communications strategies and tactics.
• Liaises positively and proactively with provincial government communications contacts and civil society partners to ensure effective flow of communication on events and issues.
• In alignment with the BCOHRC Communications Department Strategic Plan, applies a rights-based approach and an intersectional lens with a focus on decolonization and critical analyses to all work.

Qualifications

Education and experience

• Bachelor’s Degree, plus three years related experience; OR
• Other postsecondary certificate or diploma, plus four years related experience; OR
• An equivalent combination of education and experience in a communications related field (e.g., design, marketing, public relations, journalism) or related discipline.
   
• A minimum of three years recent*, progressively responsible, professional experience developing communications materials and leading communications projects, including:
  • Creation of print and digital reports, including editing and layout
  • Production of branded communications materials including graphics, brochure, presentations, etc.
  • Supporting the development of products across departmental teams

*Recent experience would ideally be within the last five years in order to be current and fluent with existing and emerging approaches, theories and trends. 

• A minimum of three years professional experience using website content management systems (e.g., WordPress) and overseeing web development and hosting.
• Experience developing communications materials that are accessible and inclusive for people living with disabilities, including familiarity with WCAB or equivalent standards.
• Experience providing strategic communications advice and support to senior management.
• Experience applying human rights-based, diversity and inclusion and/or decolonization approaches to work.
• Successful completion of security screening requirements of the BC Public Service, which may include a criminal records check, and/or Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA) check, and/or enhanced security screening checks as required.

Willingness statement:  Must be willing to work occasional evenings or weekends. occasional travel may be required.

Preference may be given to applicants with the following:

• Experience working in an environment that promotes human rights, equality and justice.
• Experience developing communications materials that are accessible and inclusive for people where English is not their primary language.
• Experience engaging and communicating with Indigenous groups or communities.
• Graphic design, layout or additional relevant certification.
• Experience using current Adobe applications for design and layout.
• Additional skills in photography or media production.
• Experience working in the BC Public Service.
• Fluency in two or more languages.
• Lived experience with human rights work, which could be through your own identity and/or personal experiences related to human rights.

Knowledge, skills and abilities 

• Commitment to and passion for human rights.
• Ability to function effectively and with flexibility in a dynamic environment with shifting priorities and tight deadlines.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of confidentiality, discernment, tact and diplomacy in dealing with issues that could have a significant impact on the image and credibility of the Office.
• Knowledge of general communications principles, concepts and methodologies, including issues management, media relations and media production.
• Knowledge of current technologies used in publication development, advertising, public relations and social media.
• Knowledge of human rights-based approaches, diversity and inclusion (GBA+) and Indigenous competencies.
• General knowledge of the B.C. Human Rights Code and other relevant legislation and regulations.
• Well-developed analytical, strategic and critical thinking skills.
• Superior oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in the creation of communications and public relations materials.
• Ability to work with a variety of media and mediums to achieve the Office’s communications goals.
• Ability to write, edit and present a variety of communications materials in a format appropriate for the intended audience.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, organize and prioritize high volumes of time-sensitive and confidential work to meet operational deadlines.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with changing priorities.
• Ability to function with a high degree of tact and diplomacy.

Indigenous relations competencies

• Cultural Agility is the ability to work respectfully, knowledgeably and effectively with Indigenous people. It is noticing and readily adapting to cultural uniqueness in order to create a sense of safety for all. It is openness to unfamiliar experiences, transforming feelings of nervousness or anxiety into curiosity and appreciation. It is examining one's own culture and worldview and the culture of the BC Public Service, and to notice their commonalities and distinctions with Indigenous cultures and worldviews. It is recognition of the ways that personal and professional values may conflict or align with those of Indigenous people. It is the capacity to relate to or allow for differing cultural perspectives and being willing to experience a personal shift in perspective.
• Empathy is the ability to recognize, understand and directly experience the emotion of another. It involves listening with heart, accepting their message, and staying focused on their experience rather than reacting. It means understanding that the behaviour may be connected to something outside of the immediate situation.
• Sustained Learning and Development means continually increasing your ability to build and maintain respectful and effective relationships with Indigenous people. Central to this competency is appreciating that there are many other cultural understandings of knowledge and ways of working that have legitimacy and deserve respect – and therefore require our continual learning and development, including direct exposure to cultural and community ways.

Behavioural competencies

• Strategic Orientation is the ability to link long range visions and concepts to daily work, ranging from a simple understanding to a sophisticated awareness of the impact of the world at large on strategies and on choices.
• Planning, Organizing and Coordinating involves proactively planning, establishing priorities and allocating resources. It's expressed by developing and implementing increasingly complex plans.
• Relationship Building is working to build or maintain ethical relationships or networks or contacts with people who are, or may be, potentially helpful in achieving work related goals and establishing advantages. These people may include customers, clients, counterparts, colleagues, etc.
• Solving Problems Creatively involves knowledge and skills in fostering creative problem solving in the organization through critical reflection, problem analysis, risk assessment and rewarding innovation.
• Promoting Empowerment involves knowledge and skills in using processes such as delegation and information sharing to enhance subordinate ownership and empowerment over their task and performance.
• Building Team Orientation involves knowledge and skills in developing group identity, participative decision making and open and effective communication.
• Concern for Image Impact is an awareness of how one’s self, one’s role and the organization are seen by others. The highest level of this competency involves an awareness of, and preference for, respect for the organization by the community.
• Conflict Management is the ability to develop working relationships that facilitate the prevention and/or resolution of conflicts within the organization.

For more information on competencies, see: 

• Competencies in the BC Public Service
• BC Public Service competencies list
• Indigenous relations behavioural competencies

Additional information

• This posting is for one temporary, full-time position.
• This position is for a 12-month parental leave coverage and may be extended up to 18 months.
• Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada (i.e., Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or authorized in writing to work in Canada such as via a work permit). Employment is contingent upon continued eligibility to work in Canada (“continued eligibility” here means that eligibility to work in Canada must be maintained to be eligible for continued employment).
• The successful applicant requires a criminal record check. Existence of a criminal record will not result in immediate disqualification.
• This position is excluded from union membership.
• An eligibility list may be established to fill future temporary and permanent vacancies.

Informational webinar

We will be hosting an informational webinar for those who are curious about this position and interested in learning more about the BCOHRC. 

If you would like to attend, please complete the registration form in advance of this webinar.

When: October 14, 2026, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific time

Questions: Due to a high volume of interest and limited time, we may not be able to answer all questions during the webinar. To assist us in providing the most helpful information during this time, we ask that as much as possible you submit these questions in advance via the registration form. 

Recording: Should you be unable to attend or want to review after the session, the webinar will be recorded and linked in this posting following the webinar.

For complete details about this opportunity, including accountabilities and a complete list of required and preferred qualifications, please refer to the job profile. 

Accommodation

BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require an accommodation at any stage of the hiring process due to a disability, medical condition or other protected need, please contact Human Resources at [email protected].

Accommodation requests will be reviewed and considered on a case-by-case basis and we will work with you to identify appropriate arrangements to support your participation in the recruitment process.