Communications and Community Engagement Officer

Communications And Community Engagement Officer – Student Experience

Communications and Community Engagement

PASS Grade 5 (under review) $84,428 to $95,024

About The Board

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to learning, equity, engagement and innovation. We are guided by our vision, Growing Together, the mission that every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future, and our values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy to guide our daily work and ensure that we honour the unique identities and needs of all. Proudly serving a community of approximately 50,000 students in the City of Hamilton and surrounding area, HWDSB operates across 80 elementary schools, 13 secondary schools and 1 Adult Learning Centre, in addition to providing support and service to approximately 8,800 staff members.

Staff Wellness

At HWDSB, staff wellness is a priority. We are committed to co-creating and fostering an environment where staff feel safe, valued, and supported. We are continuously striving to support the needs of our diverse community and actively work to foster and maintain a culture of human rights.

Our holistic Staff Wellness program has been designed to support employee's well-being in all dimensions of health. As one part of this comprehensive program, all staff as well as their dependents have access to free and confidential supports through our Employee and Family Assistance Provider (EFAP), in addition to many other program components.

About The Role

The Communications and Community Engagement Officer (CCEO) plays a vital role in advancing HWDSB's commitment to student success and meaningful community partnerships through strategic, impactful communications and authentic community engagement. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Communications and Community Engagement, the incumbent will provide comprehensive support for Student Engagement initiatives — including the Arts, Athletics, Parent, Guardian and Caregiver Engagement, Volunteers, the Hamilton Foundation for Student Success, and a wide range of important community partnerships. The CCEO builds and nurtures relationships that strengthen HWDSB's connections with students, families, and the broader community. This work is grounded in an anti-racism and anti-oppression approach that reflects HWDSB's steadfast commitment to Human Rights, Equity, and Indigenous Education and Wellness and Reconciliation.

Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To

Communications

• Develop and share compelling stories that highlight partnerships, programs, and student achievement across multiple channels.
• Create and manage social media, traditional media, web-based content, including posts, images, and campaigns that engage diverse audiences.
• Maintain and update website content related to Student Engagement, arts, athletics, parent engagement, volunteer initiatives, and community partnerships.
• Support the earned and owned coverage of community and school-based events in collaboration with community organizations that HWDSB holds relationships with.
• Develop and implement a strategy to champion students, honouring their individual achievements and accomplishments (including community awards, scholarships and celebrations).
  
  

Community Engagement

• Develop and implement an annual Community Engagement Strategy that establishes clear objectives and actionable tactics to guide the Board's efforts, drive measurable outcomes aligned with HWDSB's Multi-Year Strategic Plan and Board Improvement Plan, and assess progress against defined success indicators.
• Foster, and maintain strong relationships with community partners, families, and interested parties that align with HWDSB's Multi-Year Strategic Plan and Board Improvement Plan.
• Build meaningful partnerships that amplify diverse voices, honour lived experiences and advance HWDSB's ongoing commitment to Human Rights and Indigenous Education.
• Champion the Engagement Policy and corresponding procedure in collaboration with multiple interested parties to build and support authentic engagement that benefits students.
• Ensure community engagement efforts encourage usage of school space outside of school hours and support the programming needs of the community.
• Plan, prepare, and conduct outreach workshops, seminars and other promotional activities that support the work of the Board.
• Participate and add value to youth-serving councils, city-wide initiatives, and networks that expand opportunities for HWDSB students and families.
• Identify and pursue new partnerships that enrich student experiences, well-being, and strengthen community connections.
• Develop, implement and maintain departmental organizational best practices in collaboration with fellow team members and the Senior Manager, Communications and Community Engagement.
• Attend events outside of standard business hours representing the Board and its relationships in the community.
• Present at multiple internal forums (e.g. Board of Trustees, Executive Council, Committees etc.) creating documents and reference materials to further elaborate on student opportunities. Program Leadership – Focus on Youth
• Take full ownership of the Focus on Youth program, including hiring, onboarding, and supervising seasonal staff.
• Provide program oversight, manage budgets, coordinate the application and reporting process, and ensure high-quality program delivery.
• Develop and implement process improvement opportunities; manage projects from ideation through implementation to evaluation.
• Work diligently throughout the school year to build and develop new Focus on Youth partnerships, while also establishing new future partnerships. Student Nutrition Program:
• Champion the HWDSB Nutrition Strategy by overseeing the day-to-day work of the Student Nutrition Coordinator, providing coaching, direction, and performance support.
• Establish, nurture and build community partnerships to grow student nutrition programs across all schools in HWDSB. Further connect the Student Nutrition Coordinator with HWDSB staff whose work supports program success.
• Monitor program effectiveness and identify opportunities to strengthen services for students and families.
• Update Senior Manager of Communications and Community Engagement on progress, opportunities and performance.
  
  

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Communications, Public Relations, Community Engagement, or a related field.
• Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience in communications and/or community engagement roles.
• Proven experience creating and managing engaging content across web and social media platforms.
• Strong relationship-building, partnership development and management skills.
• Experience building community-based programs reflective of HWDSB Engagement Policy.
• Experience supervising staff, managing programs, and overseeing budgets.
• Strong project management and process improvement skills.
• Knowledge of student engagement, youth-serving programs, and Hamilton community initiatives is an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required
  
  

Please note: This position requires routine flexibility and working outside of standard business hours. The incumbent must be able to meet to those requirements.

Deadline for submission is 4:00pm on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Applicants who are short-listed for this position will be invited for an in-person interview at the HWDSB Education Centre (wheelchair accessible). If you require accommodation, please notify us in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs as HWDSB is committed to providing accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process, based on any human rights protected grounds.

Employment Equity Statement

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to building inclusive learning and working environments where students see themselves reflected in the curriculum, staff population, physical surroundings and the broader community.

HWDSB's mission is to empower students to learn and grow to their full potential in a diverse world. Guided by this mission, HWDSB strives to build a workforce that embodies the values of human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion, while reflecting and welcoming the diverse and distinct identities, experiences and needs of our students and our communities.

HWDSB Seeks Qualified Candidates Who Share Our Commitment To Equity And Inclusion, And Who Will Contribute To The Vision Of Creating Inclusive And Equitable Outcomes. HWDSB Especially Invites And Welcomes Applications From

• Indigenous Peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples).
• Members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin (e.g., Black and racialized communities, immigrant communities, etc.).
• Persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities.
• Persons who identify as women.
• Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. (i.e., Two-spirit and LGBTQIA+).
  
  

As part of HWDSB's commitment to employment equity and removing barriers to groups that have faced and continue to face barriers in employment, we invite all applicants to complete a voluntary questionnaire that collects identity-based information. The voluntary questionnaire is on the Apply to Education application page for this position.

HWDSB is committed to providing accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process, based on any human rights protected grounds. If you require accommodation, please notify us in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Land Acknowledgement

HWDSB is located on ancestral Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Confederacy land as determined by the Dish with One Spoon treaty. The Dish with One Spoon wampum belt represents the treaty relationship between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and Anishinaabe with respect to sharing the land and resources thereon. The intent of this agreement is for all nations sharing this territory to do so responsibly, respectfully and sustainably in perpetuity. We respect the longstanding relationships with the local Indigenous communities, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Six Nations of the Grand River.

Applicant Self-Identification Form

The information collected on this form is used to monitor HWDSB's progress toward our equity goals including our commitment to diversity in HWDSB recruitment and hiring practices. We are committed to the security and confidentiality of information under our control, and to the protection of privacy with respect to personal and confidential information that is collected, used, disclosed and retained in the system . Information on this form is collected pursuant to (Ministry of Education) and in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act . Access to this form is restricted to specific individuals in Human Resources. The Research and Analytics Department will use aggregate data from all the forms (not individual data) for internal reporting. Their access and use of the data is governed by MFIPPA and . Applicant Self-Identification Forms will be maintained in the Human Resources job competition file and securely destroyed 1 year after the job posting for candidates not selected for an interview and 6 years after the job posting for candidates interviewed, in accordance with general records retention principles. If you prefer not to answer any of the questions, you can select “prefer not to answer”. This in no way affects your application or the applicant selection process. If you have questions or concerns about this form please contact .