Research Communications Lead
Company : IWK Health
Req ID: 215527
Department/Program: ACHH (Latimer), Research Services
Location: Halifax
Type of Employment: Temporary Hourly FT long-assignment (100% FTE) for 1 year x 1 position(s)
Start Date: February 2026
Union Status: Research, Management/Non Union Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $32.2049 - $36.6026 /hour
Closing Date: January 30, 2026 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)
This is not a designated position; however, preference will be given to those who identify as Mi’kmaw or Indigenous, have a strong connection with Indigenous communities and/or experience working in Indigenous communities and an understanding of Indigenous knowledge and data protection and sovereignty. Please self-identify on your application.
IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.
Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.
The Opportunity
The Etuaptmu’k W’loti Initiative is looking to expand its team through the hiring of Communications Lead. Using a Two-Eyed Seeing approach, the Etuaptmu’k Wloti Initiative aims to enhance the healthcare experiences of Indigenous people by increasing cultural safety in education and healthcare settings across Nova Scotia. This is done through the development and offering of online courses, gathering and comparing health data and providing targeted community-led interventions to improve access to quality, culturally safe care.
Through this Research Nova Scotia-funded Focused Research Investment, the Communications Lead will be responsible for implementing and maintaining the Etuaptmu’k W’loti aims by providing communications and administrative support, amplifying knowledge translation and dissemination strategies as well as contributing to research administrative tasks associated with project communications. The successful candidate will work independently and collaboratively towards a common goal of improving the health and wellbeing of Mi’kmaw and Indigenous people in Nova Scotia.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Act as the point of contact for the project and its partnership group/Advisory Circle
• Coordinate, implement and maintain an innovative and transformative knowledge mobilization strategy for a growing research initiative
• Organize and coordinate press releases, events, conferences, and stakeholder meetings.
• Create easy to understand Knowledge Translation products (newsletters, learning modules, brochures, slide decks, posters, videos, etc.) that communicate complex research results in a simple and relatable way
• Manage Etuaptmu’k W’loti’s social media presence on multiple platforms
• Work with website developers to develop, maintain and update the project website
• Contribute to the preparation of progress reports for funding bodies, meeting minutes for community collaborators, grant applications to funders, ethics applications, etc.
• Track and report on engagement metrics, adjusting the communication strategy based on feedback and performance data.
• Set-up/prepare materials, catering, media, room booking, confirmations of attendance etc. for all community meetings/partnership gatherings
• Contribute to the overall activities of the research team as required
Hours of Work
37.5 hours/week; Mon-Fri
Your Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in a communications, health, or research-related field (Master’s preferred)
• Independent worker, able to work with minimal guidance while maintaining significant, quality, output
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to translate complex concepts into easy to understand, distributable products
• Significant attention to detail, as well as a strong work ethic and desire to contribute quality fulltime work
• A significant understanding of knowledge exchange, social media as well as familiarity with current and emerging innovative communications strategies
• Experience with developing unique knowledge translation materials relevant to Indigenous peoples (i.e. posters, art exhibitions, PowerPoints, video documentaries, etc.)
• Experience in managing communication campaigns for large projects or organizations.
• Strong understanding of social media platforms and digital content creation.
• Experience in working with academic researchers or in a research environment considered an asset.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign), and/or other content management tools.
• Familiarity with website management platforms (e.g., WordPress) and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics).
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Strong creative skills with the ability to develop visuals based on research findings
• Ability to work effectively both in office and remotely as required
• Previous experience working with Mi’Kmaw or First Nations communities
• Preference will be given to those who identify as Mi’kmaw or Indigenous, have a strong connection with Indigenous communities and/or experience working in Indigenous communities and an understanding of Indigenous knowledge and data protection and sovereignty.
Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.
Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.
This is a Management/Non Union bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.
An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.
If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.
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