Location: Ottawa, ON (hybrid – minimum 2 days in office)
Salary: Hiring range $69,446-$75,225
Application deadline: May 10, 2026
The Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) is seeking a Bilingual Communication Specialist to join a small, resourceful communications team. This multifaceted role combines organizational communications with project-driven knowledge mobilization initiatives, transforming complex, evidence-based policy assessments into clear, accessible, bilingual insights for the people who need them.
About the CCA
The CCA is a trusted voice at the intersection of research, society, and public policy. Through expert-led, multidisciplinary assessments, the CCA convenes knowledge and brings rigour, clarity, and balance to complex policy questions that matter to Canadians.
The topics are important; the standard is high. The CCA’s mandate—advancing evidence-informed decision-making in Canada—shapes everything we communicate. Our work addresses critical issues across health, the environment, public safety, innovation, and the economy and is used by federal departments and agencies, researchers, policy professionals, industry and institutions across the country and internationally. We also strive to inform national conversations through strategic, collaborative relationships with English- and French-language media organizations.
Why join the CCA?
A role with real range.
This position spans two distinct areas of communications work. On the corporate side, you will support institutional visibility through social media, stakeholder outreach, and organizational messaging. On the project side, you will contribute to communications for the CCA’s expert assessments—calling for careful judgment in translating evidence-rich material for a policy-informed audience. Both streams matter, and both will use and develop your skills in different ways.
A mission-driven organization.
As a not-for-profit charitable organization, the CCA is guided by the principles of independence, excellence, and integrity. Our assessments inform policy across governments and sectors and are valued for their depth and impartiality. This is an organization with a clear purpose and a strong reputation for delivering on it.
A thoughtful team working on important questions.
The CCA team is small and curious. You will work on topics that carry genuine weight alongside colleagues who approach this work with a strong sense of responsibility.
Flexible, hybrid work.
CCA staff are required to work in-office a minimum of two days per week. We know some things are best done face-to-face, but we are committed to maintaining a balance that supports excellence for both people and projects.
Responsibilities
The Bilingual Communication Specialist works with colleagues to contribute across three areas of the CCA’s communications work:
Corporate communications
- Plan, maintain, and populate the CCA’s social media presence, monitoring performance and adjusting our approach as needed.
- Develop content for the CCA website, e-newsletters, and professional communications.
- Support institutional outreach activities and events that strengthen awareness of the CCA and its work.
- Monitor the broader communications landscape and identify opportunities and technologies to increase reach and engagement.
- Provide general support to the Director of Communications, including drafting correspondence and coordinating meetings.
Assessment communications
- Contribute to the planning and implementation of communication and knowledge mobilization strategies for individual CCA assessments.
- Develop accessible, accurate content—including news releases, social media, infographics, and summary documents—that conveys the findings of CCA assessments clearly.
- Support the launch, dissemination and mobilization of assessment reports, including coordinating logistics and preparing materials for release.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of assessment communications and contribute to ongoing improvement.
Bilingual communications
- Review short, translated French texts for tone, accuracy, and accessibility. This role does not require extensive drafting of original French copy or reviewing lengthy technical documents, but fluent bilingualism is essential to the quality of what the CCA publishes.
- Work with translators, research teams, and the Manager of Planning and Production to maintain and strengthen CCA translation processes and French-language products.
- Monitor French-language media and social media in support of audience engagement.
Requirements
- At least 3 years of relevant communications experience, ideally in a policy, government, research, or not-for-profit setting.
- Fluent bilingualism in English and French is essential. Written and spoken proficiency in both languages is required; French-language testing may be included in the recruitment process.
- Strong writing and editing skills in English, with a clear, precise style and the ability to make complex material accessible without oversimplifying it.
- Experience with both organizational communications (social media, audience engagement, institutional messaging) and more intensive topic-specific communications work.
- Proficiency with digital and multimedia tools (e.g., WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite, Mailchimp, Canva, Descript, social media platforms).
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
- A university degree in communications, journalism, public policy, or a related field.
Benefits:
- Leading defined-benefit pension plan (HOOPP)
- Employee assistance program
- Excellent extended health and dental benefits
- Fifteen (15) annual vacation days, plus four (4) personal days
- Support for continuous professional development
Please send your CV, a cover letter, and three writing or content samples to careers@cca-reports.ca on or before May 10, 2026.
The CCA is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process and work environment. Please contact us in confidence and provide notice in advance if you require accommodations at any stage of the recruitment process.
This is a full-time in-office position; however, CCA staff can currently work remotely up to 3 days/week.
The hiring salary range for this position is $69,446-$75,225.
If strong candidates fall short of meeting the full qualifications for the role, the CCA may consider appointing the individual to a more junior position with a corresponding salary adjustment.
Thank you to all who apply. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.