Communications and Policy Analyst

Job Description: Communications and Policy Analyst

About the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board:

The Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board is established under Chapter 16 of the Umbrella Final Agreement as the “primary instrument of fish and wildlife management in the Yukon.”

As an independent advisory body acting in the public interest, the Board serves as a recommending authority to governments on matters related to the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, and their habitats.

The Board’s membership is designed to support the fair and equal participation of Yukon Indigenous Peoples and other Yukon residents in management processes by integrating scientific information with local and Traditional Knowledge. The Board consists of twelve members: six nominees from Yukon First Nations and six nominees from the Government of Yukon.

To fulfill its mandate, the Board engages with Renewable Resources Councils, Yukon First Nations governments, the Governments of Yukon and Canada, other Umbrella Final Agreement boards and councils, non-governmental organizations, and members of the public.

Position Overview:

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Communications and Policy Analyst leads day-to-day communications for the Board and provides targeted policy, research, and issues-analysis support. The position is predominantly a communications role. The incumbent is responsible for developing clear, accurate, timely, and engaging public-facing materials that explain the Board’s mandate, processes, recommendations, projects, and public engagement opportunities.

The role is intentionally hybrid because the Board is a small independent organization with a broad co-management mandate. The Board’s communications work cannot be separated from policy understanding: effective public information often requires the incumbent to interpret complex fish and wildlife management issues, legislative and regulatory processes, Board recommendations, public submissions, government decisions, and co-management partner perspectives. Policy analysis is therefore integral to the role of supporting accurate communications, sound advice, and timely decision-making.

The successful candidate will be a highly skilled writer and strategic communicator who can work independently, exercise sound judgement, solve problems, manage competing priorities, and translate complex or sensitive information into plain language for diverse audiences. The role requires professionalism, discretion, cultural awareness, political acuity, and the ability to build productive relationships across a complex co-management environment.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Communications and Public Engagement (Primary)

• Develop, implement, and evaluate annual and project-specific communications plans that support the Board’s mandate, strategic priorities, and public engagement goals.
• Draft, edit, and coordinate high-quality communications products, including news releases, public notices, correspondence letters, speaking notes, key messages, summary reports, backgrounders, fact sheets, briefing materials, advertisements, web content, social media content, and presentations.
• Translate complex fish and wildlife, habitat, policy, regulatory, legal, and co-management information into clear, accessible, plain-language content for Yukon residents, partners, stakeholders, and the public.
• Manage and maintain the Board’s website and social media presence, including content planning, publishing, accessibility, accuracy, timeliness, and consistency of voice.
• Develop and maintain a communications calendar and approval process to ensure timely, coordinated, and accurate public messaging.
• Provide media relations and issues management support, including monitoring media and public discussions, identifying emerging issues, preparing key messages, supporting spokespersons, and coordinating responses to public or media inquiries as directed.
• Plan and support public engagement initiatives, including open houses, community events, surveys, online engagement, partner meetings, and public information sessions.
• Prepare public-facing summaries of engagement results, including “what we heard” materials, plain-language explainers, and follow-up communications.
• Coordinate the development of recurring Board communications products, including the annual report, fish and wildlife calendar, scholarship materials, outreach campaigns, and promotional materials.
• Use communications analytics, audience feedback, and partner input to improve communications products, outreach methods, and public understanding of the Board’s work.
  

2. Policy, Research, and Issues Analysis (Secondary)

• Monitor emerging and ongoing issues in fish, wildlife, habitat, conservation, regulation, legislation, and co-management relevant to the Board’s mandate.
• Conduct research, jurisdictional scans, literature reviews, and policy analysis to support communications products, Board deliberations, recommendations, correspondence, and strategic planning.
• Analyze proposals, public submissions, government correspondence, legislative or regulatory materials, and partner input to identify key issues, risks, opportunities, options, and implications for the Board.
• Prepare briefing notes, decision materials, options analyses, correspondence, reports, recommendations, presentations, and policy summaries for the Executive Director, Board members, working groups, partners, and the public.
• Support the development of Board submissions and recommendations to government, ensuring materials are evidence-informed, clearly reasoned, and aligned with the Board’s mandate and approval processes.
• Synthesize scientific information, local knowledge, and Traditional Knowledge in a respectful and appropriate manner, consistent with applicable protocols, confidentiality requirements, and partner direction.
• Maintain awareness of relevant legislation, regulations, policies, agreements, management plans, and co-management processes, particularly Chapter 16 of the Umbrella Final Agreement.
• Maintain tracking systems for incoming correspondence, file storage and record keeping, emerging issues, Board decisions, public engagement commitments and timelines, government responses, and communications deliverables.
  

3. Co-management Relationships and Project Coordination

• Build and maintain respectful working relationships with Renewable Resources Councils, Yukon First Nations, Government of Yukon departments, federal departments, other Umbrella Final Agreement boards and councils, non-governmental organizations, stakeholders, and members of the public.
• Support Board working groups and external working groups by coordinating information, preparing materials, recording key outcomes, tracking action items, and communicating next steps.
• Represent the Board at public events, community meetings, partner tables, and external engagements as directed, requiring a strong understanding of the Board’s mandate, current projects, and policies.
• Coordinate logistics for public events, meetings, workshops, and outreach activities to support effective participation, accessibility, and follow-through.
• Provide timely advice to the Executive Director on communications, engagement, reputational, policy, and relationship implications of emerging issues and proposed responses.
• Provide support to co-management partners and stakeholders as directed and within the scope of the Board’s mandate.

Specific Accountabilities:

• Lead the development and implementation of communications plans, content calendars, and public-facing materials that increase public awareness of the Board’s mandate, processes, projects, and recommendations.
• Ensure all communications products are accurate, clear, consistent, approved through the appropriate process, and suitable for the intended audience.
• Provide plain-language summaries of complex technical, policy, and regulatory issues to support public understanding and informed participation.
• Identify emerging issues, analyze available information, and recommend practical communications or policy responses to the Executive Director.
• Prepare high-quality briefing notes, reports, correspondence, presentations, and options analyses to support Board decision-making and partner engagement.
• Support public engagement design and reporting, including surveys, discussion documents, facilitation materials, engagement summaries, and follow-up communications.
• Manage or coordinate key communications projects, including the Board’s annual report, fish and wildlife calendar, scholarship communications, website updates, and public outreach campaigns.
• Support continuous improvement of Board policies, procedures, templates, and communications practices based on organizational needs and public-sector best practices.
• Maintain organized records, contact lists, project files, approvals, and tracking tools to support continuity in a small office environment.
  

Essential Qualifications:

• Please clearly demonstrate in your resume and cover letter how you meet the following qualifications. Candidates with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.
• Post-secondary degree or diploma in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, political science, public policy, public administration, Indigenous governance, natural resource management, environmental studies, science communication, or a related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience, preferably in communications, public engagement, policy analysis, government, First Nation government, a board, commission or council, a non-governmental organization, or a relevant natural resource management setting.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing communications strategies, plans, and products across multiple formats, including web, social media, reports, public notices, presentations, and plain-language information materials.
• Demonstrated experience writing and editing for multiple audiences, including the ability to translate complex information into clear, concise, accurate, and engaging content.
• Experience conducting research, issue analysis, environmental scans, policy analysis, or briefing-note development to support decision-making.
• Experience building and maintaining positive working relationships with partners, stakeholders, governments, Indigenous organizations, or members of the public.
• Knowledge of, or ability to quickly develop knowledge of, issues related to fish and wildlife management in the Yukon, Yukon First Nations Final Agreements, the Umbrella Final Agreement, Chapter 16, Renewable Resources Councils, and Yukon’s co-management structure.
• Valid Class 5 driver’s licence, or ability to obtain one.
  

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including plain-language writing, editing, storytelling, interviewing, and presentation skills.
• Strong strategic communications judgement, including the ability to assess audiences, risks, sensitivities, timing, tone, and appropriate channels.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to synthesize technical, scientific, legal, policy, and community-based information into practical advice and clear communications products.
• Sound judgement, discretion, confidentiality, and political acuity when working with sensitive issues, public correspondence, partner perspectives, and Board deliberations or decisions.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision, take initiative, solve problems, and produce high-quality work under deadline pressure.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities, track details, and follow through on commitments.
• Experience planning or supporting public engagement, community outreach, government consultations, surveys, workshops, or public meetings.
• Experience working with Yukon First Nations, Indigenous governments or organizations, Renewable Resources Councils, or co-management bodies.
• Understanding of respectful approaches to using local and Traditional Knowledge, including confidentiality, context, consent, and appropriate use in public-facing materials.
• Knowledge of Yukon geography, communities, fish and wildlife issues, government policy setting and decision-making, and the cultural, historical, and political context of the Yukon’s co-management system.
• Experience with website content management systems, social media management, email marketing platforms, analytics tools, graphic design, photography, videography, or layout software is an asset.
  

Working Environment:

• The Executive Director defines the general priorities, goals, objectives, and expected outcomes for this position. Within those parameters, the incumbent works with considerable independence to organize and complete activities, identify problems, propose solutions, and manage day-to-day communications and policy-support tasks.
• The position operates in a small-office environment where staff must be adaptable, collaborative, and willing to contribute to shared organizational needs. The role involves frequent writing, editing, research, partner coordination, public communications, and issues management. Work may involve tight timelines, competing priorities, and sensitive or high-profile matters related to fish and wildlife management in the Yukon.
  

Performance Evaluation:

• An initial performance will be completed by the Executive Director at the end of the probation period (after 6 months of full-time employment)
• The Executive Director then evaluates the position annually, considering the quality, accuracy, timeliness, and effectiveness of communications products, briefing materials, policy analysis, public engagement support, project delivery, judgment, initiative, problem-solving, relationships, and contributions to the Board’s strategic goals.
• Additional performance measures may be developed in collaboration with the incumbent, including communications reach, engagement outcomes, website and social media analytics, and project-specific deliverables.
  

Working Conditions and Job Requirements:

• Based in Whitehorse, Yukon, with occasional travel to communities across the territory (as needed).
• Flexible work arrangements may be considered, subject to operational requirements.
• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required for Board meetings, community events, public engagement sessions, or urgent communications needs.
• The role involves extended periods of computer and screen-based work.
• Competitive benefits package, including health and dental benefits and matching RRSP contributions up to 6% of annual wages.
  

Budget Responsibility:

• No portion of the Board’s annual budget is under the direct control of the Communications and Policy Analyst.
• The incumbent may support project planning, procurement, contractor coordination, expense tracking, and reporting for communications, engagement, or policy-related projects as directed by the Executive Director.
  

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit a single PDF file with their cover letter and resume outlining their qualifications and experience to:

Attention: Steven Hossack, Executive Director

Email: [email protected]

• For more information, please visit our website https://yfwmb.ca/
• Applicants may be asked to provide a writing sample or complete a written assignment as part of the selection process.
• The Board is committed to fostering a diverse, respectful, and inclusive workplace and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including Indigenous applicants. Candidates are welcome to self-identify in their application.

Organizational Arrangement:

• The Communications and Policy Analyst reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the Office Manager, Executive Committee, Board members, working groups, co-management partners, and contractors as needed.
  

Benefits include:

• Comprehensive group benefits, including extended health, dental, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, and short-term disability, with the Board paying 75% of eligible premiums.
• Matching RRSP contributions, starting at 3% and increasing with years of service up to 6% of annual wages.
• Generous paid leave, including vacation accrual starting at 8%, paid Board holidays, sick leave, special leave, and a winter holiday office closure.
• Annual salary review, including merit-based increases and annual adjustments tied to the Board’s transfer payment agreement.
• Professional development support, including eligible training fees, travel, per diems, and accommodation for approved learning opportunities.
• Flexible work arrangements may be considered, including approved remote work arrangements where operationally appropriate.