Indigenous Internship Program – Communications and Marketing Intern

Indigenous Internship Program

The Indigenous Internship Program (IIP) is a 12-month paid internship program designed to provide recent Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) post-secondary graduates with the opportunity to gain professional-level work experience and a pathway through which they can build and develop transferable skills that can be used to gain sustained employment in their field of choice.

You must self-identify as an Indigenous person to be eligible for this program. The term Indigenous refers to individuals who identify as being descended from the original inhabitants (the first peoples) of what is now known as Canada. In this context, Indigenous people are First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit.

Personal Information

The Ontario Public Service (OPS) is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities it serves and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful, and equitable workplace. To enable this commitment and advance broader organizational objectives, this dedicated internship has been created for eligible applicants who self-identify as an Indigenous person. As part of the application process, all applicants must respond to a self-attestation. Applicants who do not self-identify as Indigenous or who choose not to identify will not be eligible.

For more information about the Indigenous Internship Program, please visit the Indigenous Internship Program webpage.

What makes working in the Ontario Public Service great

Working in the public service has real meaning and impact on the lives of Ontarians. What we do matters, and you can grow your career here. From economic growth to health and social justice, we offer career opportunities in multiple disciplines and business areas to match your passion. Our strength is the diversity of our people and the ideas we generate. We value trust, fairness, diversity, creativity, collaboration and excellence. We are committed to be an employer of first choice.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

Join the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)'s team of communications and marketing specialists responsible for providing communications support to the Minister and Deputy Minister and advising other ministry leaders and teams on various communications strategies. The Communications Branch is critical in supporting ministry programs and policies by providing information in English and French to staff, the media and the public through news releases, correspondence, the Internet/Intranet, broadcasts, publications and exhibits.

As the Communications and Marketing Intern, you have a unique work experience and opportunity to gain new skills and strengthen existing ones, including communications writing, project management, political acuity, client management and marketing. As a member of the Communications Branch, you will have the opportunity to:

• Contribute to the ministry's strategic communications and multimedia units by:
- Supporting the development of marketing tactics for agri-food programming rollout and public awareness initiatives (i.e., social media, strategic communications plans, news releases, web content, content for newsletters, infosheets, trade show resources, including collateral and exhibit support, other communications products as needed, and potential articles for OPS Topical)
- Developing social media to support announcements, public awareness, including developing content for Twitter and Facebook, graphic design support, sourcing photos, etc.
- Working directly with digital professionals to support graphic design, video production and web content

• Contribute to the domestic marketing unit and Foodland Ontario by:
- Conducting research and analysis to inform key programs such as local food and broader public sector
- Assisting in the development and selection of Indigenous recipes and working with the team to develop Indigenous food content for social media, website and other marketing channels
- Co-leading a review of the program's logo agreement process to identify if any barriers that limit more uptake from Indigenous food producers and businesses

• Supporting the Deputy Minister's internal communications by contributing to the Deputy Minister's blogs on a variety of topics, and writing remarks for the Deputy Minister for internal events (charity campaign launches, internal meetings, ministry check-in sessions)

This internship position offers a hybrid work arrangement with the ability to work both remotely and within the following OMAFRA offices.
remotely and within the following OMAFRA offices.
• 1 Stone Road West, Guelph (ministry headquarters)
• 77 Grenville Street, Toronto

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

• You must have graduated or will complete the requirements to graduate with a degree, diploma or post-graduate certificate from a recognized or legally authorized post-secondary institution in the last five years (May 2018-August 2023).
• You must self-identify as an Indigenous person. The term Indigenous refers to individuals who identify as being descended from the original inhabitants (the first peoples) of what is now known as Canada. In this context, Indigenous people are First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit.
• You must be legally entitled to work in Canada.

Select here to view information about Indigenous Self-Identification

Knowledge of Communications Practices:

• You understand communications methods, techniques and multi-media approaches, including marketing principles and concepts
• You understand web design and social media platforms and can use different digital channels to communicate with target audiences.
• You have an understanding of content management systems, writing and editing content for web, and proficiency in posting information and images on websites.
• You understand digital media applications and graphic design methods to produce communications materials.

Research and Analytical skills:

• You understand research practices to source communications information, identify trends, assess opportunities and draft/present findings.
• You have analytical, reasoning and evaluation skills to assess communications requirements, evaluate options, and identify alternative approaches.

Communications skills:

• You can prepare and present various documents (i.e. presentations, reports, summaries).
• You can write and edit materials that reflect the intended tone, style and messaging.

Interpersonal and Teamwork skills:

• You can establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, clients and partners.
• You can participate in, and contribute to, working groups.

Planning and organizational skills:

• You can plan, organize and manage multiple tasks and projects with competing deadlines.

Computer proficiency:

• You are proficient using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint to draft documents, and reports and prepare presentations.
• You have an understanding of Adobe Creative Suite software applications, including Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat, to assist with web design, content management and graphic design.
• You are proficient in digital media applications, and graphic design methods.

Other Summer Opportunities

We offer a variety of summer jobs in diverse career fields. See what summer opportunities are currently available!

Also, check out all the other student and new professional opportunities offered within the Ontario Public Service.

For any questions related to this position, please connect with Carrie Connelly at Carrie.Connelly@ontario.ca.

Please be advised that the results of this competition may be used to form an eligibility list of qualified candidates to potentially fill future vacancies represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). In accordance with the Collective Agreement, eligibility lists are shared with OPSEU representatives. By applying to this competition, you are providing consent that your name may be shared with OPSEU representatives.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Wednesday, June 21, 2023 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.