SaskMilk’s role is to design and implement dairy policies and programs and to build demand for dairy products to benefit dairy producers and other industry stakeholders. 

We are currently looking for a one year term Policy and Communication Manager to lead policy and regulatory research and provide overall communication direction of the corporate strategy for the organization.  This role has both strategic and hands-on responsibilities for the thoughtful planning and effective deployment of policy, regulations, stakeholder relationships, and comprehensive communication for strategy, policy and programs.   

  

Review policies and programs and proactively identify potential needs, conflicts, and developments.

Identify, review, analyze, manage policy and program issues.

Formulate positions on specific policy issues and provide briefings, analyses and presentations to the Executive Director and Board.

Program development and implementation, including consultations with staff, other provinces, stakeholders, and management; preparation and coordination of related budget materials and written materials.

  

Responsible for researching compliance with existing legislation, regulations, and Orders, and make recommendations where changes are needed.

Identify and create changes to legislation, regulations, or Orders where needed to enact policy and programs of SaskMilk, including proactively identifying potential future needs.

Work with other provinces, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), and other stakeholders to ensure that the appropriate legal frameworks are in place for existing or planned programs.

Work with provincial government and Agri-Food Council to advance SaskMilk’s interests through Orders.

Provide advice to Executive Director and Board on legal/regulatory environment.

Provide overall direction and management of corporate communications strategy.

Develop comprehensive communications strategy for policy and program initiatives.

Work with other provinces and DFC on national industry communication strategies, messaging, lobbying efforts, public education, and responses.

Create communication strategies and documents to inform, educate, persuade, or influence producers and other stakeholders on SaskMilk initiatives and activities.

Lead the Crisis Communications Protocol team; responsible for creation and maintenance of the Protocol.  

Represent SaskMilk, provide expert advice, and initiate action on internal, intra-provincial, interprovincial, and federal/provincial committees and working groups (Examples include: Sask Ag Month Communicators’ group, national Issues Management Working Group, National Market Intelligence Committee, Western Milk Pool Innovation Working Group).

Participate at the federal/provincial level (National Dairy Research Council) as Saskatchewan’s representative.

Collect, coordinate, organize, track all research proposals and ongoing projects funded by SaskMilk (includes providing reporting to external funding agencies as required, such as ACAAFs, WED, government).

Relevant degree, diploma or other education and certifications in Policy or Communications.

8 + years of experience developing, implementing and measuring policy and communications programs.

Strong written communication and presentation skills.

Demonstrated relationship building skills with internal and external stakeholders.

Experience with MS Office suite, social media and policy research tools and systems

Strong organizational skills and project management expertise. 

Good judgment, sensitivity and critical thinking skills.

Experience managing the work of others both internal and external to the organization.