We give life to stories.
We are looking for a passionate storyteller, communicator and book advocate to amplify the voices of Holocaust survivors published through the Azrieli Foundation’s Holocaust Survivor Memoirs Program.
As a small independent publisher and Holocaust education program, we work nationally and bilingually to allow readers and learners to grasp the enormity of what happened to six million Jews - one story at a time.
The Holocaust Survivor Memoirs Program is an initiative of the Azrieli Foundation. Driven by a strong belief in the powerful role and responsibility of philanthropy, the Foundation empowers people by supporting a broad range of organizations, as well as operating several programs in both Canada and Israel.
Reporting to the Communications Manager, the Book Marketing & Communications Specialist is responsible for creating compelling bilingual content that promotes the Program’s books, educational resources, events and initiatives.
This is not a traditional communications role. The successful candidate will become deeply familiar with the Program’s memoir catalogue and educational resources and will serve as one of the Program’s primary storytellers. They will read memoirs, identify compelling themes and stories and transform those stories into engaging communications for educators, readers, book clubs, media, museums and the general public.
The ideal candidate is fully bilingual in English and in French, a strong writer in both languages, highly organized and passionate about books, education and storytelling.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
Book Knowledge & Content Development
- Develop a strong working knowledge of the Holocaust Survivor Memoirs catalogue, including new and upcoming releases as well as backlist titles.
- Read memoirs and educational resources to identify stories, themes and opportunities for promotion.
- Develop content that connects survivor stories to current events, commemorative dates, educational initiatives and public conversations.
- Assist in developing book club guides and promotional materials.
- Maintain awareness of trends in publishing, literary programming, educational resources and Holocaust education.
Book Marketing & Promotion
- Coordinate outreach to bookstores, literary festivals and publishing partners.
- Support promotional campaigns for both new titles and priority backlist titles.
- Assist with French-language publishing and distribution initiatives.
- Support marketing campaigns for memoir launches, academic conferences and educational resources.
- Coordinate book promotion initiatives with libraries, museums, schools, book clubs and community organizations.
Events & Program Support
- Develop promotional materials for events, conferences, webinars and launches.
- Coordinate flyers, posters, social media graphics, email campaigns and presentation slides.
- Support communications activities at conferences, launches and educational events with travel as required.
- Provide communications support to broader Foundation initiatives as needed.
Content Creation & Social Media
- Develop website content, newsletters, social media content, promotional copy, event descriptions and marketing materials in both English and French
- Draft media materials, press releases and promotional copy.
- Gather stories and updates from across the Program and transform them into compelling communications content.
- Coordinate and produce newsletters for academic, education and general reader audiences.
- Develop calendars and content schedules.
- Create graphics, short-form videos and other digital content.
- Manage social media publishing and community engagement and analytics across platforms.
- Monitor social media channels, respond to comments and inquiries as appropriate, and escalate sensitive or complex issues to the Communications Manager.
- Build relationships with educators, museums, community partners and readers through digital engagement.
- Implement strategies to increase newsletter subscriptions, social media audiences, engagement and overall digital reach.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
- Post-secondary education in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Publishing or a related field.
- Minimum five years of experience.
- Fully bilingual in English and French, with exceptional written communication skills in both languages.
- Outstanding storytelling abilities.
- Demonstrated interest in books, publishing, education or literary programming.
- Experience with social media management and digital communications tools.
- Experience with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, Sprout Social and related content creation tools.
- Strong project management and organizational skills.
- Ability to independently manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience in publishing, educational publishing, museums, cultural institutions considered a strong asset.
- Knowledge of Holocaust history and Holocaust education is an asset.
The ideal candidate loves books, understands how stories reach readers, and is excited by the opportunity to help ensure that Holocaust survivor voices continue to educate and inspire future generations.
Living Our Values
Our values are the bedrock of our culture. They shape how we work, how we collaborate and how we make decisions - every single day. Those who succeed at the Azrieli Foundation exemplify the core principles of:
- Integrity & respect
- Taking on big challenges
- Excellence
- Passion for making a difference
- Results-oriented mindset
- Sustainable impact
Inclusivity and Accessibility
Living our values means creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported and empowered to contribute. Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is one way we put those values into practice.
We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and value diverse backgrounds, abilities and ways of thinking. Diversity and inclusion make our organization strong, productive and innovative. Applicants with lived experience who identify as neurodivergent are strongly encouraged to apply.
We are committed to creating inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection processes. If you require an accommodation during the application or recruitment process, please reach out to HR@azrielifoundation.org.
About the Foundation:
Driven by a strong belief in philanthropy’s powerful role and responsibility, the Azrieli Foundation empowers people by supporting a broad range of organizations, facilitating innovative outcomes and increasing knowledge and understanding in the search for practical and novel solutions.
With a firm conviction that everyone has potential, we work to open doors, break ground and nurture networks, empowering the most vulnerable to the most exceptional to achieve their best and contribute to society.
In addition to strategic philanthropic investments, the Azrieli Foundation operates several initiatives including the Azrieli Fellows Program, the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, the Holocaust Survivor Memoirs Program, the Azrieli Music, Arts and Culture Centre and others.
