Transition en Commun (TeC) brings together an alliance of citizens, civil society actors and organizations, the City of Montreal, and other institutions around a collaborative process with two overarching objectives: (1) to foster, promote, celebrate, and mobilize support for a shared vision of the socio-ecological transition (SET); (2) to collectively equip ourselves with the means to implement it, notably through new commitments from the relevant institutions, starting in Montreal and to support neighborhood-level mobilization for the transition.
Our VISION for the socio-ecological transition is based on:
- Neighbourhoods and local life
- Citizen participation, democracy and the creation of commons
- Social economy and social innovation
- Equity, diversity and inclusion, reinforcing the links between social justice and environnemental action
- Culture and the creation of a mobilizing storytelling
Currently, TeC’s communication tools|resources are:
- a website transitionencommun.org
- a newsletter
- ad hoc communications (press releases)
- social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram)
- through the networks of the alliance’s members
The visual identity is temporary, and a contract was recently awarded to a designer designer in residence to develop a new visual identity and its variations—delivery is scheduled for fall 2023.
Mandate
Nearly a year after the alliance’s official launch, TeC seeks to develop a 360-degree communications strategy for the next three years to strengthen its positioning and advance its mission by optimizing its communications with its target audiences. We are looking for an experienced and committed individual or firm—one that is dedicated to socio-ecological transition—to support us over the coming months in this creative and strategic endeavor.
The 360-degree communication strategy should explore all relevant communication channels in order to achieve the following objectives:
- strengthen our position, particularly in terms of brand awareness, credibility, and influence
- promote a shared vision of the socio-ecological transition
- raise awareness among the public (including neighborhoods) about our vision for the socio-ecological transition
- encourage civic engagement and participation
- engage and mobilize the various stakeholders in Montreal society (some of whom are not yet involved in TSE) to commit to a transition plan aligned with our vision
The mandate will include, among other things, the following:
- Assess, analyze, and understand the current state of affairs, including our various current and potential audiences, their needs, preferences, and behaviors; the Montreal ecosystem in terms of socio-ecological transition (opportunities and challenges); and our current communication channels and key messages.
- Set clear, SMART communication goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound). This could be done at various levels, for example (e.g., at the organizational level, the neighborhood level, and the community level).
- Develop a comprehensive strategy and various tactics to achieve the objectives.
- Develop a strong message (and variations on it) that reflects TeC’s TSE vision, consistent with its values and what sets it apart.
- Propose a creative combination of communication channels to effectively reach and engage our various audiences and achieve our objectives (e.g., collaboration with influencers, member networks, etc.)
- Propose monitoring (change management approach) and evaluation measures to assess the scope and impact of our 360 strategy.
NOTE: It is essential that your application include considerations, proposals, and practices aimed at engaging and incorporating a fair and diverse representation of Montréal’s populations and neighborhoods (perspectives rooted in solidarity, inclusivity, decolonialism, and anti-oppression). TeC values an approach rooted in co-creation and collaboration, as well as in the voices of groups, movements, and other actors involved in the transition. We are looking for a collaborator or firm capable of working in synergy with these actors, while supporting the collection and dissemination of new discourses on a vision for transition.
The employee or firm must demonstrate the ability to:
- Understand and take into account the cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic characteristics of the various communities in Montreal.
- Ensure the fair representation of all neighborhoods and communities in Montreal, while avoiding stereotypes and greenwashing and socialwashing.
- Implement integrated communication strategies.
- Work collaboratively with a diverse range of TeC actors and stakeholders, and more broadly within the ecosystem.
- Propose participatory working methods that encourage input and engagement from the various stakeholders in the transition. For example, consultation, co-creation, and validation workshops could be organized to ensure that the community’s voices and ideas are taken into account in the communication strategy.
- Highlight the actions, initiatives, and achievements of transition groups, movements, and stakeholders in Montreal. It will be important to build strong partnerships with these stakeholders and to develop communication tools and strategies that reflect their contribution to the socio-ecological transition.
Individuals, groups, companies, or any other form of proposed collaboration interested in applying must meet the following criteria:
| Experience with this type of assignment | At least 5 years of experience |
| Start of the term | early October 2023 |
| Available budget | $20,000 to $40,000 |
| What your application should include | A proposal of about a dozen pages, including:
You are free to include these items in an application in any format you choose, as long as the members of the selection committee can receive and review it. |
We particularly encourage applications from individuals committed to socio-ecological transition and/or from underrepresented groups.
Please submit your application by September 10, 2023, via email to info@transitionencommun.org.