Community Engagement Officer

Job Summary

Join Us in Building a Safer, More Compassionate Community

Are you passionate about animals, people, and creating meaningful connections? Do you thrive in community spaces—schools, parks, neighbourhood events—where every conversation can spark awareness and positive change?

As a Community Engagement Officer, you’ll be the friendly, knowledgeable face of Animal Services, helping residents feel informed, supported, and empowered. You’ll design and deliver education and outreach programs in community and shelter settings, promoting responsible pet ownership, wildlife coexistence, and community safety.

In this role, you’ll also support compliance by providing guidance, connecting residents to resources, and addressing by-law concerns, using a progressive approach to encourage understanding, accountability, and positive animal welfare outcomes.

This is your chance to shape how Mississauga learns about responsible pet ownership, wildlife coexistence, and community safety—while making a real difference every single day.

If you’re energized by outreach, inspired by diversity, and motivated by purpose, we’d love to welcome you to our team.

What Success Looks Like

You shine in this role when you:

• Build trust and rapport with residents from all backgrounds, making every interaction feel respectful, inclusive, and meaningful.
• Deliver engaging, accessible education programs that spark curiosity and inspire responsible choices.
• Bring creativity to outreach—whether through interactive pop‑ups, digital storytelling, or community‑driven campaigns.
• Represent Animal Services with confidence and compassion during events, school visits, neighbourhood canvassing, and media interactions.
• Use data and community insights to guide your work, ensuring programs are relevant, impactful, and responsive to local needs.
• Support volunteers, partners, and colleagues with warmth, collaboration, and a shared commitment to animal welfare.
• Demonstrate sound judgment, emotional resilience, and professionalism in the field.
• Contribute to a positive, innovative, and community‑centered team culture
• Collaborate effectively across teams, building strong relationships and a well-rounded understanding of Animal Services’ roles and responsibilities, translating this knowledge into meaningful insights that enhance community awareness.

Duties and Responsibilities

Community Education & Program Delivery

• Create and deliver engaging programs on responsible pet ownership, dog bite safety, wildlife coexistence, and emergency preparedness.
• Tailor presentations and materials for diverse audiences, including children, seniors, newcomers, and multilingual communities.
• Develop accessible content for print, digital, and social media platforms.
• Support school programming, staff training, and integration of education into shelter and enforcement operations.

• Conduct neighbourhood canvassing to engage residents, share information, and promote awareness and compliance.

• Participate in pet licensing compliance and enforcement activities as needed.
  
  

Community Engagement & Relationship Building

• Build strong, trust‑based relationships with residents, community groups, schools, and partner agencies.
• Serve as a visible, approachable ambassador at events, neighbourhood activations, and public forums.
• Use trauma‑informed, culturally responsive communication during sensitive interactions.
• Support media‑sensitive and crisis communications during high‑profile or urgent matters.
  
  

Innovation, Modernization & Communications

• Test creative outreach approaches such as mobile activations, pop‑ups, QR‑enabled learning, and interactive digital tools.
• Use technology, social media, and data visualization to modernize public education.
• Communicate complex topics clearly, respectfully, and with a solutions‑focused mindset.
• Ensure all communications meet privacy, confidentiality, and accessibility standards.
  
  

Data‑Informed Planning & Continuous Improvement

• Collect and analyze engagement metrics, community feedback, and program data and adjusting and redirecting delivery strategies as needed based on these outcome metrics.
• Identify service gaps, emerging needs and areas with low licensing compliance and increased rates of non-compliances.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to reporting, SOP updates, and strategic recommendations.
  
  

Volunteer Coordination, Events & Cross‑Divisional Support

• Coordinate volunteer activities and support meaningful volunteer experiences.
• Assist with planning and delivering large‑scale events such as adoption fairs, festivals, and awareness campaigns.
• Collaborate with enforcement, shelter operations, and other City divisions to align education with operational priorities.
• Support wildlife inspections, emergency preparedness initiatives, and field responses as needed.

Skills and Qualifications

• Post‑secondary education in Communications, Community Engagement, Education, Public Relations, Animal Welfare, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in public education, outreach, enforcement, program coordination, or community‑facing service.
• Experience and applied knowledge in animal control, by‑law enforcement, or law enforcement preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to engage diverse communities using inclusive, culturally responsive, equity‑based approaches.
• Strong knowledge of animal welfare, responsible pet ownership, wildlife coexistence, and relevant legislation.
• Exceptional communication skills, including confident public speaking and strong written communication.
• Experience planning and delivering community events, workshops, or school programs.
• Proficiency with digital engagement tools, social media, and content creation software (e.g., Canva).
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Project management experience with the ability to coordinate multiple initiatives.
• Data literacy, including interpreting dashboards, surveys, and analytics tools.
• Knowledge of privacy, confidentiality, and MFIPPA requirements.
• Advanced conflict resolution, mediation, and de‑escalation skills.
• Ability to work independently in the field with sound judgment and situational awareness.
• Experience with volunteer coordination, media relations, or working with domestic animals/wildlife is an asset.
• Multilingual abilities are an asset.
• Valid Ontario Class G driver’s licence and willingness to travel throughout the city.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.