Volunteer

Term: ​Two years, up to three terms.

Key Responsibilities

• Plans and produces annual awards workshops;
• Organize chapter awards program;
• Communicate awards and accreditation updates to board members;
• Raise the profile of the IABC accreditation program in the local chapter.

Key Deliverables

• Annual awards and recognition plan;
• Annual chapter awards program;

Skills Learned

• Communications planning/strategy execution;
• Budgeting.

Contact president.iabcyxe@gmail.com for more details.

Position type: Volunteer, non-board role

Primary reporting relationship: Director of Finance/Sponsorship

Key Responsibilities / Deliverables

• Assist in developing an annual sponsorship plan aimed at garnering sponsorships in support of IABC, which includes research, objectives (monetary and in-kind needs), tactics, approaches for evaluation and preparing a budget;
• Develop and monitor signed agreements for every sponsor (in-kind and monetary) that outlines the relationship, payment due date, benefits and cancellation terms;
• Prepare and maintain an annual sponsorship package for presentation to potential sponsors;
• Develop a tracking system to ensure that all contract deliverables are timely and complete;
• Trains successor.

Skills Learned

• Communication planning
• Budgeting

Contact president.iabcyxe@gmail.com for more details.

Term: ​Two years, up to three terms.

Key Responsibilities

• Plans and produces content, including social media posts, blogs, newsletters;
• Sets up ticket sales for events;
• Promotes events on social media and through e-newsletters;
• Share communications job postings to membership.

Key Deliverables

• Updated website content (events, blogs, job postings, etc.);
• Regular updates to membership about IABC offerings and events;

Skills Learned

• Communications planning/strategy execution;
• Social media post creation/copywriting

Contact president.iabcyxe@gmail.com for more details.

Term: ​Two years, up to three terms.

Key Responsibilities

• Plans and produces regular professional development (PD) webinars and workshops:
  • Suggests PD topics and guests, based on the interests of the membership
  • Communicates with potential speakers/instructors to organize PD events;
  • Finds and confirms venues, food for PD events

Key Deliverables

• Annual PD plan;
• Regular PD events.

Skills Learned

• Event planning/execution;
• Budgeting.

Contact president.iabcyxe@gmail.com for more details.

Overview

IABC Saskatoon is seeking a volunteer to serve as the ACE Awards Committee Lead for the upcoming Saskatchewan Awards of Communication Excellence (ACE Awards). Now entering its fourth year, the ACE Awards recognize outstanding communications work across Saskatchewan and are modelled on IABC’s internationally recognized Gold Quill evaluation framework.

This is a project-based volunteer role responsible for leading the full awards cycle — from launch through judging and final recognition — with support from the chapter board and a past awards volunteer for guidance and continuity.

This is not a board position. The role reports to the IABC Saskatoon board.

The ACE Awards program is supported by a robust collection of resources, including judging criteria aligned with IABC standards, past timelines, adjudication rubrics, and lists of previous judges. These materials are available in the chapter’s shared Google Drive, and past volunteers and board members are available to provide guidance and support throughout the cycle.

Unique Opportunities of the Role

•  Lead a growing flagship chapter initiative
•  Shape and strengthen a provincial awards program
•  Connect with senior communicators across Saskatchewan
•  Gain experience in program leadership, evaluation oversight and volunteer coordination
•  Support award winners in preparing for national and international recognition
•  Volunteer hours may be eligible for points toward CMP or SCMP recertification for certified communicators

Key Responsibilities

• Program Leadership & Planning
• Develop and manage the annual ACE Awards timeline and implementation plan
• Confirm categories, entry process and submission requirements
• Coordinate promotion of the awards program with chapter communications support

Entry & Judging Management

• Oversee entry intake and tracking (approx. 15 entries anticipated)
• Recruit and coordinate a volunteer judging panel (with board support)
• Manage scoring, evaluation consolidation and winner confirmation
• Ensure fairness, confidentiality and adherence to IABC evaluation standards

Logistics & Awards Preparation

• Confirm budget (based on prior year model, with board approval)
• Order trophies/awards and coordinate production timelines
• Prepare winner lists and materials for announcement
• Coordinate recognition details with the gala planning team

Gala Integration

• Work with the chapter to integrate award presentations into the fall awards event
• Ensure winners are notified and confirmed in advance
• Wrap-Up & Transition
• Provide a short summary report to the board
• Document processes and recommendations for future cycles

Term

Cycle-based commitment (approximately March–November). Opportunity to renew annually.

Program Timeline

The ACE Awards operate on a spring-to-fall cycle:

• Early Spring – Planning, timeline development, and judge recruitment
• May – Entry launch
• Early June – Entry deadline
• June–July – Judging and evaluation
• Late Summer – Winner confirmation and trophy ordering
• Fall – Awards presentation at the gala

Estimated Time Commitment

Time commitment varies by phase:

• Planning & launch: 5–8 hours per month
• Entry deadline & judging coordination: 10–15 hours per month
• Awards preparation & event coordination: 5–10 hours per month
• Average commitment: approximately 5–10 hours per month across the cycle.

Qualifications (Preferred but Not Required)

• Interest in communications and professional excellence
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Comfortable coordinating volunteers and timelines
• Familiarity with awards programs or evaluation frameworks is an asset
Communications background is welcome but not required.

To express interest in this role or to find out more, contact president.iabcyxe@gmail.com