Application Guide

How to Apply for Communications Manager, DREEM

at World University Service of Canada

🏢 About World University Service of Canada

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian non-profit that focuses on education and economic opportunities for youth, with a strong commitment to refugee and displaced populations. Working here means contributing to a mission-driven organization that values diversity, inclusion, and sustainable development across Africa and beyond.

About This Role

As the Communications Manager for the DREEM program, you will lead a multi-country communications strategy to amplify the voices of refugee and displaced youth across Africa. This role is impactful because you will directly shape narratives that influence policy and public perception, while building the capacity of refugee-led organizations to tell their own stories.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a virtual check-in with the Youth Advisory Board to discuss a new advocacy campaign, followed by drafting a case study about a refugee entrepreneur and reviewing a partner’s social media content. Afternoon could involve analyzing engagement metrics from a recent video launch and providing feedback to a refugee-led organization on their communications strategy.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for World University Service of Canada

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who World University Service of Canada Is Looking For

  • A seasoned communications professional with 7–10 years of experience, ideally in donor-funded programs in Africa, who can craft compelling narratives from complex technical content.
  • Bilingual in English and French (fluent in both written and spoken), enabling effective communication with diverse stakeholders across Francophone and Anglophone Africa.
  • Passionate about refugee and youth issues, with a demonstrated ability to work sensitively with displaced communities and refugee-led organizations.
  • Skilled in digital content production (case studies, videos, briefs) and data-driven storytelling, with experience tracking KPIs to measure narrative shift.

📝 Tips for Applying to World University Service of Canada

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific experience with refugee or displaced youth programs, and include metrics that demonstrate your impact on narrative change.

2

Submit a cover letter that explicitly addresses how you meet the bilingual (English/French) requirement, perhaps with examples of past work in both languages.

3

Include a portfolio or links to samples of your best communications work—especially case studies, videos, or campaigns focused on education or employment for marginalized groups.

4

Research WUSC’s DREEM program and reference it in your application, showing you understand its goals and the importance of refugee-led organizations.

5

Avoid generic cover letters; instead, connect your personal motivation to WUSC’s mission and the specific challenges of communicating about refugee inclusion in Africa.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your passion for refugee and displaced youth inclusion, and how your communications work has advanced similar causes.', 'Specific examples of developing multi-country communications strategies and producing high-quality content (e.g., case studies, videos) for donor-funded programs.', 'Your bilingual proficiency (English/French) and experience working across Francophone and Anglophone contexts in Africa.', 'Your approach to capacity-building and empowering refugee-led organizations to strengthen their own communications and advocacy.']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review WUSC’s current DREEM program reports and communications materials to understand their existing narrative and key messages.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the refugee and displaced youth context in Kenya and other target countries, including major challenges and policy developments.
  • → Learn about WUSC’s history and values, especially their commitment to youth empowerment and decolonizing aid.
  • → Research the work of Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) in Africa and best practices for supporting their advocacy.
Visit World University Service of Canada's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you developed a communications strategy for a multi-country program. How did you tailor it to different audiences and contexts?
2 How do you ensure that storytelling about refugee youth is ethical, respectful, and avoids stereotypes?
3 Can you provide an example of a piece of content you produced that changed perceptions or influenced policy?
4 How would you approach building the communications capacity of a refugee-led organization with limited resources?
5 What metrics would you use to measure the success of a narrative shift campaign for refugee inclusion?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting an application that does not demonstrate fluency in both English and French—this is a strict requirement.
  • Focusing only on communications experience without showing specific understanding of refugee issues or working with displaced populations.
  • Using a generic cover letter that does not reference the DREEM program or WUSC’s mission.

📅 Application Timeline

⏰ Deadline: May 27, 2026

We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to World University Service of Canada!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →