Director of Communications (Full-time, Permanent)

hybrid
This position can be located anywhere in the Greater Toronto Area with flexible / hybrid work arrangements available, Ontario, Canada .
full-time . October 29, 2024

Description

Director of Communication (Full-time, Permanent)

Location: Our office is located in Toronto, Ontario. This position can be located anywhere in the Greater Toronto Area with flexible / hybrid work arrangements available.

Reports to: Chief Development & Communications Officer

Hiring Range: $110,000 - $125,000 annually, including a comprehensive benefits plan, pension plan, 3 weeks paid vacation, increasing to 4 weeks paid vacation in your second year of employment, a December break (usually a week) to recharge, wellness days, access to an Employee Assistance Program and professional development opportunities

Job Posting Closing Date: Open until the role is filled.

About us:

At the heart of Community Food Centre Canada’s work is the belief that food is a basic right. We bring people together around good food so communities can thrive. With more than 400 partners across the country, we build inclusive, culturally responsive Community Food Centres, share knowledge, create health-focused programs, and advocate for equitable policy change.

At Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC), we work on behalf of good food for all. Our collective approach at CFCC is founded on dignity and respect, equity and empathy. These values are core to our mission and outlined in our Good Food Principles.

CFCC is strongly committed to equity and inclusion within its community. We especially welcome applications from members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. We are committed to an equitable and inclusive selection process and work environment.

We welcome candidates to speak about how their experience has demonstrated a commitment to Equity, Inclusion, Reconciliation and Anti-Oppression.

About the position:

Reporting to the Chief Development & Communications Officer (CDCO), the Director of Communications contributes to CFCC’s vision as the subject matter expert for marketing and communications while managing a creative and dynamic team. They will also serve as a member of CFCC’s cross-functional Senior Management Team (SMT).

The Director of Communications (aka lead storyteller) understands that poverty and food insecurity are rooted in inequitable social and economic systems. This position is responsible for strengthening CFCC’s brand as an inspiring and catalytic leader in the food and social justice space; increasing CFCC’s visibility as a trusted authority on issues of health, equity and food insecurity; developing public engagement programs to activate our mission; providing expertise and support to our partner organizations; rallying our movement around innovative programming and social change; and playing a key role in enabling CFCC to meet its program, advocacy and fundraising goals.

This role requires a passionate, entrepreneurial and self-starting individual who is equally excited about our big picture vision and the details required to make it happen while playing a pivotal role in implementing our new branding strategy and strategic vision. This role requires focus on developing compelling content and managing media and building influencer relations to effectively communicate our mission and engage our community.

Responsibilities:

Thought Leadership:

Develop and execute a thought leadership content strategy that aligns with CFCC’s new strategic plan
Lead the development of engaging content, such as articles, blog posts, white papers, media opportunities, and other speaking opportunities, across a range of communication channels to highlight CFCC's expertise
In collaboration with the CDCO, work with internal teams (board, advisors, staff) to identify and leverage thought leadership opportunities

Strategic Communication:

Provide vision and leadership to strengthen CFCC’s brand and elevate its profile as an inspiring leader and trusted authority on food insecurity, poverty reduction, health and equity
Lead marketing, communications and public awareness strategies to increase brand visibility and stakeholder engagement, strengthen CFCC brand identity, ensuring visual and message consistency across all channels and with partners
Apply an Equity, Inclusion, Reconciliation and Anti-Oppression lens to all internal and external communications strategies, ensuring alignment with organizational mission, vision and values
Develop and execute the organization’s communications and content strategy, annual plan and budget to support CFCC’s strategic objectives
Create and curate compelling content that reflects our mission and values, fostering optimism and community engagement
Provide strategic communications advice to the organization and to our network of partners

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement:

Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, to promote and advocate for CFCC’s priorities
Support organizational philanthropy, working with the Development team to support fundraising campaigns, stewardship materials, proposals, reports and events to increase donor engagement and support revenue targets
Work closely with the Poverty Action Unit to ensure various communications initiatives, including social media content, effectively advance the organization’s advocacy objectives
Work across the organization to ensure cohesive and aligned communication efforts as per the organization’s mission and strategic plan
Partner with Programs to develop communications strategies and materials that support local partners
Collaborate with new CFC partners to develop branding, communications, and launch support
Collaborate with the COO, the Senior Management Team (SMT) and the HR department to support internal communications strategies

Branding and Media relations & Reporting:

In collaboration with the CDCO, oversee the completion of a brand strategy refresh, implement a cohesive branding strategy that reflects CFCC’s strategic vision
Oversee media relations by developing media outreach strategy, key messaging support for organizational spokespeople
Provide strategic guidance to inform and integrate CFCC’s content mix across digital, social media and media platforms
Oversee and maintain ethical guidelines around the collection and distribution of stories and images
Oversee data collection and analytics of KPIs, taking a data-driven approach to ensure all tactics are performing again goals
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of branding initiatives and adjust strategies as necessary

Team management:

Recruit, supervise, coach and manage a successful and high-achieving Communications team
Contribute to CFCC’s culture, and a work environment that is grounded in collaboration, innovation and communication

Qualifications (Experience, Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

Required:

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism or a related field
A strategic thinker with over 7 years of progressive experience in marketing and communications
A proven track record in the design and execution of innovative marketing, communications strategies and public relations campaigns within a multi-stakeholder environment
Strong entrepreneurial mindset with a track record of innovative thinking and problem-solving.
Demonstrated understanding of structural analysis related to poverty and food insecurity, along with an appreciation of the political factors that can mitigate inequality is essential
Experience working with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and ability to incorporate their perspectives in CFCC’s communications
Demonstrated expertise in brand management, media relations, digital marketing, social media strategy, influencer engagement, stakeholder management and public engagement
Demonstrated capacity in project management, including planning, executing, monitoring and reporting on results
Demonstrated ability to use data to inform decision-making; facility with technology tools and platforms
Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills, with an entrepreneurial edge and commitment to meeting and exceeding targets
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create compelling content for diverse audiences with exceptional writing and editing skills and experience in multi-channel communications
Knowledge of the Canadian charitable sector, including communications best practices and emerging trends, and a demonstrated commitment to professional growth

Preferred:

Proven experience in non-profit and/or public sector, social justice or community focused environment
Bilingual in French is an asset
Experience in working with Google suite, project management software like ClickUp will be an asset

Organizational Competencies:

Thinks analytically and from a systems perspective: Strong analytical skills and the ability to connect the dots across the organization to leverage opportunities and integrations.
Has an open and positive mindset: Is solutions-oriented and approaches challenges and opportunities with an open and positive mindset.
Committed to equity and inclusion: Experience and commitment to working in an organization that values and embeds Equity, Inclusion, Reconciliation and Anti Oppression/Access into its organizational culture, policies and practices. Demonstrated through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias
Seeks continuous learning and improvement: Consistently seeks to strengthen individual, team and organizational learning, through both professional development and attuning to change and innovation within the specific field of the role.
Inspires courage & innovation: Models and enables creative thinking, curiosity, and calculated risk taking to create, suggest, and inspire new solutions.
Cultivates strong relationships: Builds strong and trusting relationships and brings a community-centric mindset and focus to all elements of the organization.
Drives operational excellence: Leverages organizational insights, financial acumen, and operational rigor to maximize productivity and build long-term, sustainable success.
Contributes to leadership & culture: Brings authenticity, emotional intelligence and accountability to help develop leadership effectiveness in individuals, teams, and organizational culture.
Values alignment: Align with CFCC values and contribute to the evolution of our culture, and a work environment that is grounded in equity, courage, integrity and that is relationship-focused.

Why work for us?

We offer:

➔ Comprehensive benefits package including extended health, dental, life insurance, short and long-term disability insurance, membership in a defined benefit pension plan, 15 paid vacation days in your first year, increasing to 20 paid vacation days in your second year of employment, a December break (usually a week) to recharge, wellness days, access to an Employee Assistance Program and professional development opportunities

➔ a culture of mutual support where staff are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive Canada

➔ an opportunity to be part of a movement building health, belonging and social justice in low-income communities across Canada through the power of food

How to apply:

To apply, please scroll up and click Apply Now. Please attach your resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, please share what you think makes you an ideal candidate for this role. Only those applicants being considered will be contacted. If you require any accommodations or technical support, please email work@cfccanada.ca (please do not email your application to this email). Thank you for your interest in CFCC.

Know someone who would be a perfect fit? Let them know!