Marketing and Communications Specialist

Why should you join our team?

YMCA Calgary is a charity that ignites the potential in Calgarians. Since our inception in 1902, we have evolved into a vibrant organization operating in every quadrant of the city.

Guided by our core values of honesty, caring, respect and responsibility, YMCA Calgary offers a growing hub of programming & services to address the needs of our community including connection and belonging, physical and mental wellbeing, child-care support, language instruction, affordable tutoring and more. We also ensure that no one is turned away, lowering financial barriers for youth, adults and families through the generous donations of our community. This impact takes place across our 7 health and wellness facilities, 6 childcare centres, 2 outdoor camps and 12+ community programs, empowering people of all ages and life stages to belong, grow, thrive and lead.

Marketing and Communications Specialist - Philanthropy (Maternity Leave Coverage)
Association Services
Start Date: August 2025

This contract will be from August 2025 - March 2027

To apply, please submit your résumé along with responses to the questions below in place of a cover letter. Each response should be no more than 4-5 sentences.
- Tell us about yourself and why you’re interested in this role at YMCA Calgary.
- What do you know about YMCA Calgary’s mission, and how does it align with your values?
- Share an example of a campaign you led that attracted new donors. How did you nurture engagement afterward to support retention or repeat giving?
- Tell us about a time you used storytelling to elevate awareness of a charitable cause. What format(s) did you use, and how did you share it?
- Give an example of how you used an event to attract new donors or sponsors and raise awareness for nonprofits. - What were the outcomes or results?
- Talk about a time you’ve acted as a business partner (internal or external) in a way that highlights your collaboration, negotiation, and communications skills
- To ensure alignment, please confirm your expected salary range.
- This position is a maternity leave coverage from mid-August 2025 to March 30, 2027. If selected, do you have any concerns with a start date of August 18, 2025?

You can make an impact in the community - locally and across the globe. You will work with a fun culture of people and enjoy many of the benefits and opportunities the YMCA offers:

- Complimentary YMCA Calgary membership including a linked membership for dependent children;
- Comprehensive health and dental benefits. Premiums paid in full by the Association;
- Pension plan with specified contribution matching by the Association;
- Anniversary flex day and gifts given to celebrate each year of employment;
- Program discounts;
- Ongoing leadership development and opportunities;
- Leadership award opportunities;
- Scholarship opportunities;
- Paid recertification and training.

What qualifications are we looking for?
- Proven experience in donor engagement, fundraising campaigns, and impact storytelling.
- Strong writing, editing, and project management skills with an understanding of best practices in donor communications.
- Proven experience in social media management and content creation, including video production, storytelling, and graphic design, with a focus on engaging diverse audiences.
- Proven experience with event marketing, event management and turning moments into remarkable experiences.
- Strong experience developing content strategies informed by audience insights and engagement metrics.
- Familiarity with integrated marketing strategies across digital, print, and in-person channels.
- A collaborative mindset and strong interpersonal skills, with a proactive approach to building and sustaining donor relationships.
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams or workgroups, with a focus on aligning diverse stakeholders to achieve common goals
- Proven experience collaborating with creative agencies, with strong skills in writing clear, strategic briefs to guide creative direction and ensure alignment with campaign objectives and brand standards.
- Familiarity with CMS platforms for updating web pages, especially for donor-centric pages like campaign landing pages, impact stories, and donation forms.
- Proven experience in setting and evaluating KPIs for marketing and communications initiatives, with a focus on driving growth and engagement metrics.
- A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in marketing or communications, ideally within a nonprofit or charitable organization.
- A post-secondary degree or diploma in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field.
- Evidence of a clear Police Information Check and Vulnerable Sector Search.
- At least three professional references.
- Comfort leading and organizing emergency and/or crisis communications response.

What does this role look like at YMCA Calgary?

The Marketing and Communications Specialist - Philanthropy, wil