Director, Strategic Communications

"The best prescription I've ever given is a wish." - Dr. Jeremy Friedman, Associate Paediatrician-in-Chief, SickKids Hospital & Medical Advisor for Make-A-Wish® Canada WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WISH? Is it to be part of an organization that is child-focused, values employee experience and is an inspiring workplace? If so, Make-A-Wish is for you Make-A-Wish® Canada creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We are on a quest to bring every eligible child's wish to life because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. “It’s been wonderful to have this wish to look forward to... It’s wonderful to see [Rowan] with something that brings him pure joy after all he’s been through and missed out on” - Melissa, mom to wish kid Rowan (age 5, leukemia), who wished for an indoor jungle gym. MISSION, VISION AND VALUES Our mission is, together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illness. Supported by our vision to grant the wish of every eligible child. Our values are Child-Focused, Integrity, Impact, Innovation, and Community. WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU? - Meaningful opportunities to make an impact and change the lives of children with critical illnesses within your community and across Canada - A collaborative team environment where you feel valued and inspired - Annual vacation starting at three weeks & additional paid leaves - Work/life balance and flexibility - Hybrid working environment - Employee Wellness Program - Corporate discounts - Continuous learning, development and internal training opportunities - Fun employee activities, contests, and more Make-A-Wish® Canada is committed to fostering a culture that aims to change lives while offering a rewarding employment experience where your contributions make a true difference every day WHERE YOU COME IN We are looking for a Director, Strategic Communications to join our team at Make-A-Wish Canada. Reporting to the Vice President of Brand & Integrated Marketing, the Director is a senior leader responsible for overseeing Make-A-Wish Canada’s Communications team and shaping both national and regional communications strategy. This role provides leadership and direction to a team of specialists in public relations, corporate communications, translation, and content creation, ensuring strategic execution, operational excellence, and cross-functional collaboration. This role is based can be based out of any Make-A-Wish Canada office, and is a full-time, 12-month contract, hybrid position. WHAT YOU WILL DO 1. Strategic Communications & Messaging - Develop and lead integrated communications strategies that support organizational priorities, including increasing brand awareness and deepening stakeholder engagement. - Provide executive counsel on strategic messaging, reputational risk, and organizational positioning. - Oversee presidential communications, positioning the CEO as a thought leader and aligning public messaging with organizational goals. - Serve as liaison with Make-A-Wish International (MAWI) on shared messaging, content coordination, and international visibility. 2. Media Relations, Awareness & Thought Leadership - Lead national and regional earned media strategies to increase brand awareness, visibility, and trust. - Strategically direct paid media investments to support campaign awareness, aligned with fundraising and mission goals. - Develop thought leadership strategies that elevate the organization’s voice in public conversations about children’s health, philanthropy, and hope. - Provide strategic oversight of media monitoring tools (Meltwater, Cision), ensuring reporting and insights effectively inform communications decisions and demonstrate impact. - Manage media and technology budgets, ensuring cost-effective, high-return media and platform investments. 3. Regional Communications & Social Media Strategy - Oversee the strategy and coordination of regional social media and PR execution to ensure alignment with national goals and messaging. - Oversee development of toolkits, training, and frameworks to support regional teams in storytelling, media engagement, and brand-consistent content delivery. - Foster collaboration between national and regional teams, acting as a bridge to ensure consistent voice, timing, and impact across channels. - Evaluate regional communications performance and provide guidance to optimize engagement, reach, and storytelling effectiveness. 4. Content Leadership & Communications Planning - Lead the Center of Excellence for content development, translation, and storytelling strategy across the organization. - Oversee the creation of signature communications assets, including the Annual Impact Report and regional reports. - Manage national communications planning processes, including strategic oversight of the marketing intake form and nati