Are you passionate about engaging the public and key stakeholders in creative and impactful ways? Interested in working across a diverse set of issues areas including environmental sustainability, food and agriculture, as well as regional planning? If you are looking to work with a great team for a good cause, this might just be the career move for you!
Ontario’s Greenbelt and its unique landscapes include near-urban agricultural lands and Ontario’s only two specialty crop areas with fertile soils and unique climate—the Holland Marsh and Niagara Tender Fruit and Grape Area, the Niagara Escarpment, Oak Ridges Moraine, and important regional water systems, including 21 urban river valleys. The Greenbelt receives consistent support from a large majority of the public, inspiring excellence in how we live, plan and grow.
The Greenbelt Foundation is an independent, charitable organization dedicated to promoting and sustaining Ontario’s Greenbelt. The Foundation is focused on making the right investments in the interconnected natural, hydrological, and economic systems that Ontario's Greenbelt protects. By ensuring continuous, progressive investment in the Greenbelt, the Foundation nurtures a living, thriving Greenbelt for all to enjoy.
Position: Director of Communications
Duration: Permanent Position
Current Work Model: Hybrid
Hours/Weeks: 40 hours (5 days a week)
The Director of Communications will report to the CEO, and work closely with the Executive Management Team to lead all communications and engagement activities for the Greenbelt Foundation.
The incumbent will be responsible for:
General Communications
- Develop and oversee the implementation of communications and engagement strategies that are aligned with the organization’s strategic goals, priorities, and brand.
- Execute high quality communications for all aspects of the Foundation and its programs, including earned media, which promote the Greenbelt and Foundation to wide-reaching audiences.
- Lead the team in planning, project managing and successfully delivering key projects, materials and partnerships including events, marketing materials, website projects, etc.
- Oversee and ensure the dissemination of the Greenbelt’s narrative, and key messages across all platforms and targeted audiences.
- Write and edit meaningful content for dissemination.
- Oversee the development and execution of the annual report.
- Oversee the annual Friend of the Greenbelt Award event.
- Manage relationships with external suppliers, including agencies and advertorial campaign partners.
- Oversee communications planning, working closely with other departments to support all organizational priorities.
- Oversee strategic media opportunities to support strategic initiatives and annual campaign.
- Develop and build relationships with reporters, editors, producers, columnists, etc. in print, television, radio, and online media, both mainstream and trade.
- Assist in the managing of issues/crisis communication as required.
- Act as an organizational spokesperson as required.
Organizational Leadership
- Create and achieve departmental benchmarks and indicators for success.
- Lead the development of strategic communications plans and the annual work plan.
- Manage the Communications Manager, and other internal and external resources to establish work plans, deliverables, and goals, managing workflow and conducting an annual review.
- Conduct all other duties as assigned.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Establish and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including direct reports, Executive Team, grantees, research partners, conservation authorities, etc.
- Build relationships that advance the agenda of the Foundation and identify partnership opportunities for events and promotional activities.
Qualifications and Core Competencies
- Strategic planning experience – demonstrated experience leading annual planning processes and providing strategic advice to senior team.
- Strong writing skills – demonstrated experience producing high-quality writing for a range of audiences with minimal revision.
- Media relations experience – passion for news media and understanding of the contemporary news landscape.
- Government relations – working understanding of political and bureaucratic processes at all three levels of government.
- Policy – proven ability to understand and absorb a range of policy frameworks. Experience with agricultural, environmental and land use policy will be considered an asset.
- Accreditation from the Canadian Public Relations Society or International Association of Business Communicators is considered an asset.
Experience
- 10 years of experience in strategic communications, brand and reputation management, stakeholder relations, media relations, social media/digital communications, issues management, events management, etc.
- Experience in coaching and mentoring communications professionals.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
The position will be based at our Toronto office (downtown) in a typical office setting with COVID-19 exemptions for working from home. Salary is commensurate with experience. The Greenbelt Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, and we particularly welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.
Applications should be received no later than September 27, 2022.
Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted on a rolling basis.
To apply for this position, submit a cover letter and resume through our online portal. Applicants are also encouraged to submit a writing sample.
The Greenbelt Foundation thanks all applicants for their interest, but only successful candidates will be contacted.