Director, Strategic Communications (12-month contract)

Make-A-Wish Foundation

  • Montréal, QC
  • Permanent
  • Temps-plein
  • Il y a 1 heure
"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® CanadaWHAT 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 VALUESOur 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 INWe 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 in Montreal, and is a full-time, 12-month contract, hybrid position.WHAT YOU WILL DO1. 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 national calendar of activity.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Creative, Digital, and Fundraising teams to ensure strategic communications alignment and delivery.
5. Internal Communications, Issues Management & Systems
  • Direct internal communications to build organizational alignment, clarity, and engagement.
  • Provide strategic oversight on sensitive or high-impact internal and external issues, ensuring timely, transparent, and values-aligned messaging.
  • Oversee digital asset management systems and workflows to ensure communications teams have efficient access to approved messaging and assets.
  • Champion the adoption and optimization of communications tools and systems across the organization.
Other duties as required.WHAT YOU BRING
  • Bilingual in French & English is required.
  • 10+ years in strategic communications, public relations, or integrated marketing. Nonprofit experience is an asset.
  • Post-secondary education in communications, public relations, marketing, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
  • Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and relationship-building skills.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication abilities.
  • Experience with media relations, social media strategy, content creation, and communications technology.
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with senior leadership and stakeholders.
  • A clear Criminal Background Check is required.
YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT
  • Hybrid work environment, with 2 days in office per week and 3 days remote.
  • Occasional day/overnight travel for team gatherings.
Physical/Mental Effort
  • Work under pressure to meet tight deadlines with a high-volume workload, multiple demands, and changing/overlapping priorities.
Our Commitment to IDEAMake-A-Wish Canada (MAWC) is committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA). We believe that it is essential to our mission that we build a diverse, balanced, and vibrant workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and seek to serve. Research has shown that candidates from underrepresented groups often only apply when they feel 100% qualified. Therefore, we ask that even if you do not see yourself fully reflected in every job requirement listed on this posting, to still apply.Recruitment processOur recruitment process is swift in pace. Once applications are reviewed, we will contact our shortlisted candidates. Our typical process includes a phone screen, one or two interviews, and reference checking, followed by an offer and a criminal background check for the successful candidate.We would like to thank all applicants for their interest in working with us!ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH® CANADASince 1983, Make-A-Wish Canada has granted over 38,500 wishes across the country, over 1,000 last year alone. As an independently operating affiliate of Make-A-Wish International, Make-A-Wish Canada is part of the network of the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization. We serve children in every community in Canada, and in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Make-A-Wish Foundation