Director, Enterprise Communications

Job Description   The Director, Communications and Stakeholder Relations is responsible for leading the organization’s corporate communications and marketing portfolio. Working closely with the CEO and the senior leadership team, this role will lead enterprise-wide communications (internal/external/executive-level), strengthen relationships with key partners and stakeholders, advance advocacy priorities, protect organizational reputation, identify opportunities to expand the organization’s reach, influence and impact and position Circle of Care as a recognized leader in home and community care.       We are looking for: a full-time, permanent Director, Communications and Stakeholder Relations Hours of Work: 34-hour work week. Monday to Thursday 8:30 to 4:30pm and Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm.  This is a hybrid role. Reports to: Chief Executive Officer   Compensation & Benefits   Hiring Salary Range: The salary for this role ranges from $120,000 to $135,000 per year, depending on your skills and experience.   On top of a competitive base salary, we support rest and overall wellness through generous paid time off for vacation, personal and sick days.   Circle of Care Benefits:   Hybrid Environment: This is a hybrid position, with a mix of 3 in-office work and 2 work-from-home days, offering a balanced hybrid schedule. Our main office at 4211 Yonge Street has subsidized underground parking and is located conveniently on the subway line and GO transit. Health and Dental Benefits: A robust benefits plan with comprehensive health, dental, paramedical and vision coverage with employer paid premiums to support you and your family through all stages of life. Retirement Savings Plan: As part of our commitment to your long-term well-being, we provide an RRSP program through RBC with employer and voluntary employee contributions. Learning and Development: We support your continued growth and learning through paid training and professional development opportunities throughout your career.   Responsibilities   Communications & Public Relations  * Develop and implement organizational communications strategies that strengthen awareness of Circle of Care and its impact. * Lead the creation of organizational communications materials, including annual reports, impact reports, newsletters, presentations, website content, and stakeholder communications. * Ensure consistency in messaging, branding, and storytelling across all communications channels. Support media relations and identify opportunities to elevate Circle of Care's profile through traditional media, digital platforms, conferences, partnerships, and public events.  * Work closely with program staff to communicate the impact of Circle of Care initiatives through compelling stories, data, research findings, and participant experiences. * Support internal and employee communications, including change communications, leadership town halls, and organizational culture messaging.   Partnerships & External Relations * Build and maintain strong relationships with foundations, government agencies, , educators, researchers, community organizations, and other stakeholders. * Represent Circle of Care at meetings, conferences, events, and partner engagements across Canada.  * Identify and develop strategic partnerships that advance Circle of Care's mission and expand the reach of its programs. * Work closely with the CEO to steward relationships with current and prospective funders, partners, and supporters. * Support the development of proposals, reports, sponsorship opportunities, partnership agreements, and other external-facing materials.   Public Engagement * Represent Circle of Care in media interviews, podcasts, conferences, and panel discussions. Identify opportunities for Circle of Care to contribute to public conversations related to home and community care, healthy ageing, senior and caregiver engagement, and quality care.  * Build relationships with journalists, commentators, policymakers, researchers, and sector leaders. * Help position Circle of Care as a leading voice on healthy ageing and home and community care in Ontario/Canada. * Define and strengthen the organization's overarching brand identity, advocacy positions, and corporate messaging frameworks. * Build and produce executive thought leadership strategies for the CEO and senior leadership on local and/or national health platforms. Lead executive communications for the CEO and senior leadership team, including speeches, keynote remarks, and Board presentations. * Enforce absolute adherence to health privacy laws (PHIPA) across all communication channels, institutional public statements and media releases.   Media Relations & Crisis Mitigation * Act as the primary media contact, managing relationships with journalists, healthcare editors, and major news networks. * Design, maintain, and execute comprehensive crisis communication plans to mitigate operational, political, or clinical reputational risks. * Train and advise executive leaders on high stakes press conferences and media panel discussions.   Strategic Leadership * Contribute to organizational planning and decision-making as a member of the leadership team. * Identify opportunities to strengthen the reach, sustainability, and impact of Circle of Care programming. * Monitor trends and developments in healthy ageing, home and community care, philanthropy, senior and caregiver engagement, public policy, and charitable giving that may affect the organization's work. * Support Board communications, presentations, reporting, and strategic/operational planning activities as required. * Lead government relations and public affairs efforts, including policy monitoring, issues management, and preparation of briefing materials for regulatory and legislative engagement. * Define and track key performance indicators for communications and reputation efforts (e.g., media reach, stakeholder sentiment, digital engagement) to inform continuous improvement.   Operational Oversight & Strategy Deployment * Oversee the operational deployment, performance tracking, and communication of the organization’s multi-year strategic roadmap. * Lead, mentor, and evaluate a specialized team of public relations, corporate communications, and relation-management professionals. * Manage the department's annual fiscal budget, directing agency spend and vendor contracts toward high-impact reputation initiatives.   Who You Are   This role is ideal for an experienced communications, public affairs, stakeholder relations, partnership development, or non-profit professional who is passionate about healthy ageing, home and community care, and public engagement.   Strategic Communicator – You can translate complex ideas, evidence, and impact into compelling stories and messages for a variety of audiences.   Relationship Builder – You enjoy connecting with people and developing meaningful partnerships that create long-term value.   Public Representative – You are comfortable speaking publicly, engaging with media, facilitating discussions, and representing an organization in external settings.   Connector & Collaborator – You thrive in collaborative environments and are skilled at bringing people together around a common purpose.   Strong Writer – You have exceptional writing and editing skills and can produce high quality communications materials with confidence.   Organized & Results-Oriented – You can manage multiple priorities simultaneously and follow projects through to completion.   Politically Astute & Sound Judgement – You bring political acuity, executive presence, and strategic influence to high-stakes conversations with government, media, and Board-level stakeholders.   Qualifications   * Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field required; Master's degree considered an asset. * 10+ years of progressively senior leadership experience in communications, stakeholder relations, partnership development, fundraising, non-profit leadership, or a related field. * Excellent writing, editing, presentation, and relationship-management skills. * Experience developing communications strategies and managing organizational communications initiatives. * Experience preparing proposals, reports, partnership materials, grant applications, sponsorship packages, or similar external-facing documents. * Experience serving as a spokesperson or representing an organization publicly is considered an asset. * Experience in government relations, public affairs, or issues management, with demonstrated success advising senior executives is considered an asset. * Experience in charitable, health care, education, public, philanthropic, media, or public affairs sectors is considered an asset. * Bilingualism (English and French) is considered an asset.

About Us The Ontario Cannabis Store provides safe, responsible access to recreational cannabis for adults 19 and older. We operate the sole legal online store for recreational cannabis in Ontario and are the provincial wholesaler of cannabis for private retail stores. Working at the OCS is a unique opportunity to be part of an agile start-up in a ground-breaking new industry.  We’re a diverse team passionate about delivering a great customer experience, working together with mutual respect and building value out of our differences.  We’re an inclusive organization that understands that delivering great results comes out of ensuring every voice is heard.   About the Role We're looking for a Director, Communications to join our team. Reporting to the Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Social Responsibility, the Director will lead the organization's communications, brand, stakeholder management, and social responsibility strategies to support OCS's mandate, corporate priorities, and public accountability.   This role will be accountable for protecting and enhancing OCS's reputation, public trust, and stakeholder confidence through enterprise-wide communications and brand leadership. As a trusted advisor to the Senior Leadership Team, the Director will provide strategic guidance on reputational matters, stakeholder issues, and communications-related crises.   The Director will also provide oversight of the Social Responsibility function, ensuring programs, partnerships, and messaging align with public health objectives, regulatory expectations, and OCS values. Through leadership of integrated communications and brand alignment, this role will contribute to enterprise planning and help strengthen OCS's long-term position within the public and legal cannabis sectors.   About Your Day * Lead OCS's communications, brand, reputation, and social responsibility strategies, ensuring alignment with the Corporate Strategic Plan, mandate, values, and public sector responsibilities. * Serve as the senior communications advisor to the Vice President and Executive Team, providing counsel on strategic initiatives, stakeholder engagement, issues management, and reputational risk. * Lead crisis communications, media relations, and public affairs activities, acting as the primary spokesperson and ensuring executive readiness, effective messaging, and trusted public representation. * Oversee internal and external communications, enterprise storytelling, brand governance, social media, sponsorships, and thought leadership to maintain a consistent and credible organizational voice. * Provide strategic leadership for the Social Responsibility function, ensuring the development and delivery of evidence-based programs, partnerships, and initiatives that promote responsible use, public trust, and regulatory alignment. * Drive the integration of communications, brand, and social responsibility priorities across the organization to ensure consistent messaging and support business and stakeholder objectives. * Lead high-profile events, announcements, and stakeholder engagements with government, industry, and public sector partners. * Build and lead a high-performing team by coaching, developing, and empowering leaders and employees while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, integrity, and transparency.     About You          * Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Social Sciences, Business, or a related field * Ongoing professional development; Master's degree in a related field preferred * 7+ years of experience in a Communications leadership role (Manager level or above); public sector experience (5+ years) preferred * Strong strategic communications expertise, including experience serving as an organizational spokesperson * Outstanding communication, interpersonal, and executive advisory skills * Solid understanding of data analysis, budgeting, and business operations * Superior analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and leadership capabilities * Experience advising executive teams in regulated or publicly accountable environments preferred * Government or broader public sector experience preferred * Advertising agency experience considered an asset   About the Job * Location: Toronto, ON near York Mills and Yonge Street * Hours of Work: 36.25 a week * Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time * Required Travel: Rare, usually within the GTA   Compensation The target hiring range for this position is $150,000 - $170,000. This is a pay grade 10A role, with a salary range of $126,739.26 - $190,213.97. Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role. We are committed to providing an accessible, equitable and inclusive candidate and employee experience. We provide reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process and in employment. If you require an accommodation, please let us know, we will work with you to meet your needs.