“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

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.

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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.