DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA RELATIONS

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA RELATIONS.

Language: Bilingual – full professional fluency in English and French, written and spoken

Compensation: $123,137 -$149,267

Status: Full-time: Management II

Position Type: Replacement position

Location: 301-350 Sparks St., Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8

Join Our Dynamic Team at Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan)!

Are you ready to make a difference in the world of education? At Colleges and Institutes Canada, we are looking for passionate, innovative and driven people to join our team. If you are eager to contribute to a vibrant community and help strengthen Canada’s publicly supported colleges, institutes, CEGEPs and polytechnics, we want to hear from you.

Who We Are

Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is the national voice of Canada’s public colleges, institutes, polytechnics and CEGEPs. As part of Team Canada, we are committed to helping build a stronger and more resilient country by championing the role of post-secondary education, skills development and innovation.

Together with our members, we support the builders, growers, makers, caregivers, first responders, innovators and job creators that Canadians depend on to meet our biggest challenges. Through affordable, accessible and high-quality education and training, our sector helps Canadians secure meaningful careers, supports businesses as they grow and diversify, and drives the innovation that strengthens industries, communities and the economy.

At a time when Canada is investing in Canadian businesses, Canadian workers, and Canadian-made solutions, CICan and its members are helping shape a more prosperous future by developing talent, advancing applied research, and fostering innovation in communities across Canada and around the world.

To learn more about CICan, our members, and the impact of our work, visit our website.

Why Choose Us?

• Impactful work: Be part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to advocating for colleges and institutes across Canada.
• Collaborative environment: Work alongside a diverse team of professionals who share your commitment to excellence.
• Innovative culture: Contribute to a culture that values creativity, innovation and forward-looking solutions.
• Competitive compensation: Benefit from a highly competitive compensation package.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Vice-President , External and Member Relations, the Director, Communications and Media Relations provides organization-wide leadership for CICan’s internal and external communications, media relations, translation, brand and stakeholder engagement functions in both official languages. The Director leads the Communications and Media Relations team, supports the communications needs of all divisions, and ensures that CICan presents a coherent, high-quality voice across publications, media, marketing materials, briefs and digital channels.

As a member of CICan’s management team, the Director contributes to corporate planning, priority-setting and policy discussions, and helps advance the Association’s strategic goals and annual priorities.

What Success Looks Like in the First 12 Months

• A clear, organization-wide communications approach is established, with shared narratives, standards and coordinated planning across divisions.
• CICan has strengthened relationships with English- and French-language media and a more active national network of communications and public affairs professionals across member institutions.
• Media relations, issues management and crisis communications protocols are current, practical and understood by key internal partners.
• Translation services are effectively managed, with consistent quality, terminology, turnaround times and cost controls in both official languages.
• Meaningful performance indicators and reporting practices are in place to assess reach, engagement, media coverage, brand awareness and impact.

What You’ll Do

• Strategic Communications and Corporate Leadership
  • Lead the strategic, effective and efficient management of CICan’s internal and external communications operations.
  • Provide organization-wide leadership on crosscutting communications initiatives, aligning messaging, sequencing major moments and advancing a coherent voice for corporate priorities.
  • Contribute to corporate and divisional planning, priority-setting and policy discussions; prepare annual objectives and work plans for the communications function.
  • Support the President and CEO and senior leaders with presentations, messaging, public positioning and communications advice.
• Media Relations, Issues Management and Public Representation
  • Oversee the implementation of CICan’s media relations strategy and maintain relationships with national, regional and trade media in both official languages.
  • Identify opportunities for earned media, opinion pieces and advertorial presence that strengthen CICan and the college and institute sector.
  • Lead issues management and crisis communications, including holding statements, key messages and protocols, and advise senior management during sensitive or reputational matters.
  • Act as an official spokesperson in English and French within delegated authority, and escalate politically sensitive, reputationally significant or position-setting matters as appropriate.
  • Represent CICan at meetings, consultations, conferences and public events.
• Brand, Content and Digital Communications
  • Ensure that communications, marketing, public relations and publication materials meet high standards and reflect positively on the CICan brand.
  • Guide original writing, conceptual development, editing, design, layout, digital production and quality assurance across print, web and multimedia products.
  • Ensure CICan’s web properties are high quality, fully available in both official languages and aligned with the overall communications strategy.
  • Provide strategic guidance for CICan’s thought leadership and sector storytelling efforts.
• Member Network and Stakeholder Engagement
  • Build, convene and mobilize a national network of communications, marketing and public affairs professionals across CICan’s member institutions.
  • Share intelligence, common messaging, tools and assets, and mobilize the network to amplify national campaigns, advocacy priorities and sector stories.
  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with member institutions, government officials and partners related to the responsibilities of the role.
  • Provide communications guidance and support for CICan’s federal advocacy, member relations, national and international projects, national awards program and other key initiatives.
• Bilingual Communications and Translation Services
  • Ensure equal quality, accuracy and timeliness in English and French across channels.
  • Manage contracted translation services, including supplier relationships, contracts, volumes, turnaround times and costs.
  • Maintain CICan’s French-language terminology and style standards and apply final quality control before publication, including for machine- and AI-assisted translation.
• Innovation, Technology and Measurement
  • Identify, evaluate and introduce communications tools and technologies, including artificial intelligence, to strengthen content development, translation, audience insight, media monitoring and performance measurement.
  • Contribute to organizational guidance on the responsible, ethical and effective use of emerging communications technologies.
  • Establish performance indicators and report to senior management and the Board of Directors on reach, engagement, media coverage, brand awareness and impact.
  • People, Budget and Operational Management
  • Lead, supervise and develop staff within the Communications and Media Relations team, and participate in recruitment and selection.
  • Develop and monitor budgets, control expenditures and oversee outsourcing for publications, public relations and related work.
  • Establish, manage and review administrative policies and procedures that support divisional and cross-divisional needs.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned

What You Bring

• Education
  • Post-secondary degree in communications, journalism, public relations, public affairs or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively senior communications experience, including experience in:

• • A management or team leadership role, including staff development, team building and conflict resolution.
  • Communications and media relations, with strong writing and editing skills and responsibility for print, web and multimedia products.
  • Strategic planning, project management, budget development, and expenditure control.
  • Building media contacts and securing earned media opportunities.
  • Acting as a spokesperson and representing an organization publicly, including on-the-record media interviews in English and French.
  • Commissioning, managing and quality-assuring contracted translation services in a bilingual work environment.
  • Building, convening and mobilizing networks or communities of practice across member organizations or a distributed membership.
  • Adopting digital and emerging communications technologies, including generative artificial intelligence, with sound judgment about responsible use.

• Assets

• • Experience working directly for a college or institute.
  • Federal or provincial political experience.
  • National program or project management experience.

• Demonstrated Knowledge

• • Canada’s college and institute system and national issues in post-secondary education, community economic and social development, and the diverse mandates and contexts of member institutions.
  • Media relations, brand management, issues management, crisis communications and integrated digital communications.
  • Graphic design and layout principles for print and electronic media, web content platforms, media monitoring, analytics and generative AI tools.
  • Planning, budgeting, financial management, personnel administration and general administration.
  • The international development context as it relates to CICan and its work.

Key Competencies

• Full professional fluency in English and French, written and spoken, including the ability to write, edit, revise, present, interview and represent CICan in both official languages.
• Strategic leadership, sound judgment, initiative and decision-making in complex and sensitive environments.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, synthesis and problem-solving skills.
• Tact, diplomacy and strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with staff, senior leaders, members, government, partners and media.
• Creativity, curiosity and the ability to develop forward-looking communications approaches.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and communications-related digital tools and platforms.

Working Conditions

• Domestic travel is required, as needed.
• The role works in a bilingual, fast-paced environment and may need to respond to time-sensitive media or reputational matters.

What We Offer

• A flexible work schedule that supports work-life balance.
• A hybrid work environment that combines remote work with in-person collaboration at our Ottawa office.
• A comprehensive group benefits plan designed to support your health and well-being.
• A pension plan that helps build financial security for the future.
• Professional development opportunities that support continuous learning and career growth.
• Free access to on-site fitness facilities.
• A prime downtown Ottawa location close to restaurants, shops, services and amenities.
• Convenient access to public transit, including the O-Train and major bus routes.
• A collaborative and purpose-driven team dedicated to making a meaningful impact across Canada.

Open to

CICan employees and external applicants.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and résumé in PDF format by October 18, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

CICan is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce. We recognize that diverse teams generate unique solutions, ideas and perspectives. We welcome and encourage applications from women, persons with disabilities, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour), and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Please contact Human Resources at hr@cican.org or 613-746-2222, ext. 3191, if you require an alternative arrangement to submit your application. CICan provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request. If contacted to proceed with the selection process, please advise us of any accommodation needs.

Colleges and Institutes Canada does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess or select applicants. However, some third-party tools used in our recruitment and selection process may incorporate AI technology.

We thank all candidates for their interest. Only those selected to continue in the selection process will be contacted.

CICan’s offices in Ottawa are located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation.