About the Organization

Canadian Parks and Wilderness (www.cpaws.org) is a national charitable organization with 13 chapters across Canada, since 1963.

Our conservation vision is to protect at least half of Canada’s public land and water in a framework of reconciliation – for the benefit of both wildlife and humans.

CPAWS is based on the unceded and unsurrendered lands of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation, and works in both unceded and treaty lands of First Nations, Métis and Inuit throughout the country known as Canada.

CPAWS is committed to operating in a way that upholds justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI). We are also working to ensure our office is an inclusive and safe place for people from diverse backgrounds.

About the Role

CPAWS National Office is hiring a National Associate Director of Communications reporting to the National Director, Communications & Philanthropy, the successful candidate will play a key role by providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of the Communications Team and is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive communications and and marketing strategies to advance our mission, increase visibility, and drive engagement with our organization’s initiatives and programs.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for a marketing and communications leader with 5+ years of experience. If you are entrepreneurial and enjoy translating vision into strategies and action while having fun, and you are passionate about nature conservation, we'd love to hear from you!

We value each employee’s creativity and innovation and offer a collegial work environment, professional development opportunities, and a generous benefits package.

Responsibilities

1)     Strategic Planning (30%):

a.     Collaborate with the Director of Communications & Philanthropy to develop and implement comprehensive communications and marketing plans ensuring consistency in messaging and brand identity.

b.     Oversee the planning, execution, and completion of projects within scope, budget, and timeline constraints.

c.      Develop and manage the communications budget, allocating resources effectively to optimize productivity and achieve financial targets. Identify cost-saving opportunities and resource allocation priorities.

d.     Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to track progress towards communications and marketing goals. Regularly monitor and analyze performance data to track lead generation and supporter engagement to identify areas for improvement and drive continuous enhancement.

e.     Champion process improvements to enhance efficiency, quality, and supporter satisfaction.

2)     Team Leadership (30%):

a.     Lead, mentor, and motivate team members to foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and accountability.

b.     Guide the professional development and performance management of the Communications Team members.

c.      Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including program staff, development, and Chapters to ensure seamless project delivery.

3)     Reporting and Communication (20%):

a.     Prepare and present reports, presentations, and updates to senior management and stakeholders.

b.     Communicate effectively across all levels of the organization to convey strategic priorities, progress, and challenges.

c.      Support senior management in crisis communications and maintain relationship with journalists to support earned media efforts for the organization.

4)     Stakeholder Engagement (10%):

a.     Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

b.     Cultivate and steward relationships with third-party Ad agencies, Public Relations agencies, Media agencies and creative freelancers such as translators, designers, and writers to increase the effectiveness of CPAWS’ communications and marketing campaigns.

5)     Brand Management (10%):

a.     Ensure consistent messaging and brand identity across all communication channels and materials, maintaining brand standards and guidelines.

Accountability and Authority

The National Associate Director, Communications will work remotely or from Ottawa, and report to the National Director, Communications & Philanthropy.  They will work closely with the other teams at our National Office, while supporting CPAWS chapter staff and members of the National Board of Trustees across the country.

All staff are accountable through the staff structure to the National Executive Director for the planning and delivery of programs and services for which they are responsible. The National Executive Director is responsible for staff management and development, and the effectiveness of programs and services within the priorities and budgets approved by the Board.

The Human Resources Policy guides the National Executive Director in the day-to-day management of the organization. All CPAWS staff will ensure they have read, understand and adhere to the policy manual.

Qualifications & Expectations

Essential Assets

• 5 to 7 years communications experience with demonstratable experience leading a team.
• Planning marketing and communication campaigns that meet objectives.
• Managing a communications budget.
• Managing Media relations and media outreach campaigns.
• Crisis Communications experience.
• Change Management communications experience.
• Strong project management and familiarity with the production process.

Nice to Have

• Bilingual in both official languages French & English.
• Knowledge of conservation and/or Environmental issues.
• Experience working in a federated organizational model.