Director of Communications

Director of Communications

We recognize that Centennial is situated on the Treaty Lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and pay tribute to their legacy as well as that of all First Peoples that have been and remain present here in Toronto. We recognize that First Peoples come from sovereign Nations and that part of understanding our responsibilities of residing on this territory are understanding the true history, circumstances and legacy of the Treaties signed here (such as the Toronto Purchase, Robinson-Huron Treaty and Williams Treaties) and including pre-contact Treaties and Agreements between sovereign Nations and that all peoples in this area are therefore Treaty people with obligations and responsibilities to all our relations.

Centennial College—a post-secondary institution firmly committed to personal well-being and building social solidarity among its community—has transformed itself from a local community college to a learning network that is truly global. Having built enormous capacity over the last 50 years and with its commitment to transforming lives and communities through learning, the College is in a very good position to further its reach, impact, and social capital, all while continuing to ensure that students are equipped to succeed in work and in life. With approximately 45,000 full- and part-time enrolments   throughout its Toronto campuses, and with a large student population at Suzhou Centennial College in China, Centennial is widely recognized for being an entho-culturally diverse institution. And it’s organizations like Centennial that are uniquely positioned to change the world for the better by means of helping students—from all walks of life—recognize their intrinsic worth and capabilities as global citizens!

With such a unique history and compelling forethought praised nationwide and internationally, this is an auspicious time for Centennial. It is within this context that Centennial invites nominations and applications for the role of Director of Communications, a position that gives a dynamic leader the opportunity to have an indelible impact on the next chapter of the College’s evolution—a College that has been focused on creating vibrant and accessible campuses, cultivating civic discourse and building bridges with communities and employers, and ensuring their graduates are engaged in meaningful work that contributes to the public good.

As a senior leader within the college and reporting into the Vice President, Strategy Alignment and Analytics, the Director of Communications will be responsible for the institution’s overarching communications strategy. More specifically, the incumbent will be actively responsible for internal communications at the institutional level, and will work closely with colleagues across divisions to cement effective communication strategies and modes of delivery (including a digital strategy, social media strategy, etc.). The Director will oversee operations for the Communications portfolio, and will lead and mentor the College’s communications staff responsible for executing strategy in various forms and across multiple communications channels, including: print and digital media, newsletters, publications, brochures, press releases, proposals, video content, speeches, and mass and individual donor communications and materials for campaigns.

As Centennial College has a deep and abiding commitment to decolonization, eradicating institutionalized and systemic oppression, and advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in all its forms, the Director of Communications will need to have these matters steeped in their social consciousness to ensure their work is informed by a critical, intersectional, and social justice lens. They will possess several years of progressive experience in the area of communications, or in marketing, public relations, or journalism, and will have experience in brand building. The successful candidate will also have experience in the development of creative strategies across digital, social, and print platforms; creative and campaign development; advertising planning; and, media planning and buying. Among other skills, the successful candidate will bring expertise in public relations and crisis communications; must be culturally competent, sensitive, and attuned to the voices and needs of a diverse community; and, must bring a versatility and fluidity to their work—moving from storyteller, technical writer, and so forth—to ensure the Office’s output is continually responsive to the College’s plurality of audiences. Education and training from a recognized postsecondary institution is sought, preferably in the areas of communications, marketing, public relations, or journalism.

Diversity, equity and inclusion are fundamental to Centennial’s mission to educate students; they live this through the strength and richness that diversity brings to their workforce, and strongly encourages applications from Indigenous Peoples, Racialized Communities, Persons with Disabilities, the LGBTQ+ Community, and other marginalized groups.

Centennial College is partnering with BIPOC Executive Search to ensure an applicant list that has greater representation from Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, thereby reflecting Canada’s diverse population. Interested applicants can send their resume to Helen Mekonen or Jason Murray by e-mailing hmekonen@bipocsearch.com, or can apply through the BIPOC Executive Search mobile app.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), accommodation will be provided throughout the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities.

We thank everyone for their expression of interest—and are truly appreciative of the time individuals put into applying—but with the limitations of time only those selected for an interview will be contacted