Communications Advisor - Mission

Heart & Stroke

4d • $80,000 - $95,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Please note Heart & Stroke offers a hybrid work option. Candidates must be able to travel to the Toronto office when requested. Heart & Stroke is looking for an experienced Communications Advisor, Mission to help advance our mission impact of promoting health, saving lives and enhancing recovery across Canada. In this strategic advisory role, you will partner with national mission teams to deliver integrated communications strategies, elevate awareness of Heart & Stroke’s impact, and protect and strengthen a trusted national brand. Working collaboratively across the organization, you will provide expert communications counsel, develop compelling stories and content, and execute multi‑channel communications plans that engage diverse audiences, including media, partners, volunteers, and the public. You have superior writing skills, extensive media relations and issues management experience. This role is ideal for a skilled communications professional who thrives at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and purpose‑driven work. If you are collaborative, curious and passionate about health want to use communications to drive meaningful change, this is an opportunity to make a national difference while working with a respected and mission‑driven organization.

Requirements

• University or college degree in communications, public relations, marketing or business; or related technical degree and combination of equivalent extensive background with strong communications and marketing experience
• Minimum 5-7 years related work experience, management experience in non-profit and/or healthcare industry preferred.
• Ability to align plans and activities with organizational goals and objectives and experience in advising senior decision makers.
• Experience and confidence working with reporters, including issues management.
• Experience developing social strategies and content as part of an integrated communications plan.
• Significant experience managing public engagement programs in multi-stakeholder environments to further the mission of an organization.
• Experience with media monitoring and tracking software.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the media market.
• Knowledge of communications strategy development and execution theory, principles and practices.
• Knowledge of communications processes, techniques and activities, including research, strategy, implementation and evaluation.
• Proven success in developing and implementing communications plans and content.
• Excellent written communications and editorial skills in different media, with commitment to quality and strategic understanding of message positioning.
• Excellent MS Office computer skills (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, ability to multi-task and work under tight deadlines with advanced organization skills and strong attention to detail.
• Superior verbal communications and interpersonal skills, with the ability to deal with all levels of staff, volunteers and suppliers, providing impeccable customer service.
• Dedicated team player possessing an unflappable positive ‘can do’ attitude, with demonstrated innovation, creativity and resourcefulness in the form of continuous improvement to internal processes, able to work independently and to collaborate.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with the not-for-profit industry with an emphasis on health.
• Understanding of social determinants of health, equity, Indigenous health, health policy, advocacy and research.
• Experience working with external suppliers, specifically PR professionals, writers, designers, digital and social media.
• Ability to work in both official languages is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute all communications activities
• Collaboratively supports internal teams as an expert communications advisor to develop and implement communications strategies and activities that support mission programs and teams.
• Develops communications plans that are integrated across Heart & Stroke channels and programs/teams.
• Develops/adapts and implements communications plans and strategies in order to execute mission programs/initiatives and increase the profile of Heart & Stroke.
• Considers integration across all platforms, various audiences and languages (primarily English and French)
• Works with internal stakeholders to ensure all assigned programs are aligned with Heart & Stroke brand guidelines, including image, voice and messaging and reflect H&S values.
• Develops communications assets.
• Develops personal “stories” of people with lived experience, donors, healthcare providers, researchers and volunteers.
• Triages and responds to public complaints and ensures they are managed on a timely basis.
• Works with Internal Communications Manager to ensure timely and clear communication with employees.
• Develops and maintains positive media relationships to attract media attention and position Heart & Stroke as an authoritative voice of cardiovascular disease, stroke and related dementia, and a leading health charity in Canada.
• Delivers strategic public relations plans through traditional, online and social media initiatives, including: writing key messages, news releases, fact sheets, spokespersons’ Q&As, FAQs, etc.
• Acts as initial point person (not as spokesperson) for media calls to Heart & Stroke.
• Responds to and redirects queries, and finds spokespeople as needed to act on opportunities, using sound judgment to determine involvement.
• Works closely with senior members of the communications and mission teams to handle sensitive media queries and responds to issues using protocols and issues management scripts.
• Manages and develops internal spokespeople and ensures that they are well-briefed and prepped for interviews, including providing media training.
• Manages and stewards relationships with expert spokespeople (e.g., researchers, cardiologists, neurologists and other health professionals) and with people with lived experience to participate in media interviews and events.
• Liaises with external stakeholders to leverage support and coordinate joint media activities which could include health coalitions and government.
• Tracks and monitors media calls, interviews, issues-related inquiries and coverage.
• Maintains current media list.
• Provides analytic media reports to internal stakeholders as needed.

Benefits

• We offer a generous paid time-off package including vacation days, personal days, wellness days, and paid company-wide closure between December 25 and January 1.
• We also provide competitive health, medical, dental and vision benefits, life insurance, disability benefits, an employee assistance program (EAP) and a defined contribution pension plan with employer matching.
• Our employees also enjoy a flexible hybrid working model and reimbursement for mobile phones and home office setup, as well as opportunities for professional development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees