Director, Marketing & Communications

Ontario Brain Institute•Toronto, ON

About The Position

The Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) is seeking a Director, Marketing and Communications to provide strategic leadership for OBI’s communications, brand, and marketing efforts. This role reports to the Head, Integrated Discovery and oversees a small team responsible for increasing public awareness of brain health, highlighting the impact of OBI’s programs, and fostering trust and engagement with stakeholders such as researchers, patients, funders, and the public. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to combine visionary thinking with hands-on leadership to develop and execute integrated strategies that establish OBI as a global leader in brain research, commercialization, and care. This position will ensure OBI's narrative is communicated clearly, creatively, and consistently, emphasizing the collective impact of Ontario's brain health ecosystem.

Requirements

Undergraduate or graduate degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, or other relevant discipline, or an acceptable combination of education and experience.
7+ years of progressive experience in marketing and communications, including leadership and team management, preferably in the not-for-profit, research or health sector.
Demonstrated success developing and executing integrated communications and marketing strategies.
Proven ability to translate scientific or technical content into clear, compelling, and accessible narratives.
Strong project management skills with experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills; ability to engage confidently with diverse audiences.
Financial acumen, including experience managing budgets and tracking performance metrics.
Familiar with AODA compliance.

Nice To Haves

Bilingualism (English/French), an asset.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement an integrated marketing and communications strategy aligned with OBI’s strategic plan and mission to improve brain health.
Provide strategic advice and communications counsel to the leadership team, ensuring alignment across research, data, commercialization, and outreach programs.
Translate organizational priorities into measurable communications objectives and campaigns that amplify OBI’s voice and visibility, implementing tools and systems for project management, tracking, and reporting on communications performance.
Collaborate with external partners (research institutions, funders, health charities, patient groups, and industry) to coordinate shared messaging and initiatives.
Lead and mentor a small but high-performing marketing and communications team, fostering creativity, collaboration, and accountability.
Manage vendor and agency relationships to ensure high-quality, cost-effective results.
Oversee annual planning and budgeting for the communications portfolio, ensuring efficient resource allocation.
Develop internal communications strategies to ensure staff alignment and engagement across OBI’s programs and initiatives.
Develop a brand strategy that unifies OBI and its affiliated entities, ensuring consistent, accessible, and values-based messaging across all channels.
Oversee the creation of compelling, plain-language content that communicates the impact of OBI’s work, including research breakthroughs, commercial successes, and patient outcomes.
Lead the development of OBI’s flagship publications, including the annual report, newsletters, impact stories, and digital campaigns that highlight program achievements.
Ensure all communications reflect OBI’s commitment to inclusion, collaboration, and innovation.
Oversee the organization’s digital strategy, including website, newsletters, and social media platforms, including the design and delivery of multi-channel marketing campaigns to grow awareness and engagement with OBI’s work.
Manage media relations, including the development of press releases, pitches, op-eds, speaking points, and event communications.
Develop clear, compelling messaging and materials for senior external audiences, to help strengthen OBI’s relationships with decision-makers, supporters and strategic partners.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including researchers, clinicians, companies, patient advocates, funders, policymakers, and media.
Serve as a communications ambassador for OBI, representing the organization at events and in collaborative networks.
Ensure that OBI’s communications and outreach activities foster trust, transparency, and shared purpose across the brain health ecosystem.