Director, Public Engagement

WUSC • Ottawa, ON

2d • CA$112,200 - CA$132,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

WUSC is seeking a Director, Public Engagement to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight, ensuring WUSC's brand, revenue, and mobilization efforts are synchronized for maximum impact. This role involves uniting communications, fundraising, and public engagement to advance organizational objectives. WUSC is a Canadian global development organization focused on catalyzing positive education and economic outcomes for young people, working in 28 countries with an annual budget of approximately CAD $65 million and a global team of over 100 staff in Canada and more than 250 internationally.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Fifteen years of related experience of personnel management in a team environment.
• Specific expertise in communicating the impact of work focused on WUSC’s core priorities: youth, education, economic development, and global forced displacement.
• A proven track record of connecting brand storytelling to meet revenue and mobilization targets.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and executing cross-departmental strategies to engage overlapping audiences, building greater brand awareness and affinity.
• Strong analytical skills to monitor and interpret market trends and utilize real-time performance data across communications, fundraising, and public engagement to maximize impact.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a high-level liaison to executive team members and boards of directors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French.
• Complete fluency in English and French is required.
• Curious, enthusiastic and willing to innovate and adapt.
• Candidates must be legally allowed to work in Canada.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Communications, Fundraising, and Public Engagement departments.
• Develop and oversee a unified strategy that aligns Communications, Fundraising, and Public Engagement goals to advance organizational objectives.
• Act as the final authority on organizational voice, brand integrity, and reputational risk management.
• Lead on Emergency Communications, as required.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Senior Management Team, Global Leadership Team, and Board of Directors on all matters related to external relations and revenue generation.
• Monitor market trends and real-time performance data across communications, fundraising, and public engagement to suggest improvements and pivots.
• Directly lead the Communications team to develop and deliver on WUSC’s communications strategy, annual work plan, and budget.
• Set the cross-department editorial calendar and approve major communications products and activities.
• Mediate competing priorities and timelines across departments.
• Provide senior-level coaching to the Communications Officers.
• Develop guides and resources to support other country offices in the development of brand-aligned communications products and activities.
• Provide strategic supervision and support to the Senior Manager, Fundraising and Manager, Public Engagement.
• Chair regular integration meetings to ensure that communications collateral, donor appeals, and public activations are well-timed and messaged consistently.
• Develop relationships laterally with other departments to sustain buy-in and collaboration, and gain feedback and suggestions.
• Promote and maintain an organizational culture that advances gender equality, reduces power abuse and inequalities, and fosters trust, respect and safety.
• Create a working environment that is free from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH).
• Ensure high standards of prevention and response measures for SEAH are in place consistent with WUSC's safeguarding policies and WUSC's Code of Conduct.

Benefits

• 35-hour workweek
• ability to work flexible hours
• Hybrid work model, with free access to our Ottawa office
• 4 weeks annual leave
• Paid sick days (10)
• special leave days (5)
• Extensive health and dental coverage for you and your dependents, 100% covered by us
• Group RRSP contributions, from day 1
• $300 reimbursement for home office equipment

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director