Director, Strategic Communications

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto•Toronto, ON

2d•CA$110,000 - CA$120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Communications is responsible for strategic communications planning and execution across UJA’s priorities, issues, initiatives, announcements, events, key messages, stakeholder communications, and public-facing materials. This is a hands-on role for a strong writer, thoughtful communicator, and relationship-builder who is highly attuned to the Jewish community, public affairs, media, civic life, social conversation, and the broader public conversation. The Director will help UJA identify issues and opportunities early, craft clear messaging, and develop creative ways to bring UJA’s stories and priorities to key audiences. The role includes developing messages and materials for community members, donors, volunteer leaders, partners, media, and other key audiences who help represent UJA’s work in the community. The Director will work with teams across UJA and with community partners to support coordinated, timely, and aligned communications.

Requirements

5-7 years of experience in strategic communications, public relations, public affairs, media relations, stakeholder communications, government relations, advocacy, journalism, or a related field.
Strong writing, editing, and messaging skills.
Strong news judgment and awareness of media, public conversation, social conversation, civic issues, and community dynamics.
Demonstrated experience with issue identification, issues management, rapid-response communications, and sensitive public-facing communications.
3 years of demonstrated experience drafting key messages, statements, Q&As, briefing notes, stakeholder updates, media materials, op-ed outlines, remarks, speeches, executive correspondence, and other public-facing communications.
Ability to identify emerging issues, opportunities, and risks, and translate them into actionable communications recommendations.
Strong relationship-building skills and comfort working in a complex stakeholder environment.
Highly organized, collaborative, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.

Nice To Haves

5 years of demonstrated experience writing for senior leaders, public officials, diplomats, executives, and organizational spokespeople is an asset.
Knowledge of the Jewish communal landscape, philanthropy, advocacy, Israel-related issues, public affairs, or civic leadership is a strong asset.

Responsibilities

Support strategic communications planning and execution for UJA priorities, campaigns, issues, events, announcements, and major initiatives.
Develop messaging and communications materials for stakeholder, partner, media, community, digital, social, and owned communications.
Translate complex community, organizational, policy, advocacy, and impact issues into clear communications for different audiences.
Anticipate and identify emerging issues, risks, opportunities, media narratives, and social conversations that may affect UJA, Toronto’s Jewish community, or UJA’s role as a community leader.
Bring forward clear recommendations on emerging issues and opportunities, including what is happening, why it matters, who needs to know, and what UJA should consider doing next.
Prepare communications materials, including key messages, briefing notes, talking points, statements, Q&As, media lines, stakeholder updates, op-ed outlines, remarks, speech materials, executive correspondence, and other public-facing materials connected to UJA priorities, issues, announcements, and engagement with key audiences.
Support rapid-response communications by gathering information, coordinating inputs, drafting materials, tracking developments, coordinating delivery to key audiences, and reporting back on reach, response, and follow-up.
Support media relations, outreach, pitching, and creative story placement connected to UJA’s priorities, initiatives, events, stories, and public positions.
Track follow-up, outreach, approvals, media opportunities, communications activity, reach, and response.