Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, Communications and Sector Engagement
About The Position
We’re looking for an experienced and strategic executive leader to guide Destination Canada’s corporate affairs, sector engagement, corporate communications, and major events activities across Canada and internationally. Reporting to the Senior Vice-President, Industry Advancement and Corporate Secretary, you’ll lead how Destination Canada engages with tourism partners, industry leaders, stakeholders, and broader economic audiences. You’ll oversee corporate communications and external engagement strategies that strengthen the organization’s reputation, amplify its impact, and position tourism as one of Canada’s leading service exports and a driver of economic growth, global competitiveness, and trade diversification. You’ll also provide strategic oversight for Destination Canada’s major events activities, ensuring they support organizational priorities, sector engagement, stakeholder relationships, and Canada’s global tourism competitiveness. This is a highly strategic role that combines stakeholder engagement, communications, relationship management, and enterprise outreach leadership. You’ll work closely with senior leaders and partners across Canada to strengthen relationships, align engagement approaches, shape strategic conversations, and advance shared priorities for the tourism sector and Canadian economy. The role is ideal for a collaborative and influential leader who brings strong strategic thinking, exceptional relationship-building skills, and experience navigating complex multi-stakeholder environments.
Requirements
- Graduation from a recognized university in communications, corporate affairs, public administration, political science, business, tourism, or a related discipline, or an acceptable combination of education, training and experience.
- At least 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in corporate affairs, stakeholder engagement, communications, strategic partnerships, major events, external relations, or related fields, including experience leading complex external engagement initiatives.
- Senior-level experience leading stakeholder and relationship strategies across multi-stakeholder environments involving industry partners, governments, associations, Indigenous organizations, or senior external audiences.
- Experience overseeing corporate communications and external positioning strategies.
- Experience developing and executing enterprise-level strategic plans and outreach strategies across diverse stakeholder environments.
- Strategic thinking and advisory capability: ability to translate broad organizational objectives and external dynamics into integrated engagement, communications, and outreach strategies.
- Relationship-building and collaboration skills: ability to establish trust, influence without direct authority, and foster alignment across diverse stakeholder groups and internal teams.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working within the tourism, destination marketing, economic development, trade, or major events sectors.
- Understanding of federal government, Crown corporation, or broader public sector environments.
Responsibilities
- Designs and executes Destination Canada’s enterprise approach to sector engagement and stakeholder relations, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, mandate objectives, and long-term tourism sector outcomes that support Canada’s global competitiveness.
- Oversees corporate communications strategies, external messaging, and organizational positioning that strengthen Destination Canada’s reputation, visibility, and engagement with external audiences across Canada and internationally.
- Leads corporate affairs and external positioning strategies that strengthen understanding of Destination Canada’s mandate and tourism’s role in advancing Canada’s economic growth, global competitiveness, productivity, and trade diversification objectives.
- Supports relationships with key Tourism partners, associations, destination organizations, and other stakeholders, in coordination with senior leadership.
- Provides strategic advice to senior leadership on stakeholder dynamics, reputational considerations, emerging issues, external trends, and opportunities that may impact Destination Canada, the tourism sector, or Canada’s competitiveness.
- Leads the development and coordination of Destination Canada’s enterprise stakeholder engagement and outreach approach, ensuring consistent, strategic, and aligned engagement with partners, stakeholders, and external audiences across the organization.
- Works collaboratively across Destination Canada to align stakeholder engagement, communications, outreach, and major events activities through an integrated enterprise approach.
- Provides strategic plans and recommendations on planning and prioritization for the Corporate Affairs and Sector Engagement function to the SVP and senior leadership, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing work environment.
Benefits
- Extended health and dental benefits
- A defined contribution pension plan
- A minimum of 3 weeks’ vacation
- 5 paid days for personal and family needs each year
- 1 paid wellbeing day per year
- Generous maternity and parental leave top-up
- An employee and family assistance program
- Flexible working options, including a hybrid model and compressed workweek
- Support towards your professional growth with learning and development opportunities, mentorship, and more.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
