Director, Communications (Permanent, Full-time)

Job Title: Director, Communications (Permanent, Full-time)

Employment Type: Permanent, Full-time

Location: Our office is located at 340 Gerrard St. E, Toronto, Ontario with flexible and hybrid work options available.

Reports to: Chief Development and Communications Officer

Hiring Range: $115,000 - $125,000 annually, plus a competitive benefits and pension plan

Job Posting Closing Date: We encourage candidates to apply by August 13, 2026. This posting is open until filled. We will begin reviewing applications as they are received and may begin meeting with candidates before the application deadline. If this opportunity interests you, we encourage you to apply early.

About us

Right To Food is a national organization that’s transforming the way we address food insecurity through an innovative, dignity-first model. With our 450 partners across the country, we create welcoming, respectful spaces where people can access healthy food, build skills, connect with their communities, and advocate for more inclusive public policies that address the root causes of food insecurity. Learn more at righttofood.ca

Right To Food is strongly committed to an equitable and inclusive selection process and work environment. We welcome applications from members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.

We welcome candidates to speak about how their experience has demonstrated a commitment to Equity, Inclusion, Reconciliation and Anti-Oppression.

About the Position

Reporting to the Chief Development & Communications Officer (CDCO), the Director of Communications leads Right To Food’s integrated communications strategy, overseeing brand, media, digital engagement, storytelling, advocacy communications, and public relations.

As a member of Right To Food’s Senior Management Team (SMT), the Director contributes to organizational strategy while leading a team of six communications professionals.

Grounded in a strong social justice lens and a deep understanding of the systemic factors that drive poverty and food insecurity in Canada, the Director brings an equity-informed approach to communications that builds trust, amplifies community voices, strengthens our movement, and advances social justice.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a Communications team, fostering collaboration, creativity, accountability and leadership capacity.
• Develop and execute an integrated communications strategy aligned with organizational priorities, embedding an Equity, Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Anti-Oppression (EIRA) lens to all internal and external communications
• Protect and elevate Right To Food’s reputation as a leader and trusted voice on food insecurity, poverty reduction, health equity, and systems change in Canada.
• Lead the organization’s digital communications ecosystem, including web, email, social media, digital advocacy, and audience engagement strategies,
• Oversee multi-platform editorial calendars, applying SEO, accessibility, and performance analytics to drive engagement and action.
• Identify opportunities to expand Right To Food’s digital reach, visibility, audience growth, and engagement through innovative campaigns, partnerships, content strategies, and emerging digital platforms.
• Use data, analytics, and audience insights to measure the effectiveness of communications, digital engagement, and public campaigns, and continuously optimize performance.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including partners, media contacts, funders, community organizations, influencers, and sector networks to advance and amplify Right To Food’s mission, advocacy priorities, and public profile.
• Champion community voices and lived experience with dignity, consent, authenticity, and care, in alignment with ethical storytelling guidelines and best practices across all multiple platforms
• Work closely with the COO, Senior Management Team (SMT), and People & Culture to strengthen internal communications, staff engagement, organizational culture, and change management communications across multiple platforms and channels.
• Collaborate across the organization to develop integrated communications that support fundraising, advocacy, programs, community engagement, and organizational priorities.
• Oversee media relations strategy, including proactive media outreach, relationship-building with journalists and sector partners, media monitoring, and the development of key messaging and briefing materials for organizational spokespeople.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on public positioning, messaging, issues management, and reputational opportunities and risks.
• Set priorities, manage budgets, and ensure accountability.

Qualifications & Skills

Required

• A strategic communications leader with a depth of experience typically acquired through 7+ years of progressive experience leading integrated digital communications strategies across websites, social media, email marketing, media relations, and public campaigns.
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Digital Media, Public Relations, Marketing or a related field or equivalent combination of relevant education, training, and professional experience.
• Demonstrated success effectively leading and developing a high-performing communications team in complex, mission-driven organizations.
• Exceptional writing, editing, storytelling, and strategic communications skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences across multiple channels.
• Proven experience developing and executing innovative multi-channel communications and public relations strategies in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, with a strong emphasis on digital-first audience engagement and storytelling.
• Expertise in digital communications, including web, social media, email marketing, content strategy, analytics, and audience engagement.
• Experience using data and audience insights to evaluate performance, optimize communications strategies, and measure impact.
• Proven ability to steward organizational brand and reputation while leading integrated communications campaigns and media relations.
• Demonstrated understanding of the systemic drivers of poverty and food insecurity, with a demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, reconciliation, anti-oppression, and community-centred communications.
• Strong project management skills, collaboration, and relationship-building skills, with experience working across teams and with external partners. Knowledge of communications best practices, accessibility standards, digital engagement trends, and the Canadian charitable/nonprofit sector, with a demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional growth.

Preferred

• Proven experience in the nonprofit, charitable, public sector, advocacy, social justice, or community-based sectors.
• Experience leading digital advocacy, fundraising, and public engagement campaigns.
• Experience with email marketing, social media management and analytics platforms and tools
• Experience managing external agencies, consultants, or creative vendors.
• Bilingualism in French is a strong asset.

Reasonable accommodation will be provided in accordance with applicable human rights legislation.

Organizational Competencies

• Drives digital innovation and audience engagement: Leverages digital platforms, emerging technologies, and audience insights to strengthen storytelling, engagement, advocacy, and organizational visibility. Demonstrates curiosity, adaptability, and strategic thinking in an evolving digital communications landscape.
• Communicates with impact: Creates clear, compelling, accessible, and audience-centered communications across digital and traditional channels that inspire engagement, trust, action, and community connection. Demonstrates excellence in storytelling, messaging, and brand voice across platforms.
• Thinks analytically and from a systems perspective: Uses data, analytics, audience insights, and organizational context to inform decision-making and identify opportunities for integration, innovation, and continuous improvement across communications channels and organizational priorities.
• Has an open and positive mindset: Approaches challenges and opportunities with creativity, adaptability, and a solutions-oriented mindset. Embraces change, experimentation, and innovation in communications strategies and digital engagement approaches.
• Committed to equity and inclusion: Demonstrates experience and commitment to working within an organization that values and embeds Equity, Inclusion, Reconciliation, Anti-Oppression, and Accessibility into its culture, policies, practices, and communications. Ensures communications are inclusive, accessible, representative, and community-informed.
• Seeks continuous learning and improvement: Actively stays current with evolving communications, digital marketing, social media, accessibility, and audience engagement trends. Continuously seeks opportunities to strengthen individual, team, and organizational learning and effectiveness.
• Inspires courage and innovation: Models and encourages creative thinking, curiosity, experimentation, and calculated risk-taking to develop innovative communications strategies, campaigns, and storytelling approaches that advance organizational impact.
• Cultivates strong relationships: Builds authentic, collaborative, and trust-based relationships with colleagues, community members, partners, media, influencers, and stakeholders. Brings a community-centered and relationship-focused approach to communications and engagement.
• Drives operational excellence: Applies strong organizational, project management, and strategic planning skills to lead integrated communications initiatives with clarity, accountability, efficiency, and measurable results.
• Navigates complexity and responds with agility: Demonstrates sound judgment, adaptability, and responsiveness in fast-moving communications environments, including digital campaigns, public engagement opportunities, and reputational issues.
• Contributes to leadership and culture: Brings authenticity, emotional intelligence, accountability, and collaboration to strengthen leadership effectiveness, team culture, and cross-organizational alignment. Leads with transparency, empathy, and professionalism.
• Demonstrates strategic brand stewardship: Protects and strengthens organizational reputation, brand identity, and public presence through thoughtful, consistent, and values-aligned communications across all platforms and audiences.
• Values alignment: Aligns with Right To Food’s mission, values, and commitment to equity, courage, integrity, and relationship-centered work, and actively contributes to a positive, inclusive, and purpose-driven organizational culture.

Not sure you meet every qualification?

We encourage you to apply. Research shows that women and individuals from equity-deserving groups are less likely to apply unless they meet every requirement. We are interested in the full range of experience, knowledge, and strengths that candidates may bring to this role.

Why work for us?

We offer:

• Comprehensive benefits package including extended health, dental, life insurance, short and long-term disability insurance, membership in a defined benefit pension plan, 15 paid vacation days in your first year, increasing to 20 paid vacation days in your second year of employment, a December break (usually a week) to recharge, wellness days, access to an Employee Assistance Program and professional development opportunities.
• A culture of mutual support where staff are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive Canada.
• An opportunity to be part of a movement building health, belonging and social justice in marginalized neighbourhoods across Canada through the power of food.

If you require any accommodations or technical support, please email work@righttofood.ca (please do not email your application to this email).

#J-18808-Ljbffr