We’re Hiring: Director, Marketing & Engagement

We believe Toronto’s best days are ahead of us.

Our vision is clear: Toronto can be more than a city of neighbourhoods.
It can be a city of neighbours accelerating meaningful change for all.

Toronto Foundation is entering the most ambitious phase in our history. By aligning our capital, research and partnerships, we’re helping build a more connected city — one where people feel they belong and believe they can shape what comes next.

We’re looking for a Director of Marketing & Engagement to steward our brand and civic partnerships, and translate our strategy into compelling, data-informed campaigns that inspire participation across the city.

Are you a strategist who can turn complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives and products?

Do you pair creative instincts with a sharp eye for audience growth, engagement and performance?

Do you thrive in fast-moving environments where big ideas are turning into real momentum?

 

ABOUT TORONTO FOUNDATION

Toronto Foundation is the home of collective investing and impact. We’re a registered charity and one of 208 community foundations in Canada. Our research tells us social cohesion is Toronto’s most important vital sign, so we’re using our tools and resources to build community wellbeing.

We are home to over 1,000 community-minded philanthropists and charitable organizations and collectively administer over $500 million in charitable assets. Together with our fundholders, we granted over $26.7 million in 2024 to organizations working to improve the quality of life in Toronto. We are committed to listening, learning and working in partnership with communities and invite you to join us in tackling the inequities we face in our city.

 

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

You’re a seasoned storyteller, digital marketer and proud Torontonian. You’re a strategist and a doer. You’re energized by meeting other city shapers and sharing their stories, while driven to work behind-the scenes building and tweaking plans to bring more Torontonians and groups together around community wealth and wellbeing.

Reporting to the VP, Communications & Engagement, the Director, Marketing & Engagement is responsible for the Foundation’s overall marketing strategy and performance and, accountable for delivering measurable outcomes within the portfolio.

The Director develops and implements annual marketing plans aligned with organizational priorities, implements brand positioning and campaign strategy, and oversees digital platforms. The role ensures marketing efforts are coordinated, audience-focused and measurable.

Working cross-functionally, the Director stewards relationships with civic partners and internal teams to enable strong, aligned storytelling across major initiatives. The role provides strategic marketing guidance across departments and oversees agency and vendor relationships to ensure high-quality, efficient execution.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Marketing Strategy & Performance

• Set and implement an annual, organization-wide marketing and engagement strategy aligned with the Foundation’s strategic plan, as well as objectives and key results (OKRs).
• Advance the Foundation’s brand as a trusted civic leader through integrated campaigns across digital, social, email, partnerships and public activations.
• Act as a senior marketing advisor to the CEO, VP, Communications & Engagement and leadership team, providing clear recommendations around growth positioning, opportunities, risks and message coherence.
• Guide paid media strategy in partnership with external vendors, ensuring investments are aligned with priority audiences, campaign goals and performance insights.
• Balance long-term brand development with time-sensitive campaigns, launches and public moments, managing multiple priorities in parallel.

2. Digital Strategy & Marketing Systems & Innovation

• Set strategic direction for Toronto Foundation’s owned digital channels, ensuring alignment with engagement goals, audience needs and campaign priorities.
• Oversee the evolution of the website and digital ecosystem by establishing success measures and dashboards, content priorities and performance expectations.
• Establish and steward a digital analytics framework to track reach, engagement, conversion, and audience growth, using insight to inform decision-making and iteration.
• Champion CRM integration, and AI-enabled experimentation, working in close partnership with internal teams responsible for implementation.

Day-to-day website management, publishing and production are led by the Communications Officer, with this role responsible for strategy, priorities and performance.

3. Narrative, Content & Creative Direction

• Serve as Toronto Foundation’s lead narrative and content strategist, defining editorial priorities and core stories across owned channels.
• Oversee content planning and creative direction for multi-format storytelling, including written, visual, video and campaign-based content in partnership with consultants and the communications officer.
• Personally write and shape high-impact content where voice, judgment and nuance matter most, while guiding, editing and approving content produced by others.
• Ensure content is audience-specific, values-aligned and designed to drive engagement and trust.
• Work closely with external creative partners and internal teams to ensure high-quality, on-brand execution.

4. Knowledge Transfer & Mobilization

• Translate complex research, data and systems-level work (e.g. research, investment approaches) into clear, accessible public-facing products.
• Package insights into formats that maximize online and offline engagement, including reports, explainers, visual storytelling, campaigns, events and partner materials.
• Ensure research-driven narratives are translated into coherent and compelling products for diverse audiences.
• Collaborate closely with research partners while maintaining clear boundaries around programmatic and community-impact delivery.

5. Engagement, Influence & Sector Presence

• Maintain civic partner relationships that extend Toronto Foundation’s reach, relevance, and influence across the charitable, philanthropic and civic sectors.
• Work with civic partners (charities, civic organizations, cultural institutions and sector networks) to co-create or amplify stories, campaigns and public moments aligned with marketing and engagement goals.
• Oversee event management designed to engage partners around civic membership and social cohesion
• Stay deeply informed about nonprofit and philanthropic trends in Toronto, as well as national and/or global conversations on social capital and cohesion.
• Bring informed perspective and judgment to emerging opportunities and risks, contributing thoughtfully to public and sector-facing conversations.
• Represent Toronto Foundation through participation in events, convenings and public moments aligned with engagement and marketing goals.

This role is well suited to someone who is energized by being out in the city and the nonprofit sector — noticing the ideas and initiatives that bring Torontonians together around common purpose, and translating those signals into strategy, storytelling and engagement.

6. Leadership, Risk & Learning

• Manage staff (as appropriate) and oversee relationships with consultants and vendors, using leverage to deliver impact at pace.
• Build marketing and content capacity across the organization through intentional planning, shared frameworks, coaching and modern tools.
• Identify and manage reputational, digital and public engagement risks, escalating organizational implications early and advising leadership on mitigation strategies.
• Foster a culture of testing, learning and iteration, using data and insight to continuously refine approach and performance.

Core Managerial Responsibilities - See Appendix A

Other Duties

• Participate as a member of the management team.
• Participate in cross-team activities as needed.
• Provide leadership and/or execution support for Toronto Foundation events as required.

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Maintain a proficiency in marketing, particularly digital marketing including AI.
• Attend relevant workshops, conferences and/or training sessions, and participate in peer opportunities to ensure up-to-date knowledge relevant marketing best practices for the philanthropic sector.

 

SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

• A strategic thinker and creative marketing professional who moves nimbly from strategy to execution.
• Strong and experienced people manager.
• Ability to manage confidential, sensitive material with discretion.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write (for digital and print) and speak in clear, accessible and compelling language with a high degree of professionalism and diplomacy.
• Strong project management skills, with ability to conceptualize, prioritize, develop, implement and manage diverse projects, while meeting multiple objectives, timeframes and budgets with multiple stakeholders.
• Flexible, adaptable and able to work effectively in a variety of settings and with shifting priorities and deadlines.
• Adept at working autonomously and determining when managing up is required.
• Proven experience overseeing or running paid social media strategies.
• Understanding of Google Analytics, search engine optimization and other key website metrics, as well as AI and responsive website design.
• Working knowledge of the charitable sector is an asset.
• Flexible, self-aware and self-motivated.
• Works autonomously and collaboratively.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong working relationships externally and internally
• Results-driven: strong planning, organizational and analytical skills.
• Cultural sensitivity and a commitment to principles of equity.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A post-secondary degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, professional and volunteer experience related to the responsibilities of the position.
• Track record as a generalist marketer in the nonprofit sector with leadership and vendor management experience.
• Understanding of analysis tools (e.g. Google Analytics, heat maps and other third-party software for social media analysis).
• PC literate with advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Ideally solid experience with WordPress, Salesforce or comparable applications.
• Experience developing and implementing content marketing plans that include measurement metrics.

 

WHAT WE OFFER

Meaningful and highly impactful work: join a small but mighty team that is passionate about creating a more fair and just society where everyone can thrive.

Inclusive culture: Toronto Foundation is committed to being an inclusive and equitable employer, and to continuously listening and learning from staff. Your unique perspectives, talents and experiences are embraced and respected.

Opportunities for growth: Toronto Foundation is committed to supporting the professional development and growth of our staff, we offer ongoing group and individual learning opportunities, including a LinkedIn Learning membership.

Full time employment with an excellent benefits package that includes:

• 35-hour work week
• Hybrid workplace
• 4 weeks of vacation per year
• Summer Fridays off between Canada Day and Labour Day
• RRSP matching
• Family health benefits plan
• Salary range between $100,000 p.a. - $110,000 p.a.

We believe the greatest ideas come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences, and are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment. Toronto Foundation actively seeks a diverse applicant pool and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from marginalized communities.

Toronto Foundation is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

 

SUBMISSION DETAILS

In lieu of a standard cover letter, please respond to the following statement in less than 750 words: Describe your role and impact around three work-based marketing experiences.

You may submit your response to the above question along with your resume in confidence to resumes@torontofoundation.ca and include the position title and your name in the subject line of the email (e.g. Director, Marketing & Engagement, First Name Last Name).

Please ensure both documents are attached in a single PDF file. 

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis and the posting will close on Tuesday April 7, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT. 

Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada at the time of application. We thank all applicants for their interest in Toronto Foundation. However, due to the high volume of applications we receive, only those considered for an interview or those invited to participate in an assessment will be contacted.