Communications Coordinator (12-month contract)

Make-A-Wish Canada / Rêves d'enfants Canada; Dartmouth; Hybrid; CAD 48,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & dental premiums covered by MA

3 weeks vacation

Hybrid work model

Wellness program

Internal training opportunities

Employee discounts

Job summary

Make-A-Wish Canada is seeking a Communications Coordinator to join the brand and integrated marketing team in Dartmouth. The role focuses on delivering audience-focused communications that align with brand standards, collaborating with internal teams, volunteers, and external partners.

The position is based in Dartmouth, full-time on a 12-month contract, with a hybrid work model (2 days in-office, 3 days remote). The hiring range is $48,000–$54,000.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in communications, marketing, public relations, or equivalent.
• Experience in communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field is required (1–3 years).
• Experience identifying media opportunities, communicating professionally with media and the public, and following up to support earned media coverage.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate communications and marketing plans for regional initiatives and events.
• Support national signature events and assist third-party fundraising organizers with communications.
• Identify local media opportunities, distribute media releases and pitches, monitor coverage, and report on results.

Skills

Media outreach

Relationship building

Written communications

Social media management

Bilingual French (asset)

Education

Post-secondary education in communications/marketing/PR

Tools

MS Office

Social platforms

Canva

Meltwater

Salesforce

Dropbox

Job description

"The best prescription I've ever given is a wish."

-Dr. Jeremy Friedman, Associate Paediatrician-in-Chief, SickKids Hospital & Medical Advisor for Make-A-Wish® Canada

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WISH?

Wishes Are Medicine – a vital part of a child’s treatment journey that helps restore strength, hope, and resilience. For over 40 years, we’ve granted more than 40,000 wishes. Research shows that prescribed wishes can improve commitment to treatment, reduce emergency room visits by half, and deliver lasting health benefits.

Recognized as a Great Place to Work® since 2023, we’ve also been named one of the Best Workplaces™ Led by Women (2025) and one of the Top 100 Best Workplaces™ for Giving Back (2024).

Do you want to be part of an organization that is child-focused, values employee experience and is an inspiring workplace? If so, Make-A-Wish Canada is for you!

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Meaningful opportunities to make an impact and change the lives of children with critical illnesses within your community and across Canada
• A collaborative team environment with a rewarding employment experience where you feel valued and inspired
• An attractive compensation package that includes group health and dental premiums fully covered by the Foundation
• Annual vacation starting at three weeks and additional paid leaves
• Work/life balance and flexibility, including a hybrid working environment
• Employee Wellness Program and other corporate discounts
• Continuous learning, development and internal training opportunities
• Fun employee activities, contests, and more!

WHERE YOU COME IN

We are looking for a Communications Coordinator to join our team at Make-A-Wish Canada. In this role, you will be a key contributor to the brand & integrated marketing team through delivering communications activities that build brand awareness in Atlantic Canada. Working with internal teams, volunteers, and external partners, this position produces accurate, timely, and audience-focused communications that align with established brand standards, policies, procedures, and guidelines.

This role is based in Dartmouth and is a full-time, 12-month contract, hybrid position. The hiring range for this role is $48,000-$54,000.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Coordinate communications and marketing plans for regional initiatives, including key messaging, social media calendars, performance metrics, and event materials.
• Support the promotion of national signature events and provide communications support to third-party fundraising organizers.
• Identify local media opportunities, distribute media releases and pitches, monitor coverage, and contribute to reporting using Cision.
• Coordinate media interviews, maintain regional media relationships, support media engagement at events, and serve as a spokesperson when designated.
• Develop regional social media content and create engaging wish stories and communications materials, including speeches, reports, press releases, and event materials.
• Coordinate the collection and maintenance of photo, video, and story archives.
• Collaborate with development and mission staff, volunteers, and committees, and coordinate seasonal intern onboarding and training as required.
• Ensure communications materials meet brand standards, comply with health and safety requirements, and perform other related duties as assigned.
• Other duties as needed.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Post-secondary education in communications, marketing, public relations, or equivalent combination of training, education and work experience.
• 1-3 years of experience in communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field.
• French language skills are an asset.
• Experience in identifying media opportunities, communicating professionally with media and the public, and following up to support earned media coverage.
• Experience building relationships with journalists, internal & external stakeholders.
• Experience writing communications plans, strategies and tactics.
• Working knowledge of MS office, social media platforms, Canva, Meltwater, Salesforce, and Dropbox are an asset.
• A clear Criminal Background Check will be required.

YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Hybrid work model, with 2 days in-office per week and 3 days remote.

Physical/Mental Effort

• Work under pressure of tight deadlines, balancing high volume workload, and with multiple demands and changing priorities.

Our Commitment to IDEA

Make-A-Wish Canada (MAWC) is committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA). We believe that it is essential to our mission that we build a diverse, balanced, and vibrant workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and seek to serve. Research has shown that candidates from underrepresented groups often only apply when they feel 100% qualified. Therefore, we ask that even if you do not see yourself fully reflected in every job requirement listed on this posting, to still apply.

Recruitment process

Once applications are reviewed, we will contact our shortlisted candidates. Our typical process includes a phone screen, one or two interviews, and reference checking, followed by an offer and a criminal background check for the successful candidate. We would like to thank all applicants for their interest in working with us!

ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH® CANADA

In the past 40 years, Make-A-Wish Canada has granted over 40,000 wishes across the country, with 1,800 of them last year alone. As an independently operating affiliate of Make‑Wish International, Make‑Wish Canada is part of the network of the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization. We serve children in every community in Canada, and in more than 50 countries worldwide.