External Relations Manager

Collage; Markham; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace startup in Canada is looking for an External Relations Manager in Markham, Ontario. This full-time role involves shaping the company's public narrative and managing external relationships to reinforce its position in commercial space. Responsibilities include developing communications strategies, overseeing digital media presence, engaging with local communities and government officials, and managing events. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree and 5-8 years of experience in communications or public relations.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of experience in communications or public relations.
• Strong writing and storytelling ability with a relevant portfolio.
• Experience in managing digital media and content strategies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the overall communications strategy.
• Serve as the primary media contact and manage press inquiries.
• Plan and execute presence at industry events and conferences.

Skills

Communications strategy

Public relations

Media relations

Digital media management

Event planning

Stakeholder engagement

Storytelling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, PR, Journalism, Marketing, or related field

Tools

Social media platforms

Analytics tools

Website CMS

Email marketing systems

Job description

NordSpace (https://nordspace.com ) is a Canadian startup with the mission to advance life on Earth, from space. NordSpace is committed to extremely rapid innovation and development of only the most ambitious aerospace projects with only the most ambitious team Canada has to offer. With divisions spanning everything from rockets to satellites, NordSpace is driven to bring space closer to Earth and inspire generations of space explorers.

Role Purpose:

The External Relations Manager owns how NordSpace presents itself to the world, shaping the company's public narrative, building its brand, and cultivating the external relationships that support its mission and business objectives. This role brings together communications strategy, digital media, public relations, community engagement, and events into a single function, ensuring that every external touchpoint, from a social media post to a government briefing to a launch event, reinforces NordSpace's position as Canada's leader in commercial space. Reporting to the CEO, this is a high-autonomy role for someone who can think strategically, execute hands-on, and represent the company credibly to audiences ranging from local communities to senior government and industry leaders.

• Reports to: CEO.
• Works closely with: Business Development, Launch Program Director, Director of Operations, and Finance.
• Accountability: NordSpace's external brand, public communications, media relations, digital presence, community relationships, government and stakeholder engagement, and events.

Core Responsibilities

Communications Strategy & Public Relations:

• Develop and execute NordSpace's overarching communications strategy, defining key messages, audiences, channels, and cadence to build the company's public profile and support business objectives.
• Serve as the company's primary media contact, managing press inquiries, drafting press releases, coordinating interviews, and building relationships with journalists covering space, technology, defence, and Canadian industry.
• Prepare communications materials for major program milestones—test campaigns, launch events, funding announcements, partnerships—ensuring messaging is coordinated across all channels and stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain crisis communications plans and protocols, ensuring the company is prepared to respond to incidents, negative coverage, or public scrutiny with speed, accuracy, and transparency.
• Draft or support executive communications, including CEO talking points, speeches, op-eds, and presentations for conferences, government engagements, and investor meetings.

Digital Media & Brand Strategy:

• Own NordSpace's digital presence across all platforms—website, social media, video, newsletter, and emerging channels—developing content strategies that grow audience engagement and reinforce the company's brand.
• Plan, produce, and publish compelling content that tells the story of NordSpace's mission, technology, team, and milestones, translating complex engineering work into narratives that resonate with public, government, industry, and talent audiences.
• Manage the company's visual brand and identity standards, ensuring consistency across all external materials, digital assets, merchandise, and event collateral.
• Track digital performance metrics, audience growth, and engagement trends, using data to refine content strategy and demonstrate communications impact to leadership.

Community Engagement & Government Relations:

• Build and manage relationships with local and regional communities surrounding NordSpace's facilities and launch sites, serving as the company's primary community-facing representative.
• Develop and execute community outreach programs, including public information sessions, educational partnerships, facility tours, and local sponsorships that build goodwill and social licence for the company's operations.
• Support the Director of Operations and Business Development in government-facing engagements by preparing briefing materials, coordinating meeting logistics, and ensuring follow-up actions are tracked and completed.

Events Management:

• Plan and execute NordSpace's presence at industry conferences, trade shows, government showcases, and community events, managing logistics, booth design, speaking submissions, and stakeholder scheduling.
• Organize company-hosted events, including launch viewing events, facility openings, partnership announcements, recruitment events, and community days, from concept through execution and post-event follow-up.
• Coordinate VIP and stakeholder visit programs at NordSpace facilities, including government delegations, customer visits, investor tours, and media visits, ensuring a polished and on-message experience.

Cross-Functional Support:

• Partner with Business Development and Partnerships to ensure external messaging, collateral, and event presence are aligned with sales pipeline priorities and partnership cultivation efforts.
• Support People Operations and the Engineering Director on employer branding and recruitment marketing, positioning NordSpace as a destination employer for top engineering and technician talent in Canada.
• Provide regular reporting to the CEO and leadership team on communications activity, media coverage, digital metrics, stakeholder engagement, and event outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Political Science, or a related field from an accredited institution. A technical minor or demonstrated fluency in aerospace or engineering subject matter is a strong asset.
• 5–8 years of progressive experience in communications, public relations, external affairs, or a related function, with demonstrated responsibility across multiple areas of the role (media relations, digital content, events, stakeholder engagement).
• Strong writing and storytelling ability, with a portfolio that demonstrates skill in translating complex or technical subject matter into clear, compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated experience managing digital media channels and content strategies, with practical knowledge of social media platforms, analytics tools, website CMS, and email marketing systems.
• Experience planning and executing events—from industry conferences to community engagement programs—with strong logistical and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to build and manage relationships with government officials, media, community leaders, and industry stakeholders with professionalism, discretion, and credibility.
• Experience in or strong familiarity with the aerospace, defence, space, or advanced technology sector. Understanding of the Canadian aerospace ecosystem—key agencies, programs, industry associations, and media landscape is a strong asset.
• Comfortable operating with high autonomy in a fast-paced startup environment, managing competing priorities, and shifting between strategic planning and hands-on execution within the same day.
• Strong visual and brand sensibility, with experience managing or directing graphic design, video production, and brand identity standards, either directly or through contractors and agencies.
• Effective collaborator who works well across functions—engineering, business development, operations, finance—and can adapt communication style to technical, executive, government, and public audiences.
• Results-oriented, brings initiative and creativity, and is motivated by building something from the ground up.

This is a full-time in-person role at our office in Markham, Ontario, and will require some domestic and global travel.