Manager Of Communications and Advocacy

Safehaven; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A community care organization in Toronto is seeking a Manager of Communications and Advocacy to lead strategic communications and advocacy efforts for the redevelopment of their Bloor location. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 5 years in government relations or advocacy, exceptional communication skills, and experience in managing complex initiatives. This role offers the opportunity to significantly impact how community care is delivered for children and adults with medical complexity.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in government, communications, advocacy, or public affairs.
• Exceptional writing, editing, presentation and storytelling skills across formats and audiences.
• Strong accountability and sense of ownership.
• Deep understanding of the political landscape, particularly Ontario and municipal systems.
• Media relations experience, established relationships with healthcare reporters is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects with competing priorities and tight timelines.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with experience cultivating relationships with government and sector stakeholders.
• Social media fluency and familiarity with digital engagement strategies.
• Strong accountability and sense of ownership. Highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented.
• Experience in healthcare, disability services, or nonprofit sectors is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a multi-year engagement and communications plan.
• Coordinate project-related events, meetings, and announcements.
• Support the development and execution of advocacy strategies.
• Serve as the internal project communications lead, ensuring alignment across departments, consultants, partners, and government stakeholders.
• Coordinate project-related events, meetings and announcements, including community consultations, groundbreakings, press conferences, political briefings and project consultant meetings.
• Support capital campaign communications and donor engagement efforts in partnership with the Senior Director of Philanthropy.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
• Draft speeches, presentations, op-eds, reports, messaging documents, and other high-level written materials.
• Lead Safehaven’s brand voice across channels, ensuring clarity, consistency, and impact.
• Oversee content development, execution of our playbook and community management across social media platforms.
• Manage media relations, including identifying opportunities, writing press releases, pitching stories, and coordinating interviews.
• Support crisis communications and issues management as needed.
• Monitor political developments and emerging policy issues at all three levels of government.
• Draft briefing notes, submissions, and government correspondence.
• Build and maintain relationships with political staff and public servants.
• Support the development and execution of advocacy strategies, including pre-budget submissions, stakeholder coalitions, and political engagement campaigns.
• Monitor and engage with external partners, sector organizations, and community groups.
• Coordinate meetings, briefings, and events with stakeholders and government representatives.
• Represent Safehaven at external meetings and forums.

Skills

Government experience

Excellent communication skills

Project management

Media relations

Stakeholder engagement

Writing and editing

Education

Minimum four-year university degree in related field

Job description

The Manager of Communications and Advocacy is a senior-level contributor and critical support to the Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation, helping to drive forward Safehaven’s most ambitious initiative to date: the redevelopment of our Bloor location. This individual will lead strategic communications, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement efforts related to the redevelopment, while also managing broader organizational messaging, government relations, and cross-sector partnerships.

This role is at the centre of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape how community care is delivered for children and adults with medical complexity. Backed by funding in the 2025 provincial budget, the Bloor Redevelopment Project is a bold and innovative capital investment that will expand inclusive housing, respite, and transitional care services in the heart of Toronto. The Manager will play a vital role in ensuring the success of this project by coordinating messaging, navigating municipal and provincial approval milestones, and securing the public and sector support needed to deliver on this transformational vision.

This is a high-impact role ideal for a strategic communicator with strong government experience, excellent communication and writing skills, and the ability to manage complex initiatives with precision and purpose.

Key Responsibilities

Bloor Redevelopment Communications and Advocacy

• Support all communications, stakeholder and community engagement, and advocacy efforts related to the Bloor Redevelopment Project.
• Develop and manage a multi-year engagement and communications plan that aligns with each phase of the project.
• Draft key materials, including speaking notes, messaging documents, media releases, government submissions, and milestone updates.
• Serve as the internal project communications lead, ensuring alignment across departments, consultants, partners, and government stakeholders.
• Coordinate project-related events, meetings and announcements, including community consultations, groundbreakings, press conferences, political briefings and project consultant meetings.
• Support capital campaign communications and donor engagement efforts in partnership with the Senior Director of Philanthropy.

Strategic Communications

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
• Draft speeches, presentations, op-eds, reports, messaging documents, and other high-level written materials.
• Lead Safehaven’s brand voice across channels, ensuring clarity, consistency, and impact.

Media and Social Media

• Oversee content development, execution of our playbook and community management across social media platforms.
• Manage media relations, including identifying opportunities, writing press releases, pitching stories, and coordinating interviews.
• Support crisis communications and issues management as needed.

Advocacy and Government Relations

• Monitor political developments and emerging policy issues at all three levels of government.
• Draft briefing notes, submissions, and government correspondence.
• Build and maintain relationships with political staff and public servants.
• Support the development and execution of advocacy strategies, including pre-budget submissions, stakeholder coalitions, and political engagement campaigns.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Support relationship management with external partners, sector organizations, and community organizations.
• Coordinate meetings, briefings, and events with stakeholders and government representatives.
• Represent Safehaven at external meetings and forums, as appropriate.
• Project Management
• Lead cross-functional projects with precision, ensuring timelines, deliverables, and goals are met.
• Coordinate high-impact campaigns and initiatives that align with Safehaven’s strategic goals.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in government, communications, advocacy, or public affairs. Direct experience working in or with government is essential.
• Minimum four-year university degree in related field.
• Exceptional writing, editing, presentation and storytelling skills across formats and audiences.
• Deep understanding of the political landscape, particularly Ontario and municipal systems.
• Media relations experience, established relationships with healthcare reporters is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects with competing priorities and tight timelines.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with experience cultivating relationships with government and sector stakeholders.
• Social media fluency and familiarity with digital engagement strategies.
• Strong accountability and sense of ownership. Highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented.
• Experience in healthcare, disability services, or nonprofit sectors is an asset.

To Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter to [e-mail] with the Subject: Manager Of Communications and Advocacy.

Safehaven is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity.

We are committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

If contacted for an employment opportunity or testing, please advise Human Resources if you require accommodation.