Senior Director, Communications and Strategy

Canadian Mental Health Association | York Region & South Simcoe; Newmarket; On-site; CAD 122,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension)

Extended Health & Dental

Life Insurance

EAP

STD/LTD

Generous PTO

Job summary

Canadian Mental Health Association | York Region & South Simcoe is seeking a Senior Director, Communications and Strategy in Newmarket, ON. This permanent, full-time position leads organizational communications and a defined portfolio of enterprise strategy with executive governance support.

The role involves directing communications, coordinating strategic plans, and guiding cross‑functional initiatives. Travel to CMHA offices in York Region may be required, with a strong focus on inclusion and

Qualifications

• Significant progressive leadership experience in communications, strategy, governance support or related functions.
• Experience advising senior leaders and preparing executive‑ and Board‑level materials.
• Knowledge of integrated communications, media relations, change communications and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead Communications strategy and delivery aligned with organizational priorities.
• Oversee internal and external communications, media relations and executive communications.
• Coordinate strategic planning, governance support and performance reporting for the CEO and leadership.
• Support boards, committees and governance processes with clear, concise materials.
• Develop enterprise dashboards and performance information across portfolios.
• Foster equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and reconciliation in communications.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Written communication

Stakeholder engagement

Governance

Cross-functional coordination

Education

Undergraduate degree in communications

Job description

We deliver quality mental health and addictions services that promote recovery and health, and end stigma.

Our Values:

• Responsive to the needs of our clients, their families, and our communities
• Respectful in how we meet the needs of our clients and staff in each interaction
• Committed to delivering the highest quality of care, every time
• Innovative in our approach to meeting our clients’ and communities’ needs
• Inclusive in how we work and serve our clients

Team Values:

• We create belonging
• We build better

We offer an inclusive, innovative, and high-performance work culture that helps us deliver transformational impact. The organization cares about the growth, safety and well-being of employees and offers:

• HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan)

Learn more about us by visiting: https://cmha-yr.on.ca/careers/

We are looking for a Senior Director, Communications and Strategy!

Position: Permanent, Full-time, 35 Hours per Week. Evening hours and weekends may be required.

Salary: $121,791.32-$169,700.50 per annum. *This represents the first and last step of a salary grid. Candidate experience and internal equity will be considered when determining the starting salary

Reason for Posting: An existing vacancy

Benefits: Full Extended Health & Dental, Life Insurance, EAP, STD, LTD, & Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP). Generous paid time off including vacation, sick, and personal days.

Location: The CMHA home office for this role is Newmarket, located at 1101 Nicholson Road, Unit 5, Newmarket, ON L3Y 9C3 and the incumbent may be required to travel to other CMHA Offices in York Region and South Simcoe as required.

Job Profile:

The Senior Director, Communications and Strategy will provide senior leadership for organizational communications and a defined portfolio of enterprise strategy responsibilities.

The role leads the Communications function while coordinating selected strategic planning, executive and governance support, organizational performance reporting, stakeholder engagement and cross-functional initiatives. Accountabilities requiring executive authority remain with the Chief Executive Officer or the accountable executive.

Duties:

Communications Leadership and Reputation:

• Lead organizational communications strategy, planning and delivery in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Provide oversight of internal and external communications, media relations, executive communications, public affairs, brand and reputation.
• Guide communications for organizational change, sensitive matters, service launches, campaigns, partnerships and community engagement.
• Identify and elevate significant reputational risks, ensuring substantive legal, labour relations, privacy, clinical and operational decisions remain with the appropriate executive or specialist.

Strategic Planning and Coordination:

• Coordinate defined elements of strategic plan development, implementation, monitoring and renewal under the authority of the CEO.
• Translate approved strategic priorities into coordinated workplans, milestones, accountabilities and reporting processes.
• Monitor progress against approved commitments and identify emerging gaps, dependencies, risks and opportunities for executive consideration.
• Support organizational intelligence by synthesizing sector developments, stakeholder insights and internal information into decision‑support materials.
• Recognize that final enterprise strategy decisions, priority trade-offs and resource allocations remain with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team or Board, as applicable.

CEO, Executive and Governance Support:

• Prepare executive briefings, presentations, key messages, issue summaries and decision‑support materials for the CEO and senior leadership.
• Coordinate selected executive planning, priority reviews, decision tracking and follow‑up.
• Support the coordination and quality of Board and Committee materials within established governance processes.
• Maintain clear boundaries between coordination support and the CEO’s accountability for executive team effectiveness, Board relationships and governance advice.

Organizational Performance and Enterprise Initiatives:

• Coordinate initial enterprise dashboards and consolidate performance information provided by accountable portfolio leaders.
• Support cross‑functional planning and follow‑up while preserving each executive’s accountability for clinical, financial, people, quality, legal and operational performance.
• Lead a limited number of CEO-sponsored enterprise projects with documented scope, authority, governance, timelines and escalation paths.
• Support accreditation, quality improvement, change management and organizational effectiveness initiatives where aligned with approved priorities.

Stakeholder Relations and Issues Support:

• Support strategic engagement with funders, government, health‑system partners, municipalities, community partners and other stakeholders.
• Prepare stakeholder briefs, correspondence, presentations and follow‑up materials for the CEO and designated relationship owners.
• Coordinate communications and issues‑management responses after substantive decisions are made by the accountable executive.
• Participate in external relationships as assigned, while primary ownership remains with the CEO or designated executive.

People, Operations and Financial Leadership:

• Lead, coach and support the Communications Advisor and Communications Coordinator.
• Establish clear priorities, service expectations, workflows, approval thresholds and performance measures for the Communications function.
• Manage the Communications budget, vendors and external partners within approved authority.
• Promote an inclusive, accountable and collaborative culture focused on quality, responsiveness and continuous improvement.
• Review workload and priorities regularly with the CEO to ensure the combined communications and strategy mandate remains sustainable.

*These statements describe the general nature and level of work and are not exhaustive. Responsibilities and requirements may evolve with organizational needs, funding and sector direction.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, business, public administration or a related field; graduate education is an asset.
• Significant progressive leadership experience in communications, strategy, stakeholder relations, governance support, organizational performance or related functions.
• Experience advising senior leaders and preparing executive‑and Board‑level communications and decision‑support materials.
• Experience leading staff and managing complex, cross‑functional initiatives in a multi‑stakeholder environment.
• Health, community mental health, social services, public‑sector or not‑for‑profit experience is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional writing, presentation, facilitation, consultation and relationship‑building skills.
• Strong strategic thinking, judgment and ability to synthesize complex information into clear options and recommendations.
• Ability to coordinate work across portfolios while respecting established accountability, decision‑making and governance authorities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, sensitive issues and confidential information appropriately.
• Knowledge of integrated communications, media relations, change communications, brand management, digital channels and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to establish practical performance measures, track commitments and support evidence‑informed improvement.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and reconciliation.

Working Conditions

• Office and hybrid work, subject to organizational policy.
• Travel between sites and occasional evening or weekend work may be required.

Disclaimer: In keeping with mental health reform, best practices, funding, and direction this position may later require knowledge, skills, abilities, and working conditions not noted here.

To request this posting in an alternate format or to request accommodation in the application process, email [e-mail]

CMHA-YRSS is dedicated to promoting employment equity and dismantling obstacles to employment for marginalized communities. CMHA-YRSS supports the journey to mental wellness, and we welcome applicants with lived experience of mental illness. In acknowledgment of the systemic underrepresentation faced by Black, Indigenous, racialized peoples, and those living with disabilities, this opportunity has been developed based on the special program provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We therefore extend invitations for applications from the following groups:

• Racialized Persons
• Persons living with Disabilities

While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.