Senior Director, Global Communications

Nutrition International; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Nutrition International in Ottawa is seeking a Senior Director, Global Communications to lead the organization’s global communications strategy and elevate its narrative. This role partners with the executive team to unify brand, campaigns, media and donor engagement across regions.

The candidate will guide thought leadership, manage reputational risk, and direct a matrixed team to strengthen visibility and fundraising capacity worldwide.

Qualifications

• University degree in communications, journalism, public relations, international relations or a related field; an advanced degree is an asset.
• 12+ years of progressively senior communications experience, including leading a communications function and team at a global or national level.
• Excellent writer and storyteller with strong understanding of multimedia tools to tell impactful stories.
• Established network of media contacts with ability to land earned media, in Canada and internationally.
• Experience in international development, humanitarian, public health or mission-driven environments.
• Familiarity with Government of Canada and wider Canadian landscape; ability to operate across business, philanthropy, High-Net-Worth-Individuals and academia.
• Excellent teammate who interfaces credibly with Executives and across the organization.
• Fluency in English is essential and Proficiency in French is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Set the global communications strategy and align global/regional/country communications.
• Strengthen brand and public positioning with a unified global brand proposition and content.
• Lead international and Canadian media relations and earned media efforts.
• Advise senior leaders during sensitive moments and manage reputational risk.
• Provide leadership to the communications team in a matrixed international structure.
• Counsel the CEO and EMC; engage governments, donors, partners, staff and the public.
• Collaborate with Partnerships and Growth to communicate NI's strategy globally and domestically.
• Oversee the global communications team across HQ and regional/country staff.

Skills

Excellent writer

Storytelling

Media relations

Multimedia storytelling

Global communications

Stakeholder engagement

Government/Canada landscape familiar

English fluency

French proficiency asset

Education

University degree in communications/journalism/public relations/international relations

Advanced degree is an asset

Job description

Title:Senior Director, Global Communications

Employment Type:Permanent, Full Time

Location:Ottawa, Canada – Hybrid (2 days/week in office)

Submission Date: August 31, 2026

Salary: CAD $155,000 – CAD$165,000

About us

Founded in 1992, Nutrition International (NI) is a global organization dedicated to delivering proven nutrition interventions to those who need them most. At Nutrition International, we make a difference, because nutrition is the difference.

Woven into the very fabric of our approach is the passion and drive of our global team of over 600 people, working in 13 offices across 11 countries with one common goal: transforming the lives of people that need it most through improved nutrition.

About the role

The Senior Director, Global Communications sets and leads Nutrition International's global communications strategy at a pivotal moment for the organization. Nutrition International needs a leader who can tell, and win real traction for, the story of Nutrition International as a strategic national asset, as well as a reliable, go-to partner in the countries we work in.

The role works closely with the executive management team to advance the organization's narrative and unified global brand proposition; aligns global, regional and country communications; and translates strategy into campaigns, media, digital, brand and stakeholder engagement that strengthen Nutrition International's reputation, reach and resource mobilization including support for securing future significant investments. The right person is as much a brand-builder and relationship-builder as a communicator and serves as a trusted advisor to the President & CEO and the Executive Management Committee (EMC). In this role you will:

• Set the global communications strategy. Define Nutrition International's narrative, align global/regional/country communications. Support Nutrition International to build thought leadership across key portfolios and across the organization as a whole.
• Strengthen Nutrition International's brand and public positioning, including a unified global brand proposition, consistent tone and visual identity, thought leadership, and content that builds reputation, reach and fundraising capacity.
• Lead international and Canadian media relations and public relations strategy. Provide advice and direction to the team in order to land sustained earned media that puts Nutrition International on the map, positioning the CEO and senior leaders as credible public voices.
• Work closely with the Partnerships and Growth team to champion Nutrition International's strategy across the full Canadian and global development ecosystem, including government, business, philanthropy, academia and media, helping to communicate the brand to Canadians and international stakeholders in ways that build broad, deep support for the sector and for NI’s work.
• Advise senior leaders during sensitive moments, manage reputational risk and respond quickly and credibly to emergencies and global events.
• Provide leadership to the communications team to drive awareness, engagement, trust, influence and fundraising through excellence across media, digital, social, storytelling and content.
• Counsel the CEO and EMC; influence internal stakeholders; communicate persuasively with governments, donors, policymakers, partners, staff and the public.
• Lead, develop and inspire the global communications team through a complex, matrixed international structure, building trusted relationships across the organization.
• Leads the global communications team, including direct reports at headquarters and matrixed alignment with regional and country communications staff.

For more detailed information about the role, please click on the attached Job Description

About you

You will come with a University degree in communications, journalism, public relations, international relations or a related field; an advanced degree is an asset.

You will have 12+ years of progressively senior communications experience, including leading a communications function and team at a global or national level.

An excellent writer and storyteller with strong understanding of, and experience in, using multimedia tools to tell impactful stories.

Established network of media contacts and a demonstrated ability to land earned media, in Canada and internationally.

Experience in international development, humanitarian, public health or mission-driven environments, with a current understanding of sector shifts and how to position Nutrition International within them.

Strongly preferred familiarity with the Government of Canada and the wider Canadian landscape — how it works, what Canadians value, and why campaigns succeed or fail in the Canadian context; ability to operate across business, philanthropy, High-Net-Worth-Individuals and academia, not just government.

An outstanding teammate who interfaces credibly with Executives and across the organization, and builds relationships of trust quickly.

Fluency in English is essential and Proficiency in French is an asset.

What we offer

A competitive market pay, pension, professional development allowance, health & wellness allowance, health and dental benefits, four weeks of vacation (plus public holidays) and other leave, and flexible work hours. We offer a collaborative and engaging work environment.

Nutrition International is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible work environment. Upon request, accommodations due to a disability are available throughout the selection process.

Nutrition International upholds a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH). Following the principles of the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, reference checks will include safeguarding verifications with previous employers. By applying to this position, candidates acknowledge and consent to these reference checks being conducted with previous employers.

Selected candidates must have current legal entitlement to work in Canada. Please note that all our offers are conditional subject to appropriate screening checks and satisfactory reference checks.

Nutrition International is committed to an inclusive, barrier-free work environment and encourages applications from all qualified individuals.

We thank you for your interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.