Senior Communications Specialist

Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) is the national voice for reducing unnecessary tests and treatments in health care. CWC inspires and engages health care professionals to lead this work and provides practical tools and resources that make it easier for them to choose wisely.

CWC is currently looking for a Senior Communications Specialist. This role leads the development and execution of strategic communications initiatives to advance CWC's mission. The role is responsible for shaping national messaging, visual design and content creation to enhance stakeholder engagement and organizational visibility. The Senior Communications Specialist acts as a critical bridge between CWC’s project teams and the outside world—translating complex healthcare evidence into clear, compelling content for clinicians, patients, health-system leaders, partners, and the public.

The successful candidate is a strategic thinker, creative doer and collaborative leader with experience in healthcare, social enterprises, or the nonprofit sector.

Please note that this role is primarily remote, with occasional in-person attendance required. CWC operates out of Unity Health Toronto, and the successful candidate will be hired as an employee of Unity Health Toronto.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Communications Leadership:

• Develop and implement integrated communications strategies aligned with organizational priorities and national initiatives.
• Provide strategic communications counsel to senior leadership and team members.
• Lead communications planning for major campaigns, resource launches, and organizational announcements.
• Identify emerging issues, opportunities, and risks that may impact organizational reputation or priorities.
• Develop communications frameworks that support organizational growth, stakeholder engagement, and public impact.
• Lead communications planning and promotion for conferences, webinars, workshops, and national campaigns.

Content Strategy and Knowledge Translation:

• Translate complex healthcare, clinical, and policy information into clear, accessible and compelling communications for diverse audiences.
• Oversee creation and dissemination of high-quality content across multiple channels, including: website, social media, webinars, mainstream media, newsletters, reports (including Annual Report), toolkits, educational resources, executive presentations.
• Maintain editorial oversight and quality assurance across all public-facing materials.
• Ensure content reflects organizational priorities, evidence-based messaging and the information needs of national audiences and partners

Branding and Brand Management:

• Oversee CWC’s branding to ensure consistent application of brand standards, voice, visual identity, and messaging across all channels and materials.
• Position CWC as a trusted national voice by increasing awareness of its mission, programs, and impact among priority audiences and partners.
• Strengthen CWC’s visibility via increased awareness of the organization, its mission, programs, and impact among key audiences and build thought leadership by positioning the CWC as a respected expert and trusted voice on its core issues.
• Lead the development of branding for specific initiatives and projects, ensuring that they resonate with target audiences.

Leadership and Team Development:

• Manage and mentor communications staff.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing communications function.
• Establish priorities, workflows, and project management processes that support efficient delivery across multiple initiatives and deadlines
• Contribute to organizational planning, budgeting, and reporting activities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (preferably in communications, journalism, public relations, or related field) required.
• Master’s degree in communications, education, or a related field is considered an asset.
• 5-7+ years of progressive communications experience, preferably in healthcare, public health, or the non-profit sector.
• Superior organizational skills to manage multiple projects in a timely manner and flexibility to adapt to changing workload.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative and contribute effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to thrive in a highly independent work environment to meet deliverables, identify needs and develop new ideas and streams of work.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing strategic communications initiatives.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills.
• Strategic thinking and sound judgement.
• Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Design experience is an asset, specifically the suite of Adobe Creative Cloud tools (e.g. InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator)
• Experience in WordPress and content management systems is an asset.
• Fluency in French (reading and writing is an asset.

Please share your portfolio of prior work or link to them in your cover letter and resume.