Director, Marketing & Campaigns
Reports to: VP, Strategic Initiatives
Position type: Full-time | permanent
Please note: Applications for this position are now CLOSED.
🩺 Lead the brand that will change the future of local health care
The Waterloo Regional Health Network Foundation (WRHNF) is seeking an inspiring, strategic, and innovative Director of Marketing & Campaigns to lead the brand and marketing engine powering one of the most transformative health care projects in Canada: the creation of our region’s new hospital at the University of Waterloo site.
This is a unique and career-defining opportunity for a marketing leader who thrives at the intersection of brand building, digital strategy, public engagement, storytelling, and large-scale campaign execution.
You will help shape the public face of a generational capital campaign, elevate our community brand, and lead a team of six exceptional marketing, communications, digital, and design professionals.
Your work will help drive generosity, build belief, and inspire a community to rally behind a once-in-a-lifetime vision for modern health care.
🌟 Key responsibilities
Marketing leadership & brand strategy
- Lead the evolution, refinement, and protection of WRHNF and campaign brand identity, ensuring consistent, high-impact messaging across all touchpoints.
- Develop and oversee a comprehensive brand strategy for the new hospital campaign, similar to top-tier Canadian foundations (e.g., SickKids VS, UHN's Together campaigns).
- Champion a culture of compelling storytelling that celebrates innovation, patient impact, donor generosity, and the future of health care in Waterloo Region.
- Build and maintain a strong reputation for the Foundation through exceptional creative, clear messaging, and compelling public communications.
Campaign marketing & public engagement
- Lead the marketing strategy for the Foundation’s major capital campaign — including campaign naming, brand launch, public narrative, digital ecosystem, donor communications, and momentum-building initiatives.
- Oversee multi-channel campaign planning, including paid, earned, owned, and shared media, ensuring integration across digital, community, corporate, and hospital audiences.
- Create a powerful engagement engine to activate community belief, including storytelling assets, impact videos, social media amplification, community partnerships, and volunteer toolkits.
- Work closely with campaign leadership and prospect development to develop marketing materials for leadership volunteers, donors, community partners, and physicians.
Team leadership & department oversight
- Lead, mentor, and develop a talented team of six across marketing, communications, design, events marketing, and digital.
- Foster a collaborative, high-accountability, innovative culture where creativity thrives and results matter.
- Oversee project management processes, workflow systems, and team structure to support growing organizational needs.
Digital & content strategy
- Build and implement a best-in-class digital-first strategy including website, social media, email, automation, and analytics.
- Drive adoption of tools and platforms that strengthen donor engagement and audience reach.
- Ensure all content aligns with brand voice and campaign strategy, including storytelling, donor features, patient narratives, thought leadership, and campaign milestones.
Organizational collaboration & cross-functional partnership
- Work closely with philanthropy, Campaign Cabinet, community leaders, WRHN communications, and hospital partners.
- Collaborate on integrated marketing plans for major events, 50/50s, annual appeals, community campaigns, and donor stewardship.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to Foundation leadership, providing strategic counsel on brand, public messaging, and campaign positioning.
🙌 What we're looking for
Experience & expertise
- 7–10+ years in marketing, brand strategy, communications, or campaign leadership (preferably in philanthropy, hospitals, higher education, or purpose-driven organizations).
- Proven experience leading large-scale fundraising or public-facing campaigns (capital campaign experience strongly preferred).
- Demonstrated track record elevating and managing complex brands during periods of growth or transformation.
- Experience leading and developing a high-performing team; confident coach, mentor, and strategic partner.
- Expert communicator with strong storytelling instincts and a deep understanding of the donor journey.
- Skilled in digital marketing, analytics, and multi-channel audience engagement.
- Strong strategic planning skills, with the ability to translate vision into actionable roadmaps.
- Passion for health care, community impact, and mission-driven work.
Attributes
- Visionary and creative — but highly organized and execution-driven.
- Collaborative, humble, and energized by building something transformational.
- Curious, innovative, strategic, and deeply committed to excellence.
- Equally comfortable leading big-picture strategy and getting hands-on when needed.
💡 Bonus points for
- Experience at another major Canadian hospital foundation (SickKids, UHN, Sunnybrook, CHEO, BCCHF).
- Experience with campaign naming and brand development processes.
- Experience leading agency relationships (creative, digital, PR, video).
- Familiarity with Raiser’s Edge, project management tools, and digital automation platforms.
💙 What we offer
- Salary range: The target hiring range for this role is $110,000 to $130,000, with ability to progress to a maximum of $150,000.
- Vacation: 4 weeks vacation plus 4 summer wellness days and additional float days.
- Benefits: Comprehensive benefits, HOOPP defined-benefit pension, computer and mobile device provided.
- Work culture: We offer a hybrid and flexible work environment, with regular in-person team strategy sessions and a minimum of one day per week in the office to support collaboration and connection.
- A mission-driven team where your voice matters and your professional growth is supported.
⚡ The process
We’re looking for someone who brings heart, hustle, and humility. If that sounds like you - apply in the way that best showcases your passion and strengths. Whether that’s a traditional resume and cover letter or something more creative (video, portfolio, or personal story), we’re excited to meet you.
We are committed to barrier-free recruitment and selection processes and encourage applicants to inform us of any accommodations they may require.
- Closing date: Jan. 5, 2026*
*Applications for this position are now CLOSED.
