Director, Communications

Toronto, ON | Full-Time | In-Office – Yorkville Head Office

Our team is growing! Shape the Story Behind the Business.

INK Entertainment is a lifestyle and entertainment company, with a growing portfolio of restaurants, nightlife, music festivals & venues, art galleries and a med spa. INK is expanding its presence in both Canada and the United States over the next year and a half. As we continue to grow, a brand, new leadership position has been created within the company to help define, protect, and elevate the INK brand and its multiple assets in multiple markets.

This is a senior leadership role for a communications professional who understands corporate reputation, governance, stakeholder engagement, partnerships, strategic initiatives, and external & internal communications —and knows how to turn complex business priorities into clear, compelling stories.

As Director, Communications, you'll work closely with senior leadership to develop and execute INK's communications strategy, digital marketing strategy, and ensure that our internal and external communications reflect the company's vision, values, growth, and business priorities.

You will also oversee communications strategy across our Canadian and U.S. operations, ensuring consistency in corporate positioning and messaging while recognizing the unique market dynamics of each region. The Director, Communications will be based in the Toronto Ink headquarters and will oversee communications in South Florida, Las Vegas and potential new markets such New York City.

You'll work cross-functionally with Marketing, HR, Legal, Finance, Operations, PR, Events, Partnerships, and senior leadership.

What You'll Own:

Communications & Governance

- Develop and lead INK Entertainment's enterprise-wide communications strategy.
- Establish communications standards, processes, and governance across Canadian and U.S. operations.
- Translate strategy, business priorities, and organizational initiatives into clear and compelling communications.
- Develop communications plans for major partnership initiatives, business developments, organizational changes, strategic investments, and milestones.
- Ensure consistent corporate positioning, messaging, and tone across the organization.
- Develop corporate communications policies, protocols, and best practices.
- Partner with Legal, Finance, HR, and senior leadership on sensitive corporate communications.
- Support corporate governance communications and ensure appropriate messaging around organizational and business matters.

Executive Communications
- Serve as a trusted communications advisor to INK's senior leadership team.
- Develop executive messaging, speeches, presentations, talking points, announcements, and leadership communications.
- Prepare executives for internal and external communications, including media, industry events, presentations, and stakeholder meetings.
- Help define and strengthen the voice and profile of INK's senior leadership.
- Identify opportunities to position leadership as credible voices within hospitality, entertainment, business, music, and culture.

Corporate Reputation & Issues Management
- Own INK's corporate reputation strategy and proactively identify emerging reputational risks and opportunities.
- Develop and maintain corporate crisis and issues-management protocols.
- Lead communications strategy during sensitive or high-profile corporate matters.
- Work closely with senior leadership, Legal, HR, Operations, and PR to develop appropriate responses.




- Develop holding statements, FAQs, internal communications, stakeholder messaging, and executive briefing materials.
- Monitor corporate sentiment, industry developments, and issues that may impact INK's reputation.
- Provide senior leadership with timely communications counsel during emerging issues.

Internal Communications & Culture
- Develop and lead a company-wide internal communications strategy across INK's Canadian and U.S. operations.
- Partner with HR and leadership to communicate organizational priorities, business updates, culture initiatives, policies, and company news.
- Develop communications that strengthen employee engagement and connection to INK's broader vision.
- Support leadership communications during organizational change and transformation.
- Help create a consistent employee experience across corporate and operational teams.
- Identify new and innovative ways to connect INK's workforce across locations, venues, and markets.

U.S. Corporate Communications
- Lead the corporate communications strategy for INK's U.S. operations in partnership with local leadership.
- Ensure the INK corporate narrative and positioning are consistent across Canada and the United States.
- Adapt corporate communications to reflect market-specific audiences, business priorities, and cultural considerations.
- Support U.S. business development, market expansion, new ventures, and corporate announcements.
- Establish relationships with relevant U.S. business, hospitality, entertainment, and industry stakeholders.
- Ensure corporate communications practices and governance are aligned across both markets.

Strategic Partnerships & Corporate Affairs
- Develop communications strategies for major corporate partnerships, sponsorships, investments, and strategic relationships.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to identify opportunities to elevate INK's corporate profile.
- Develop corporate announcements and communications surrounding major partnerships and business initiatives.
- Support corporate positioning within the hospitality, entertainment, music, lifestyle, and business communities.

Corporate PR & Media Strategy
- Work closely with the Head of PR, who leads media relations and publicity for INK's individual venues and brands.
- Provide strategic corporate communications direction while avoiding duplication of venue-level PR responsibilities.
- Identify corporate-level media opportunities relating to INK's business, leadership, growth, innovation, partnerships, and industry perspective.
- Collaborate with the Head of PR on major announcements where corporate and venue communications intersect.
- Coordinate with external communications and PR agencies as required.
- Ensure corporate media inquiries are appropriately managed and aligned with INK's broader communications strategy.

Team Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing communications team.
- Establish clear objectives, priorities, processes, and performance expectations.
- Build a culture of creativity, accountability, collaboration, and discretion.
- Manage external communications agencies, consultants,



and specialized partners where required.
- Allocate resources effectively across corporate communications priorities.
- Collaborate closely with the Head of PR and broader Marketing team to ensure a coordinated communications ecosystem.

What We're Looking For:

You're a strategic communicator, trusted advisor, and strong business partner.

You understand that corporate communications is about more than generating headlines. It's about building trust, protecting reputation, communicating change, aligning stakeholders, and ensuring employees and external audiences understand where the organization is going.

You bring

- 8 years of progressive experience in corporate communications, public relations, corporate affairs, or a related discipline.
- Significant experience in a senior communications leadership role.
- Experience leading and developing a communications team.
- Experience advising C-suite executives, founders, owners, or senior leadership.
- Demonstrated experience developing and implementing enterprise-wide communications strategies.
- Strong understanding of corporate governance and executive communications.
- Experience managing sensitive issues and corporate crisis communications.
- Exceptional writing, editing, presentation, and storytelling skills.
- Strong judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.
- The ability to navigate complex and sensitive business matters with confidence.
- Experience communicating across multiple markets, business units, or jurisdictions.
- U.S. communications or cross-border corporate experience is strongly preferred.
- Experience in hospitality, entertainment, music, lifestyle, retail, consumer brands, or other highly visible industries is an asset.

What Makes You Stand Out:

- You understand how businesses operate—not just how communications works.
- You can take a complex business issue and turn it into a clear, compelling narrative.
- You are equally comfortable advising an executive, writing a board-level communication, or managing a sensitive issue.
- You know the difference between corporate reputation and brand publicity.
- You have strong relationships across business, industry, and corporate media.
- You can build communications infrastructure and governance in a growing organization.
- You are comfortable working across borders and adapting communications to different markets.
- You know when to push a story, when to shape the narrative, and when discretion is the better strategy.
- You remain calm when the stakes are high.
- You have a solid point of view, but know how to bring people with you.
- You're curious about business, culture, hospitality, and entertainment

Compensation The salary for this position is $140,000 CAD per year.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At INK Entertainment, we believe great experiences are created by diverse teams and unique perspectives. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, respected, supported, and empowered to do their best work.

We celebrate diversity in all its forms and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities, experiences, and abilities. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive recruitment process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

If you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

📌 Director, Communications (Toronto)
🏢 INK Entertainment Group
📍 Toronto