About the Centretown BIA

Centretown is bold, layered and unmistakably human. The Centretown Business Improvement Area supports the businesses, people and places that make one of Ottawa's most dynamic neighbourhoods everything but ordinary. We use brand, storytelling, placemaking, events and community partnerships to attract people to the district, strengthen local businesses and create a neighbourhood people want to visit, explore and belong to.

This is a collaborative, community-facing role. The successful candidate must be comfortable moving between strategy and execution and working in an environment where priorities can shift quickly. This position follows a hybrid working model. Some evening and weekend work will be required.

The Opportunity The Creative and Brand Director is a senior creative leader responsible for protecting and evolving the Centretown brand. Through murals, storytelling, events, campaigns and public spaces, they shape how the neighbourhood is seen, experienced and remembered. They understand how art, design, music, food, small business and urban culture make Centretown distinct—and translate that sense of place into a brand people want to engage with and belong to.

Building strong relationships with member businesses is central to this role. The Creative and Brand Director listens to their needs, understands their challenges and creates opportunities for them to participate in and benefit from the BIA’s work.They connect business owners with campaigns, storytelling, events and collaborations that increase visibility, attract customers and strengthen the local business community. Working closely with the Executive Director, they align creative direction with the BIA’s broader priorities.

With vision, taste and grit, they turn ideas into thoughtful execution, lead the Marketing Coordinator and guide creative partners to deliver work that feels unmistakably Centretown.

Because

Centretown should never feel like everywhere else.

Key Responsibilities

Brand and Creative Leadership

●Protect and evolve the Centretown brand, keeping its voice, visual identity and creative direction distinct, recognizable and culturally relevant.

●Lead the annual brand and creative strategy, using market research, audience insights, business feedback and cultural trends to identify opportunities for growth.

●Expand Centretown’s reach through targeted campaigns, partnerships and media opportunities that attract new audiences while preserving its character.

●Maintain the Brand and Creative Playbook, applying clear standards and recognizing when original ideas should push creative boundaries.

Campaigns, Storytelling and Placemaking

●Translate strategic priorities into campaigns and experiences that attract visitors, encourage local spending and strengthen neighbourhood pride.

●Lead storytelling across digital, social, print and media channels, highlighting Centretown’s businesses, people, culture and places.

●Develop murals, installations,



events and public-space initiatives that connect community life with opportunities for member businesses.

●Direct creative work from concept through launch, providing briefs, guiding photography, video and design, and approving accessible, inclusive, high-quality content.

Business Engagement, Partnerships and Team Leadership

●Build relationships with member businesses, understand their needs and connect them with promotional opportunities, events and collaborations.

●Develop partnerships with artists, cultural organizations, community groups, media and City of Ottawa departments that benefit the district.

●Represent the BIA at relevant conferences, industry events and networks, bringing back useful ideas, relationships and opportunities.

●Mentor and support the Marketing Coordinator, and direct agencies, contractors and creative partners through clear priorities and constructive feedback.

Operations, Measurement and Business Value

●Manage marketing plans, calendars, budgets, contracts and approval processes to deliver coordinated work on time and within budget.

●Maintain BIA-controlled accounts, creative assets, relationship records and essential documentation to preserve organizational knowledge.

●Measure the BIA’s contribution to business and economic activity through campaign engagement, foot traffic, business participation, visitor spending where measurable and member-reported outcomes.

●Present results and recommendations to the Executive Director and Board, using evidence to improve programs, prioritize investment and identify activities to change or discontinue.

●Manage the marketing and creative budget established by the Executive Director and Finance Officer, tracking spending and reporting variances under their oversight.

●Coordinate marketing plans, calendars, contracts and approvals to deliver work on time and within the approved budget.

Qualifications and Experience

We recognize that exceptional candidates do not all follow the same career path. You may come from an agency, destination-marketing organization, cultural institution, nonprofit, BIA, media organization, creative studio or another environment where brand, place and community intersect.

●Approximately 5+ years of progressive experience in brand strategy, creative direction, marketing, communications, cultural programming or a related field. Demonstrated experience leading a brand or creative function, not only executing individual marketing activities.

● A strong portfolio showing strategic thinking, creative judgment and successful work across multiple channels.

● A strong portfolio showing strategic thinking, creative judgment and successful work across multiple channels.





● A proven record of developing campaigns from initial concept through production, launch and evaluation.

● Exceptional storytelling, writing, editing and presentation skills.

●Robust knowledge of digital marketing, social media, content strategy and audience engagement.

●Experience directing designers, artists, photographers, videographers, agencies and other creative suppliers.

●Strong leadership, people-management and project-management skills, including experience managing concurrent priorities, budgets, contracts, approvals and deadlines.

●The ability to think strategically, contribute hands-on and give clear, constructive creative direction.

●Exceptional visual judgment and the confidence to recognize work that is original, relevant and right for Centretown.

●Cultural curiosity and a genuine interest in art, design, music, food, independent business, neighbourhood life and urban culture.

●Ability to turn ambitious creative ideas into excellent work within real-world budgets and timelines.

●Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively with businesses, artists, community partners and diverse stakeholders.

●A commitment to inclusive representation, accessibility and respectful community engagement.

●An understanding of Centretown, Ottawa's urban culture and the role of a Business Improvement Area, or the curiosity to learn quickly.

●Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, content-management systems, email-marketing platforms and social-media management tools.

Additional Assets

●Experience working in a board-governed, municipal, nonprofit or member-based organization.

●Experience supporting events, public art, murals, installations or public-space activations.

●Experience using analytics and performance measures to improve marketing decisions.

●Proficiency in French

How to Apply

Please submit the following by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 13th, 2026

●Your resume.

●A cover letter explaining why this opportunity interests you and how your experience prepares you to lead the Centretown brand.

●A portfolio or link to relevant work. For each example, identify your specific role and contribution.

Equity and Accommodation The Centretown BIA is committed to building an inclusive workplace that reflects the businesses, communities and cultures of Centretown. We welcome applications from members of all communities, people with disabilities and candidates with diverse backgrounds, identities and lived experiences. Accommodation is available throughout the recruitment process.

Applicants requiring accommodation may contact [email protected] Information relating to accommodation will be treated confidentially. We thank all applicants for their interest. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Pay: $75,000.00-$80,000.00 per year

Benefits

- Casual dress
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
- Work from home

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Ottawa, ON K2P 0A6

📌 Creative & Brand Director (Ottawa)
🏢 Centretown BIA
📍 Ottawa