Position Communications Lead

Reports to Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Location Flexible within Canada

Job Type Full-time, permanent with frequent travel

Start Date January 5, 2027

The french job posting is available here /L'offre d'emploi en français est disponible ici.

ABOUT SWIMMING CANADA

Swimming Canada serves as the national governing body of competitive swimming. We inspire Canadians through world leading performances to embrace a lifestyle of swimming, sport, fitness and health. Canadians are global leaders in high performance swimming and development for both Olympic Program and Paralympic Program swimmers. Swimming is recognized as one of the most celebrated and successful Canadian Summer Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Swimming Canada strives to foster a workplace in which all individuals maximize their potential, regardless of their differences. We are committed to attracting, developing and celebrating a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Communications Lead is responsible for developing and executing the Swimming Canada’s communications strategy, telling the story of our athletes and high-performance program, strengthening the organization’s reputation, increase external engagement, and support organizational priorities. The role provides leadership across media relations, corporate communications, digital and content strategy, crisis management, and communications operations.

The Lead directly supervises the Manager, Communications, the Manager, Translation, and oversees a roster of external communications professionals, including photographers, content creators, writers, and other specialized contractors and consultants.





The Lead will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, ensuring communications activities are proactive, integrated, responsive, and aligned with organizational goals.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and Leadership

- Advocate a values-driven, positive culture by championing constructive change, challenging the status quo, and fostering an environment where people feel empowered to grow and contribute.
- Lead the development and implementation of the annual communications strategy, with targeted initiatives that support organizational priorities, business objectives, and engagement goals across all departments.
- Provide strategic communications counsel and recommendations to executive leadership on emerging issues, opportunities, and reputational risks.
- Lead communications planning for major initiatives, programs, announcements, events, and organizational change.
- Establish communications objectives, key performance indicators, and measurement frameworks to evaluate effectiveness and impact.
- Ensure communications activities align with organizational values, brand standards, and strategic priorities.
- Establish team goals, performance expectations, and professional development plans.
- Foster a cooperative, innovative, and service-oriented communications culture.
- Lead, coach, and mentor the Communications team.




- Lead the development and management of communications budgets, work plans, and resource allocation.
- Collaborate with senior leadership team, as well as department and/or team leads on their communications needs.

Corporate Communications and Operations

- Establish and maintain communications processes, practices, standards, and workflows.
- Ensure management of editorial calendars, requests for content, and content approval processes.
- Ensure compliance with organizational policies, accessibility standards, language requirements, and communications best practices.
- Oversee translation services to ensure all communications products meet organizational language standards and legislative requirements.
- Leverage communications technologies, analytics tools, and content management systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness across the organization.
- Monitor emerging communications trends, technologies, and best practices.
- Advise on communications strategies that support Swimming Canada’s mandate, key messaging, and organizational values and culture.
- Write executive and leadership communications, including speeches, presentations, messages, and briefing materials.

Crisis Communications

- Lead communications planning and response during issues, incidents, and crises.
- Develop crisis communications frameworks, protocols, and response plans.
- Advise leadership on messaging, user communications, and reputation management during sensitive situations.
- Coordinate rapid response communications and media inquiries.

Media Relations

- Serve as the organization's lead media contact

📌 Communications Lead (Ottawa)
🏢 Swimming Canada
📍 Ottawa