Director, Marketing and Communications

DIRECTOR, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

INVEST OTTAWA – MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

At Invest Ottawa (IO), we empower the brightest minds and boldest innovators and entrepreneurs across Canada’s Capital. Join our leadership team and help shape the stories, strategies, and campaigns that fuel growth, ignite curiosity, and position Ottawa as one of the most exciting innovation hubs on the planet.

We are seeking an ambitious, creative, and data-obsessed Director, Marketing & Communications to lead a high-performing team that builds brand equity, drives qualified pipeline, and inspires our diverse audiences—from startup founders to global tech investors.

This role combines brand strategy, campaign performance, integrated marketing, and corporate storytelling under one powerful mandate—making IO’s voice louder, clearer, and more magnetic across every channel, platform, and conversation.

You’ll bring technical content to life. Transform complex ideas into compelling narratives. And drive demand with creativity, precision, and measurable ROI. From influencer activations to multi-channel campaigns, you’ll take big ideas and turn them into impact.

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing and Bayview Impact, the Director, Marketing and Communications is an agile, executional powerhouse and audience-first leader who will:

• Lead the development and execution of bold, integrated marketing and communications strategies.


• Drive growth by generating high-quality leads, client engagement, and brand affinity across IO’s portfolio.


• Champion IO’s brand voice, visual identity, and public narrative across multiple touchpoint and platform.


• Inspire and manage a dynamic team of marketers, creators, and storytellers.


• Protect and elevate IO’s reputation and relationships through proactive communications.


• Help drive brand-aligned earned revenue through innovative marketing strategies and strategic partnerships.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:

Lead a High-Impact, Audience-First Marketing Strategy

• Develop integrated strategies that build brand equity, generate leads, and drive engagement across IO’s portfolio.


• Align messaging with IO’s full value chain—from startups and scaleups to investment attraction and economic development.


• Turn complex, technical content into clear, compelling stories that resonate across digital, media, events, and influencer channels.


• Evolve and protect IO’s brand voice, ensuring consistency and resonance across every platform and touchpoint.


• Build campaigns that are creative, measurable, and optimized for real business results.

Optimize Relentlessly, Report with Precision

• Analyze performance and pivot fast—ruthlessly optimizing for ROI, lead quality, and channel efficiency.


• Bring an experimentation mindset to A/B testing, funnel design, segmentation, and automation.


• Build and manage budgets, dashboards, and OKRs to ensure alignment, transparency, and impact.


• Ensure compliance with funding agreements, brand standards, language policies, and procurement protocols.

Collaboration across the Organization

• Work cross-functionally with Bayview Yards, Area X.O, Global Programs, and internal teams to drive unified marketing efforts.


• Support strategic planning, high-profile initiatives, and integrated client journeys across business lines.

Inspire and Empower a High-Performing Team

• Lead a passionate, cross-functional team across marketing, communications, and creative services.


• Foster a culture of experimentation, AI-informed and infused workflows, excellence, and shared impact.


• Hire, coach, and develop team members to grow in confidence and craft.

WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED/ GAINED THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER:

• A degree in Marketing, Communications, PR, Business, or related field—or equivalent senior leadership experience.


• 9+ years in progressive marketing or communications roles, ideally in tech, economic development, or innovation environments.


• A track record of building trusted, high-impact brands and leading high-performing teams across multi-channel campaigns.


• A creative strategist with strong digital fluency, media savvy, and a sharp eye for both big ideas and executional detail.


• Exceptional storytelling and writing skills—with the ability to turn complex topics into clear, compelling narratives.


• Confident in budget planning, vendor management, compliance, and performance measurement.


• Collaborative, emotionally intelligent, and calm under pressure—with a bias for action and experimentation.


• Deep appreciation for DEI, community engagement, and the power of story to drive change.


• Outstanding written and verbal communication in English and French (bilingualism is required).

WHY IS THIS ROLE SPECIAL: 

You won’t just lead a marketing and communication team. This is not an average role. It’s a critical driver of economic impact. You’ll ensure that founders, entrepreneurs, companies, and innovators know about—and fully leverage—Invest Ottawa’s programs, services, facilities and support. You’ll lead campaigns that matter. Your work will help them accelerate growth, solve problems, and create jobs—strengthening our economy. At the same time, you’ll shape how the world sees Ottawa’s innovation, business, and tech landscape—helping to open new global market opportunities, attract investment, secure talent and fuel shared prosperity.

Do you have some of these skills but maybe not all?  We still encourage you to apply as we would love to review your unique application and learn more about you! 

At Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards, we know that diversity, inclusion and a sense of belongingness are critical success factors for globally competitive organizations and are required to drive sustainable wealth creation and prosperity across our region. We prioritize the creation of an inclusive culture and infuse diversity into our programs, operations and governance. As an equal opportunity employer that doesn’t simply accept difference but celebrates, support and thrives because of it, we invite all qualified candidates to apply, and especially encourage those who identify as members of underrepresented groups.  

Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards are determined to provide a barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you require accommodation during any phase of the evaluation process, please contact [email protected] to request specialized accommodation. Do know, all information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.  

At Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards, we are focused on doing better and committed to leading by example because it’s what’s best for us, our culture and our community.