Senior Director, Communications

Hybrid / Toronto, ON
Corporate Development & Strategy

Our Client

At UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, their vision is to lead the most vibrant Jewish community in North America – a community characterized by its diversity, unity, compassion, generosity and commitment to Jewish values. Together with their philanthropic, volunteer and professional leadership, they are changing lives.

As one of North America’s leading Jewish non-profits, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto works to preserve and strengthen the quality of Jewish life in Greater Toronto, Canada, Israel and around the world. UJA advances this mission through fundraising, programs, and research focused on our strategic pillars: fighting poverty and improving well-being, growing Jewish education and identity, countering antisemitism and hate, and strengthening connections with Israel and Jewish communities worldwide.

Position Overview

As Senior Director, Communications you will play a key role in developing and executing a comprehensive communications strategy that unites and strengthens the community’s voice. Your responsibilities will encompass issues management and crisis communications, stewardship reporting, impactful content creation, speech writing, and marketing communications for both digital and direct mail campaigns focused on fundraising and program recruitment. Your expertise will be vital in identifying key stakeholders and crafting tailored strategies to effectively address their needs and concerns.

Situated within the Integrated Development Department, you will report directly to the Vice President of Marketing and Communications and work collaboratively with colleagues across all teams.

This is a unique opportunity to lead impactful communications efforts during a critical time for the community.

Role Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute a comprehensive communications strategy, encompassing fundraising communications, stakeholder communications, internal communications, partner communications, issues management, and crisis communications.
  • Oversee a diverse team of writers, ensuring each member effectively contributes their expertise to various communication portfolios while fostering a collaborative and creative environment.
  • Own and maintain the overall “voice” of the organization, ensuring that all communications reflect the values, mission, and brand identity.
  • Work closely with teams across the organization to ensure consistency and alignment in all communications, reinforcing a unified brand message.
  • Lead a proactive media strategy, building relationships with media outlets and ensuring the organization is effectively represented in public discourse.
  • Utilize data analytics to assess the effectiveness of communications, tailoring strategies to ensure messaging is clear, engaging, and easily understood by community members.
  • Collaborate with the VP of Marketing and Communications to craft and articulate the overarching story, highlighting the initiatives and impact in the community.
  • Ensure a steady stream of high-quality content for the fundraising team and donors, effectively communicating the impact of their contributions and the importance of their ongoing support.
  • Develop and implement crisis communication plans, ensuring timely and effective responses to any issues that may arise, while protecting the reputation of the organization.

Desired Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field; a Master’s degree is a plus.
  • Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in communications, with a strong background in fundraising communications, media relations, and issues management, preferably within a nonprofit or community-focused organization.
  • Proven ability to lead and manage a diverse team of writers and communications professionals, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
  • Demonstrated experience in developing and executing comprehensive communications strategies that align with organizational goals and brand messaging.
  • Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to various audiences.
  • Strong background in media strategy and relations, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with journalists and media outlets.
  • Proficient in using analytics and data to assess communication effectiveness and inform strategic decisions.
  • Experience in crafting compelling narratives that resonate with diverse stakeholders, enhancing engagement and support for the organization.
  • Knowledge of crisis communication principles and experience in managing communications during sensitive situations.
  • A strong commitment to the mission and values of organization and community, with an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the community today.
  • Exceptional project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

We appreciate your interest in this role.

In sharing your resume, you place your trust in us to treat you with integrity and respect and act in your best interests. All resumes will be held in the strictest of confidence.

Those who most closely meet our client’s requirements will be contacted for an interview.

Please pass this opportunity forward. We welcome all referrals should someone in your network benefit from this opportunity.

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Katie Watt

Research and Operations Specialist

Katie enjoys being part of the Research and Operations division at Thorek/Scott and Partners. Katie utilizes her skills in research, project and data management to support the recruiting efforts of the Thorek/Scott and Partners team. She enjoys working in the positive team atmosphere that Thorek/Scott and Partners offers.

After completing her Master’s in Geography at the University of Toronto, Katie worked in consulting in the environmental non-profit sector where she conducted policy analysis and delivered workshops on sustainable development. Katie continues to pursue her passions of environmental protection by volunteering with local environmental non-profit organizations.

Lisa is thrilled to be a part of the team at Thorek/Scott and Partners. Lisa’s deep background in financial services, relationship building, and customer service coupled with her background in operations and support has been instrumental to the firm’s Research and Operations division. Prior to joining Thorek/Scott and Partners, Lisa worked for over 10 years in a large Canadian Bank in front facing, client operational roles. Having worked for large organizations in the past, she is delighted to be part of a close-knit group and enjoys the upbeat office and friendly environment at Thorek/Scott and Partners.

In her free time, Lisa enjoys reading, crafting and spending time with family and friends.

Derek Young is a former finance professional turned recruitment consultant. He connects top-tier talent with prestigious organizations seeking exceptional leaders. His expertise lies in the recruitment of high-caliber risk and compliance professionals for investment management, real estate, and financial services firms across North America.

Derek joined Thorek/Scott and Partners after a successful tenure with one of the largest globally recognized recruitment firms, where he specialized in consulting legal and compliance professionals across financial & professional services. He is passionate about helping people fulfil their long-term career aspirations. Derek’s personable approach and knowledge of the financial landscape allows him to develop strong relationships with both candidates and clients.

After completing his B.Com from the University of Toronto’s Finance program, Derek began his career as a financial advisor working for two of Canada’s largest wealth managers. These roles taught him the importance of listening to his clients and always putting their goals first. Derek has lived and traveled in Ireland, Europe, Asia and Africa. He enjoys playing and watching a variety of sports, and spending time with friends and family.

Lisa is thrilled to join the Thorek/Scott and Partners team and brings 30 years of experience in large public sector organizations. She has held multiple executive leadership positions in the education sector and as CEO was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization including Human Resources, Operations, Information Technology, Finance, Capital, and Leadership.

Lisa brings her insight and experience to executive recruitment. She is a highly motivated and goal-oriented professional dedicated to finding high quality talent.

Lisa has worked with multiple stakeholders within the community and at the Provincial level. She has trained senior executives on Strategic Planning and Implementation in Canada and the United States. She has taught Masters’ level courses and College programs. She has authored documents on Strategic Planning, Poverty, Succession Planning and Leadership Development.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a Master’s degree in Leadership/Administration. Lisa completed the Executive Leadership programs at Rotman School of Management and the Richard Ivey School of Business as well as earning multiple certificates at the Queens Executive Education Program.

Lisa belongs to several professional organizations including the Professional Women’s Network, Equal Voice and Elevate. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, travelling, and giving back to her community.

Lauren Thorek is proud to be a member of the recruiting team at Thorek/Scott and Partners. Since joining the firm, Lauren has taken an active role in providing the highest levels of service and support to our clients and candidates.

Ethical, passionate and innovative, Lauren builds lasting relationships and strives to create solutions tailored to fit the short-term needs and long-term goals unique to different individuals and organizations. She thrives on challenge and is motivated by exceeding expectations on tough, hard to close searches.

Active in multiple sectors including Real Estate, and Investments and Financial Services, Lauren views success as being a passionate advocate for her candidates and a valued partner to her clients.

Sari Friedman is delighted to be back at Thorek/Scott and Partners. With over 25 years of real estate and finance experience and a passion for people, transitioning into the recruitment industry was a natural fit for Sari. 

She brings multiple experiences and synergetic attributes to her role at Thorek/Scott. Having worked as an equity research associate covering real estate and REITs, Sari has a strong understanding of the real estate industry. She holds a real estate license, has actively traded real estate and is a personal investor. Sari’s technical insight combined with her outstanding business acumen, strong negotiation and research skills adds tremendous value to clients and candidates. 

Sari is well known for her caring and friendly demeanour. She is passionate about helping people with an emphasis on providing an individualized human experience. She will often go above and beyond when coaching her candidates and clients throughout the recruitment process. Sari takes the time to understand the needs of her clients and candidates and creates long lasting relationships. 

Sari graduated from University of Western Ontario majoring in Economics and earned her MBA from the University of Toronto Rotman Management Program. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, travelling and camping.

Steven is a CPA who graduated with an honours bachelors degree in business from McMaster University & from Cornell University with an Executive MBA. Before joining Thorek/Scott he spent his career in industry, building large support service teams and also taking an active role in the overall corporate recruitment functions as a VP/CFO. He prides himself as a recruiter who is transparent, a great communicator and gives honest feedback.

Steven is passionate about travelling, having visited over 130 countries, and about his Toronto Maple Leafs.

Faye Thorek is an accomplished executive search consultant with over 40 years of experience in the Canadian recruitment market. Known for her keen insight and compassionate dedication to her work, Faye envisions herself as an advocate for those with whom she conducts business. Over the years, Faye has consulted numerous companies on how to best craft their strategic vision and then taken the lead on executing that mandate. She has spoken on recruitment and search issues to a wide range of audiences.

Outside of the office, Faye is also a committed investor in people. She volunteers with Out of the Cold, Kids.now, and Bereaved Families of Ontario (BFO). She has sat on the Professional Development Steering Committee of the HRPAO. She is a former member of the Board at BFO and the North York Harvest Food Bank.

Having founded Thorek/Scott and Partners over four decades ago, Michael Thorek has been shepherding its growth ever since. Together with his wife, Michael is dedicated to building a business with humanity, innovation, and excellence at its core. A specialist in the recruitment of talent for the Financial Services Industry, Michael has currently turned his interest towards the field of Risk Management, Capital Markets and Database Marketing Analytics. A jack of many trades, Michael is also a father, inventor, scholar and scribe, who possess a keen interest in comparative religions.