About Touchstone Institute

Touchstone Institute is a non-profit corporation governed by a board of directors and receives financial support from the Government of Ontario. Touchstone Institute works closely with physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers who provide subject matter expertise to assess and improve the level of competency across individual practice. Building on its history to facilitate entry to training or practice for Internationally Educated Health Professionals, Touchstone Institute seeks to continue the work in this area while expanding to support excellence in competent practice for all who deliver health care.

Overview

Touchstone Institute is seeking a seasoned, impact-driven Director, Communications, Marketing and Engagement for a two-year fixed-term mandate, to head our Communications and Engagement file during a pivotal period of organizational growth and transformation.

This role is designed for a professional who excels at building foundations, strengthening evolving systems, and elevating organizational presence within complex sectors.

The successful candidate will lead the strategic evolution of an impactful communications, marketing and engagement function-refining strategies, structures, and tools necessary to advance Touchstone Institute's mission and enhance our visibility across health, academic, and government sectors. As the primary architect of our organizational narrative, the Director will design and execute integrated marketing and stakeholder engagement initiatives that drive influence and protect our reputation.

This role offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact by enabling a confident and transparent organizational voice and positioning a respected institution as a trusted leader in Canada's health workforce ecosystem.

Position Description

Reporting to the CEO, the Director will lead a team of three communications and engagement professionals and manage a network of external partners to deliver integrated, high-impact communications and marketing. This leadership role requires both strategic insight and operational discipline and will ensure a confident and consistent organizational voice that reinforces Touchstone Institute's reputation as a trusted leader in Canada's health workforce ecosystem. The Director will build and strengthen scalable infrastructure-including strategies, processes, and tools-necessary to support a rapidly growing organization. Ultimately, this mandate is about transforming how Touchstone Institute engages its partners and stakeholders to drive long-term influence and success.

Key Competencies and Responsibilities

Strategic Communications, Marketing and Brand Leadership

• Lead development and execution of integrated internal and external communications and marketing strategies that advance Touchstone Institute's mission, reputation, and growth objectives.
• Shape a clear, compelling organizational narrative and brand voice, ensuring consistency across digital channels, media, stakeholder communications, and events.
• Oversee thought leadership activities to elevate Touchstone Institute's visibility, credibility, and influence within health, academic, and government sectors.
• Manage proactive and responsive communications during sensitive or high?impact situations, safeguarding organizational reputation.
• Align communications and marketing efforts with business development, program promotion, and stakeholder engagement priorities.

Stakeholder, Partner and Government Engagement

• Develop and execute a strategic stakeholder and partner engagement approach, prioritizing relationships that advance institutional impact and growth.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with key partners, funders, and government stakeholders, in collaboration with executive leadership and program teams
• Support government relations through clear, timely communications, briefings, and materials aligned with public priorities and policy environments.
• Strengthen two?way communication through feedback mechanisms, engagement initiatives, and data?informed insights.
• In partnership with the People and Culture team, present a unified internal communications approach that supports transparency, employee engagement, and organizational change.
• Lead internal communications for major change initiatives, providing leaders and managers with clear messaging, tools, and guidance to support alignment and adoption.

Infrastructure and Continuous Improvement

• Strengthen scalable communications and engagement infrastructure, including governance, policies, tools, and brand guidelines.
• Establish core planning and delivery processes (e.g., annual communications planning, content calendars, intake and prioritization, approval pathways) to ensure consistency, quality, and efficient use of resources.
• Measure and report on communications, marketing, and engagement performance to continuously refine strategy and demonstrate impact to leadership.

Position Requirements

Knowledge

• In-depth understanding of Ontario's healthcare system and regulatory environment
• Expertise in strategic communications, digital marketing, and brand architecture, as well as stakeholder engagement models and program development.
• In-depth understanding of Ontario's health and government sectors, familiarity with the health workforce ecosystem and internationally educated health professionals.
• Strong grasp of change management and organizational scaling

Skills

• Strategic narrative development and masterful storytelling.
• Systems design and implementation of scalable communications infrastructure.
• People leadership, including team development and vendor management.
• High-level writing, editing, and content production for diverse audiences.
• Budgeting and resource management for integrated marketing campaigns.
• Performance tracking and analysis of engagement metrics.

Abilities

• Lead a high-performing communications function during periods of transformation.
• Translate complex institutional goals into a transparent, consistent voice.
• Provide strategic counsel to the CEO and senior leadership on reputation.
• Build consensus among a complex landscape of partners, funders, and stakeholders.
• Execute with precision and creativity in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field; a master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in communications, stakeholder engagement, or related fields, including at least 3 years working at senior management level
• Experience in both nonprofit and for-profit environments is highly valued.

Contract Term : 24 Months

What We Offer

• A mission-driven culture that puts people first.
• Opportunities to shape the future of a growing and values-based organization.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.
• A collaborative, inclusive, and innovative work environment.

Notes for Candidates

• This is an existing vacancy within the organization.
• Touchstone Institute does not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools as part of the applicant screening process. Applications will be reviewed by members of our recruitment and hiring teams to ensure a fair and thorough assessment.
• The salary range considers many factors including, but not limited to experience, education, and training, etc. It is not typical for the salary to be offered near the top of the range, it is dependent on numerous factors.
• Touchstone Institute is dedicated to employment equity and fostering a diverse work environment. We encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and other equity-seeking groups. We believe that a diverse team is essential to understanding and serving the evolving needs of the healthcare sector.

We follow a hybrid work model with two designated in-office days: Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Successful candidates must be available to work on-site during these days at 145 Wellington St W Suite 600, Toronto, ON M5J 1H8 with or without accommodation.

Touchstone Institute is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to fostering a diverse work environment and exercises accessible employment practices. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and Touchstone Institute's policies, a request for accommodation will be accepted in all aspects of our hiring process. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation during the recruitment process, please email via Isarta in advance of your appointment.