Director of Communications

About the Canadian Cardiovascular Society 

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) is the national voice for cardiovascular clinicians and scientists, representing more than 2,500 cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and heart health specialists across Canada. For nearly eight decades, we have set the standard for evidence-based cardiovascular care through trusted clinical guidelines, accredited professional development, peer-reviewed publications, and the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, the pre-eminent national forum for cardiovascular learning and community.

Our mission is simple and enduring: we advance heart health for all. Our vision, strong heart teams in a heart-healthy Canada, reflects a belief that the best outcomes come when clinicians, scientists, and health professionals work together with shared purpose.

CCS is at an exciting moment in its history. Our 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, Leading with Purpose. Advancing Heart Health charts a path toward becoming a national clinical system leader, one that not only sets clinical standards but shapes the systems and policies that determine how cardiovascular care is delivered across the country. Organized around five pillars: member experience, the One Heart Team, advocacy, organizational sustainability, and our people, the plan reflects both the ambition of our mission and a genuine commitment to the individuals who bring it to life every day.

We work closely with the most respected cardiovascular minds in Canada, and we are committed to building a workplace where people are empowered to grow, contribute, and do meaningful work.

We value integrity, excellence, community, and evidence, and we bring those principles to everything we do.

If you are looking for a role where your work has national reach and your voice genuinely matters, CCS may be the right fit for you.

Position Profile

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) is seeking a dynamic, visionary communications leader to champion our voice, nationally and internationally, in the cardiovascular health and medical specialty space.

As Director of Communications, you will own and drive an integrated communications strategy that advances the CCS brand, amplifies our scientific and clinical leadership, and deepens engagement across a diverse stakeholder ecosystem: physician members, industry and government partners, patients, and the broader public. This is a mandate for someone who doesn't just manage communications, they define it.

You will lead a dedicated team, setting the standard for excellence and fostering a culture where autonomy, accountability, and meaningful work go hand in hand. Your team will understand not just what they're doing, but why it matters, and will have the tools, competencies, and clarity to measure and celebrate their impact.

A critical dimension of this role is the ability to translate complex scientific and medical content into compelling, accessible communications for varied audiences, from clinicians and researchers to policymakers and the public. You bring credibility and confidence to this work, ensuring accuracy never comes at the expense of resonance.

As a senior member of the CCS leadership team, you will work in close partnership with the COO and cross-functional colleagues to align communications priorities with the organization's strategic objectives and ensure CCS remains the definitive voice in cardiovascular health in Canada.

To thrive in this role, you will bring proven experience leading and developing a communications team, deep expertise in integrated strategy and brand management, and a collaborative presence that earns influence at all levels. The ability to make complex scientific and medical content accessible to diverse audiences is essential.

Bilingualism in English and French is a strong asset in serving our national membership and stakeholder community.

 Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Operations

• Through a deep understanding of the CCS vision and our work, develop an integrated annual Communications operating plan that serves and supports the organization’s mission and objectives
• Advise the CCS leadership team of trends, opportunities and challenges based on the department’s research and analysis that affect the professional cardiovascular community, people who live with cardiovascular disease and the public
• Monitor operational efficiency and identify and implement ways to deliver better results or improve outcomes while mitigating risk wherever possible
• Develop metrics and reporting systems to track the department’s performance against established goals and objectives; proactively address issues that affect performance by developing realistic, creative and fiscally responsible solutions
• Undertake additional responsibilities from time-to-time, as directed by the COO

Financial Accountability

• Develop and manage the annual departmental budget and forecast and maintain tight control of all accountable expenditures, revenues, assets and liabilities
• Review and approve all financial matters in the department to ensure that they are fiscally responsible, within financial guidelines and adhere to all established policies and procedures
• Allocate human and financial resources to implement organizational policies and ensure alignment with the organization’s vision and objectives

 Staffing & Relationship Management

• Manage staffing requirements, oversee staff performance and implement annual work plans that are aligned with the organizational strategic plan
• Coach, mentor and provide developmental opportunities for staff to build out skills and train future leaders for the organization
• Collaborate with other departments whenever possible to improve internal communications and build stronger connections in furtherance of the organization’s objectives
• Build and manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders that provide long-term, financial benefit and enhanced visibility for the organization

Communications Management

• Build and strengthen the awareness of the CCS brand with internal and external stakeholders and media relations
• Ensure that all CCS events, mission-related marketing, speaking engagements and public-facing opportunities consistently support the organizational brand and messaging
• Help design and /or participate in the planning and implementation of internal meetings and events
• Design and deliver an informing, engaging and inspiring external stakeholder outreach strategy that focuses on the CCS value proposition to the cardiovascular community
• Ensure CCS has and implements a social media strategy and develop meaningful content on all platforms
• Develop a CCS-brand for recruiting that creates a positive impression for job seekers

Qualifications & Experience

 Essential

• Undergraduate and/or graduate degree or equivalent education with an appropriate blend of relevant, progressive position-related experience
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively related experience in the field of communications
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a leadership role for a non-profit organization, preferably in the health and wellness sector, with an emphasis on multi-functional or diverse areas, and experience in communicating medical and scientific content
• Demonstrated experience in project management including developing, implementing and managing projects to meet timelines and deliver on objectives
• Understanding of and demonstrated commitment to the CCS vision, mission and values
• Flexibility to periodically work irregular hours and to travel within Canada (<10 days/year)
• Demonstrated experience in and understanding of the unique work environment in a non-profit organization, ideally in the health care field especially as it relates to funding and funding regulations
• Bilingual English/French language skills

Desirable

• Familiarity building positive networks and relationships with medical specialists
• Knowledge and/or strong interest in the cardiovascular professional community and the cardiovascular health of Canadians
• Experience in advocacy and/or communications with federal and/or provincial politicians and policy leaders
• Media relations experience

Working conditions:

The CCS is an Ottawa based organization that functions primarily through remote work with periodic annual and ad hoc in-person meetings at a central Ottawa location.

This is a full-time remote work position. Periodic weekend and evening work for attendance at committee meetings as well as the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress is required.

This position operates under the pressure of periodic multiple competing priorities that need to be managed.

CCS offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package; salary is commensurate with experience. To find out more information about the CCS, please visit our website at http://www.ccs.ca.

While we sincerely thank all those who apply, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Commitment to diversity and accessibility

CCS is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome diversity in the workplace and encourage applications from all qualified candidates including women, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities and peoples of indigenous heritage.

The CCS is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity, please advise the Society in a timely fashion of any accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society may engage artificial intelligence (AI) in job posting dissemination and resume review.