The Opportunity

CAMPFIRE CIRCLE, formerly Camp Ooch & Camp Trillium, is seeking a passionate and versatile Director, Marketing and Communications to lead our work to build our new brand, as we change our name to CAMPFIRE CIRCLE in January 2022.

This is an exciting time to join our organization, to bring our new name and brand to life and to support our growth plans. Since the merger in 2020 of Camp Ooch and Camp Trillium, a journey began to discover a new name that would signal our new future together, offering healing through happiness for kids affected by childhood cancer, and their families.

CAMPFIRE CIRCLE is where kids can be kids, and families can be families, accessing camp-inspired community, in-hospital, and overnight camp programs that build resilience, provide social connections and foster well-being – at no cost to them. Privately funded, CAMPFIRE CIRCLE relies on generous supporters to deliver thousands of life-changing experiences annually to 2,000+ kids and families year-round, all across Ontario.

Key accountabilities for the Director, Marketing and Communications are to:

1. Advance our vision to establish CAMPFIRE CIRCLE as a charity of choice in Ontario, one that provides the social healing and community of support children with cancer and their families need to thrive.
2. Grow CAMPFIRE CIRCLE’S profile among its donors, volunteers and other stakeholders to meet our current and future needs. This includes event marketing, digital campaigns, website, traditional advertising and PR.
3. Collaborate with the leadership group, CDO and CEO to develop our brand, marketing and communications strategy for all stakeholder groups.

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this role will have three direct reports: 1) Manager, Multimedia & Design; 2) Digital Marketing & Communications Officer; 3) Digital Experience & Analytics Officer.

CAMPFIRE CIRCLE is a hybrid work environment. The Director, Marketing and Communications will lead a primarily remote Marketing team with an average of four days per month in our Toronto office at College and Bathurst.

About Campfire Circle

Childhood cancer changes lives. So does camp.

 CAMPFIRE CIRCLE (formerly Camp Ooch & Camp Trillium) is often referred to as the social cure for cancer. It’s a place where kids play, grow, and enjoy new experiences in a safe, welcoming environment. Our programs celebrate kids for who they are – not what they have.

Year-round community, in-hospital and overnight camp programs deliver fun, friendship, and a sense of community at any stage of a childhood cancer journey. As we work to bring back in-person programs in 2021, camp continues to be there for kids and families through in-hospital and virtual programs, all across Ontario.

The joy and confidence gained from camp is a crucial aspect of our Campers’ health and well-being. CAMPFIRE CIRCLE gives Campers the chance to meet other kids, families or Counsellors who’ve faced the same illnesses, had the same surgeries, or other Campers who know what it’s like to have a sick sibling. Camp restores a sense of normalcy, newfound strength, and hope.

When you’re at camp, the only elephant in the room is the elephant that Campers have handcrafted out of paper mache and pipe cleaners.

History & Merger

What began as two humble summer camps for kids with cancer and their families has grown into magical programs all across the province. Camp Ooch was founded in 1983, and Camp Trillium was founded in 1984. On January 1, 2020, Camp Ooch and Camp Trillium merged and now leverage their combined strengths, supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer in Ontario with year-round social supports, including programs that meet the wide social, emotional, and developmental needs of Campers.

Professional full-time staff, specially trained medical teams, and hundreds of volunteers help us serve kids and their families in communities and paediatric oncology centres, and at three camp sites across Ontario, including CAMPFIRE CIRCLE Muskoka, the only overnight oncology camp in Canada able to provide onsite IV chemotherapy and blood transfusions. During the pandemic, virtual and in-hospital camp programs are keeping our community together even when we’re apart! Overnight Camp programs also recently re-opened in August 2021.

Our New Name

Following the merger of Camp Ooch and Camp Trillium in 2020, a journey began to discover a new name that would signal our new future, together.

We wanted our new name to place kids and families affected by childhood cancer at the heart of what we do, and recognize the caring community surrounding them. It needed to acknowledge our roots and carry us into the future.

After speaking with many of you—our community—we found it! Starting January 2022, we are excited to announce that we will be called CAMPFIRE CIRCLE. We aren’t changing what we do—we’re just changing our name.

At CAMPFIRE CIRCLE, we’ve been trusted for 38 years to provide healing through happiness. Over the years, our volunteer-driven organization has expanded to deliver camp-inspired programs year-round in hospitals, in communities, at overnight camp, and now, online.

Please view our announcement video here.

Additional Information

The Story of Camp Ooch & Camp Trillium

Our Model

2021 Impact Report

2020 Annual Report

2020 Financial Statements

Board of Directors, Leadership and Medical Advisory Committee

Camp Association and Hospital / Healthcare Centre Partners

The Ideal Candidate

The new Director, Marketing and Communications will be an experienced marketing professional and manager who will lead the work to build an engaging and inclusive new brand, ensuring a consistent voice across our organization. An exceptional communicator and storyteller, the ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of critical success factors for building brand awareness, including a solid understanding of integrated marketing campaigns (particularly in digital channels) and management of high impact websites.

Energetic and personable, the Director, Marketing and Communications will be positive and solutions oriented as part of a growing and changing organization. Both a natural leader and highly collaborative, the successful candidate will motivate and lead a team of three direct reports, working with peers across the department and wider organization and listening with respect, diplomacy and an open mind to the ideas and opinions of other staff, donors, volunteers and partners.

A creative self-starter, the new Director, Marketing and Communications will be adaptable in style and approach with excellent attention to detail. A strategic thinker, the new incumbent will navigate calmly and deftly through tight deadlines and limited resources with a strong sense of ownership and fiscal responsibility.

Prior experience in the non-profit sector is not required for this position; however, the new Director, Marketing and Communications will have a passion for children, a commitment to serving those with special needs and exceptionalities, and an interest in and willingness to learn about the power of camp.

 

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Brand Management & Marketing (30%)

• Actively manage and bring to life our new brand, for all stakeholders.
• Bring forward new ideas and implement campaigns that will build brand awareness across Ontario.
• With a strong service orientation, manage the marketing and communications team to develop and/or review all branded content required by our programs, fundraising, HR and other departments.
• Manage and maintain brand resources for internal teams, partners and volunteers and actively engage with all internal and external stakeholders to ensure high levels of brand compliance, consistent with brand guidelines.
• Ensure strong knowledge and understanding of brand management tools, including participation in on-boarding and training of new staff to the brand.
• Pro-actively identify and escalate issues related to brand risk to the CDO and/or CEO. Act as primary advisor to CEO and CDO on all media and communications opportunities and provide speaking notes and/or communication materials to leadership as required.
• Engage with media and develop PR strategies to help build the brand and increase awareness of the organization.
• Manage media and advertising sector relationships and partnerships, working with both paid and pro-bono vendors to support the organization’s goals.
• Oversee merchandise design and the development of an online store for branded merchandise.

Digital Strategy & Content Development (30%)

• Lead and implement the digital marketing communications strategy and oversee the successful development and execution of digital assets.
• Actively engage with internal teams to identify, cultivate and bring to life stories that communicate the impact of the work the organization does.
• Lead the creation of impact and brand-driven content in timely and resource-efficient ways and channels (videos, infographics, photography) and ensure effective reach and accessibility for targeted groups.
• Develop and execute digital marketing communications campaigns, primarily in support of fundraising events and/or campaigns.
• Manage key digital properties including the website and social media channels.
• In collaboration with IT team, optimize UX/UI by creating stable, engaging, and accessible platforms.
• Provide insights into performance and recommendations for platform improvements (using analytics and tracking tools).
• Support the digital modernization of the organization through implementation of new digital tools, resources and project management systems.
• Manage external vendor relationships, contracts and project scopes as required.
• Ensure all marketing and communications content, resources and materials consistently reflect and promote our commitment to equity, diversity and anti-racism across all platforms, marketing media and channels.
• Work collaboratively with the programs department to ensure we respectfully share content, and train staff regarding these protocols, given the work we do to support vulnerable children.

Marketing & Communications Planning (20%)

• Work collaboratively as a member of the Development Leadership Team (and with other departments) to plan and create segmented communications that engage all stakeholders in our mission and vision.
• Lead communications planning and scheduling across the organization, including management of the overall schedule for campaigns, website, email marketing and other promotional activities.
• Organize annual business planning, reporting and long-term strategic planning activities for the marketing and communications department, identifying ways for the team to share compelling content, engage stakeholders, drive fundraising and improve processes.
• Participate in leadership meetings, committees and/or task forces as assigned to bring leadership in marketing and communications forward for all critical initiatives across the organization.

People & General Management (20%)

• Provide oversight and direction to staff in accordance with the department’s strategic planning and annual objectives. Develop clear and concise guidelines to identify group projects and to track progress.
• Manage weekly/bi-weekly department meetings, identify areas of focus, develop agenda, assign and follow-up on responsibilities and duties.
• In collaboration with Human Resources, actively participate in the recruitment and selection process.
• Coach, mentor, and develop staff, including overseeing new employee onboarding and providing career development planning and training opportunities.
• Manage staff performance and development by maintaining regular check-ins, documenting and addressing achievements and areas of improvement. Lead the annual goal-setting performance review process.
• Develop and maintain successful employee relations within and outside the department to promote a positive workplace culture, a healthy and safe work environment and overall wellness culture.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Manager or his/her designate.

Qualifications & Competencies

• Progressive experience managing/leading a marketing and communications department for an organization, including, supervising and mentoring staff to achieve results and working cross functionally to deliver projects.
• Diploma or degree in marketing, communications or public relations or equivalent experience.
• Superior interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• A proven strategic thinker and change manager who leads by example.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Creative with a strong understanding of visual identity/graphic design.
• Experience with building a strong brand and a deep understanding of brand engagement, the power of the digital universe, and the importance of evolving and growing a community of supporters committed to advancing the mission, vision and values of the organization.
• Experience working with Google analytics, Social Media platforms. and management tools.
• Experience managing and monitoring budgets.

Desirable but not essential:

• Demonstrated commitment to volunteerism or volunteer sector.
• Fundraising communications experience.
• Experience leading a Marketing and communications team in the non-profit sector.

Conditions of employment:

• This role will involve some evening and weekend commitments.
• For non-Canadian citizens, proof of eligibility to work in Canada is required.
• Have ability to work according to a hybrid model, either remotely with an average of four days per month in the Toronto office and/or flexibility to work in a small open concept office environment.
• In consideration of the population served, the following criteria must also be met:
  • Current police reference check with vulnerable sector screening.
  • Non-smoker.
  • Attestation of immunization against Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis and Polio as well as confirmation you have taken Tuberculosis (“TB”) test confirming you do not have a TB infection. A new TB screening form must be undertaken annually.
  • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination in the form of the Ontario Ministry of Health vaccine confirmation provided at the time of vaccination, or another form of government vaccine confirmation if the vaccine was obtained outside of Ontario, in compliance with our organization’s Covid-19 Vaccination Policy.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

KCI (Ketchum Canada Inc.) has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of CAMPFIRE CIRCLE. For more information about this opportunity, please contact Mona Ip, Senior Search Consultant, KCI Search + Talent by email at campfire@kcitalent.com. All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence. To apply, please send a resume and letter of interest to the email address listed above by January 8, 2022.

To view the full Position Brief please visit: www.kcitalent.com

CAMPFIRE CIRCLE is strongly committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People of North America and the world, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. We are committed to providing equitable opportunities in employment and to providing a workplace which is free from discrimination and harassment. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Please note that the salary range for this position is $95,000 – $115,000 with a comprehensive benefits package.