Executive Director, Communications (13055)

JOB INFORMATION

Requisition ID: 13055

Number of Vacancies: 1

Department: Corporate Affairs (20000710) - Chief Corporate Affairs Officer's Office (30000493)

Salary Information: We offer a competitive compensation package that aligns with the individual's qualifications, experience, and current market data.

Employment Type: Regular

New or Existing Vacancy: New

Weekly Hours: 35 Off Days: Saturday and Sunday Shift: Day

Posted On: May 6th, 2026

Last Day to Apply: May 27th, 2026

Reports to: Chief Strategy and Customer Officer

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), North America's third largest transit system and recognized as one of the top places to work in the GTA has introduced its new 2024-2028 TTC Corporate Plan - Moving Toronto, Connecting Communities which continues the TTC’s legacy of delivering service to hundreds of millions of customers a year. The TTC’s new vision and mission statements also help promote the many environmental, social equity and economic benefits that the TTC provides:

Vision: Moving Toronto towards a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future.

Mission: To serve the needs of transit riders by providing a safe, reliable, efficient, and accessible mass public transit service through a seamless integrated network to create access to opportunity for everyone.

The full Plan can be viewed on ttc.ca.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is seeking an Executive Director, Communications to develop and lead a transformational, enterprise wide communications strategy that advances corporate priorities, enhances the customer experience and strengthens public trust. Reporting to the Chief Strategy & Customer Officer, the role provides strategic leadership across all internal and external communications, including media relations, public affairs, crisis and issues management, marketing, brand and reputation, digital channels, and executive communications.

As a trusted advisor to the senior leadership team, the Executive Director will position communications as a core enabler of organizational change, ensuring alignment with the TTC’s public mandate and corporate strategy. The role serves as a key liaison with the TTC Board, City Council, government partners, media, employees, customers, and communities across the Greater Toronto Area.

SCOPE & RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties of this role will include but are not limited to following:

Strategic Communications, Transformation & Executive Advisory

• Develop and lead a transformational, enterprise wide communications strategy that supports organizational priorities, modernization efforts, and public trust.
• Serve as the principal communications advisor to the CEO, senior leadership team, and TTC Board on policy, operational, and strategic matters with public, political, or media sensitivity.
• Provide strategic oversight of executive messaging, including speeches, presentations, Board and City Council materials, reports, and high profile public communications.
• Attend and support TTC Board and City Council meetings, as required.

Enterprise Communications, Media & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead integrated internal, external, and media communications to inform, engage, and align employees, customers, and stakeholders, particularly during periods of change.
• Direct proactive and reactive media relations, issues management, and spokesperson functions.
• Represent the TTC at external events, public forums, and stakeholder engagements.
• Navigate complex stakeholder environments to build alignment, manage expectations, and advance strategic outcomes.
• Monitor emerging trends, technologies, and best practices to continuously strengthen communications effectiveness.

Brand, Digital, Customer Experience & Wayfinding

• Oversee brand strategy, tone of voice, and message alignment across all channels, ensuring a cohesive and trusted public presence.
• Provide strategic leadership for digital platforms, social media, websites, and customer facing communications, ensuring an integrated omnichannel experience.
• Lead the implementation of the TTC’s wayfinding strategy and oversee the design and development of visual, spatial, and physical communications assets.
• Ensure communications reflect organizational values and embed equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles.
• Oversee unionized customer service and information centre operations.
• Define and track customer experience success measures and guide data informed investments and improvements.

Governance, Risk, Crisis & Reputation Management

• Establish communications policies, standards, and best practices in compliance with legislative, corporate, and accountability requirements.
• Lead enterprise crisis and issues communications planning and execution in close coordination with Operations, Safety, Legal, and Emergency Management.
• Anticipate emerging communications and reputational risks and develop mitigation strategies to maintain public confidence.

Financial, Operational & People Leadership

• Oversee communications operating and capital budgets, ensuring effective resource allocation, value for money, and measurable outcomes.
• Establish performance frameworks to assess communications impact, effectiveness, and return on investment.
• Build and sustain high performing, inclusive teams and foster a respectful, safe workplace culture.
• Ensure equitable, accessible service delivery in accordance with applicable legislation and organizational commitments.

KEY SKILLS & EXPERTISE

• Senior expertise in strategic communications, issues management, and reputation leadership within complex government, public, and media environments.
• Strong knowledge of municipal, provincial, and federal governance, legislative and regulatory frameworks, public administration, and human resources practices.
• Exceptional written, verbal, media relations, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills, with a proven ability to influence senior levels.
• Demonstrated success building collaborative relationships across Boards, governments, media, employees, unions, community partners, and customers.
• Advanced understanding of digital communications, social media, customer engagement platforms, and emerging technologies, including AI.
• Experience overseeing brand, design, wayfinding, and customer-centered communications in large, complex organizations.
• Proven ability to manage complex budgets, lead change, drive measurable outcomes, and improve customer experience.
• Strong analytical judgment, decision-making, project management, and people leadership skills in fast paced, high risk environments.

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

• University Degree, or College Diploma in a related discipline (i.e., public relations, communications, marketing, advertising, corporate affairs) or a combination of education, training, and experience deemed to be equivalent.

Commitment to EDI

The TTC is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, anti-racism and inclusion in the delivery of its services and in its workplaces. The TTC is committed to fostering a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities it serves at all levels of the organization and supports an inclusive environment where diverse employee and community perspectives and experiences bring value to the organization. The TTC encourages applications from all applicants, including members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including but not limited to, Indigenous, Black and racialized groups, people with disabilities, women and people from the LGBTQIA+ community. The TTC values and supports an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process. Accommodations for applicants are available upon request throughout the recruitment and selection process, including for those who identify as having a disability. Please contact Talent Management at (416) 393-4570 or Jobs@ttc.ca . Any information received related to an accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

General Prohibition in Hiring Process

The TTC is also committed to a fair hiring process based on job related qualifications, merit, and abilities. You are expected to write your own materials and provide your own qualifications and experiences during the hiring process. The TTC will not tolerate the use of artificial intelligence or external resources in any of your submissions or responses, or the disclosure of interview questions to others. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

• The use of any artificial intelligence (AI) tool including, but not limited to, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, to generate or produce any information or materials to be submitted or any response to any assessment question or any interview question, is prohibited.
• All information and materials you submit, including resume, cover letter, and assessment responses, are your own original work without the use of any AI tool
• During any interview, your response to any interview question is your own without the use or assistance of any AI tool or any person.
• You will not disseminate or disclose to any person any interview question.

Should you breach the prohibition of AI tool use, or information dissemination or disclosure, you will be in violation of TTC’s hiring process and TTC may withdraw your application and may prohibit you from participation in the TTC hiring process.

Relatives of TTC Employees

The TTC’s policy prohibits relatives of current TTC employees from being hired, assigned, transferred or promoted into positions, where there is a conflict of interest due to a relationship. Should you be selected for an interview, you will be required to disclose the name, relationship and position of any relative who is a current TTC employee.

This position is exempt from Ontario's 2026 pay transparency requirements under Regulation 476/24.

We thank all applicants for their interest but advise only those selected for an interview will be contacted.