SJK has an exciting opportunity for a full-time Associate Director, Marketing & Communications to join our team!

About St. John’s-Kilmarnock School (SJK)

SJK is the leading co-educational independent school in the Waterloo Region of Ontario. The School, founded in 1972, is located on a beautiful 36-acre natural campus, offering enriched educational programming for day students from JK-Grade 12 and international boarding students from Grades 9-12 through our accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. The School’s co-ed Boarding Residence is located in close proximity to the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.

SJK offers a world of learning where we embrace innovation, diversity and internationalism. We have dedicated and inspirational educators, attentive to the needs of individual students and their families. Our expectations are high; students are encouraged to find balance through academics, sports, arts, service and leadership. As the only accredited IB World Continuum School in Southwestern Ontario, our students love learning and graduate as confident, well-rounded individuals, fully prepared for post-secondary education and life beyond. Our graduates take their passions to the world as leaders and global citizens.

As a community, we believe in the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. We strive to be a place where every student, faculty and staff member, parent, and alumnus feels welcome and valued. We achieve this by living our core values and by appreciating that our learning community is enhanced by human differences. We value the unique experiences that each individual brings to our community and the myriads of perspectives that our diversity provides. We also recognize that it is our common humanity that binds us together as a community. We welcome applications from individuals who feel they could contribute positively to our diverse community.

Position Summary:

The Associate Director, Marketing & Communications, provides strategic leadership for the School's marketing, brand, and communications functions, leading the development and execution of integrated internal and external communications strategies that strengthen institutional reputation, advance enrolment objectives, support advancement priorities, and foster meaningful engagement across the SJK community.

The role is responsible for shaping and sharing the story of the School across a wide range of platforms and mediums, including social media, digital marketing, photography, video, publications, web content, and community communications. Working collaboratively with internal stakeholders and external marketing partners, the Associate Director is responsible for defining and articulating the School's differentiated value proposition and translating it into a cohesive narrative architecture that informs messaging, campaigns, publications, digital content, and community communications across all audiences. This role serves as a key steward of the School’s voice and brand, ensuring communications are authentic, strategic, visually compelling, and reflective of the energy and excellence of the SJK community.

Specific Accountabilities:

• Lead the School’s marketing and communications strategy, advancing the School’s brand positioning, value proposition, and institutional messaging across communication channels.
• Oversee the School’s digital content strategy, including social media, photography, video, written stories, graphics, and multimedia assets, creating engaging content that strengthens brand awareness, community engagement, and institutional visibility.
• Develop and executes integrated marketing and communications campaigns in collaboration with internal stakeholders and external marketing agencies, creative partners, digital vendors, and production suppliers to support enrolment, advancement, events, and strategic priorities.
• Oversee the School’s website and digital presence, ensuring content is current, engaging, accessible, and aligned with institutional messaging and brand standards.
• Lead the development of marketing collateral, publications, presentations, and promotional materials that effectively communicate the School’s value proposition and strategic priorities.
• Support the planning and execution of internal and external communications by developing clear, consistent, and timely messaging that advances institutional priorities, change management initiatives, and leadership communications.
• Lead communication planning and coordination for key institutional initiatives, operational announcements, publications (including the Friday File and Flight Plan), parent communications, and other School-wide messaging initiatives.
• Support issues management and crisis communications planning through timely, coordinated messaging aligned with School leadership.
• Develop leadership communications, including presentations, speeches, newsletters, and stakeholder communications as required.
• Collaborate closely with academic, athletics, enrolment, advancement, and student life teams to identify and amplify meaningful stories while providing communications and media support for School initiatives and events through photography, digital coverage, and promotional content.
• Maintain institutional brand standards while coordinating content calendars, campaign timelines, and communication workflows to ensure consistent, proactive, and strategic communications throughout the school year.
• Monitor digital engagement, campaign performance, audience insights, and emerging communications trends to continuously improve marketing effectiveness and audience engagement.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Post-secondary education and/or equivalent experience in communications, marketing, digital media, journalism, or a related field.
• Exceptional storytelling, writing, editing, and visual communication abilities.
• Proven experience in brand management, social media strategy, and digital marketing.
• Strong photography, videography, and content creation capability.
• Experience working with external marketing agencies, creative vendors, or production partners.
• Proficiency with design, publishing, social, email, and content management platforms.
• Strong understanding of digital engagement trends, audience development, and multi-platform communications strategies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Understanding of independent school or nonprofit environments is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated proficiency in leveraging generative artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging digital technologies to enhance content creation, communications, marketing workflows, audience engagement, and operational efficiency, while exercising sound judgment regarding accuracy, ethics, privacy, and brand integrity.

Workplace Requirements and Conditions:

• This is an on-campus role requiring full-time presence at St. John’s-Kilmarnock School to support real-time communications, events, photography, and community engagement.
• Regular requirement to support communications for events and school activities during evenings and weekends.
• Regular flexibility to work outside normal business hours to support time-sensitive communications, emergency notifications, digital updates, events, and other institutional priorities as required.

To Apply:

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to forward by email a letter of application and a résumé to https://tealandco.com/careers by July 10th, 2026.

SJK is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including participation in the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and RRSP if eligible and opportunities for professional development in a vibrant, collegial work environment. Please be aware that the successful candidate must submit a vulnerable sector check.

The salary range is based on our current salary band and ranges from $80,000.00 to $100,000.00.

SJK does not utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the screening, assessment, or selection of applicants.