Reports To: General Manager
Position Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Location: 2 Carlton St., Toronto, ON (Hybrid)
Start Date: November 2026
Salary Range: $80,000 - $90,000 depending on experience (plus health & pension benefits after qualifying period)
Vacation: 10 days (pro-rated) for the first 6 months, increasing to 15 days annually thereafter, plus 3 personal days
Application Deadline: October 16, 2026, at 5:00pm
Interviews: Week of October 26
Overview
Sankofa Square is a vibrant community hub and central gathering place in the heart of downtown Toronto, originally established in 2004 as Yonge-Dundas Square. An inclusive space that welcomes everyone, the Square hosts hundreds of diverse events, ranging from community-based festivals and concerts to public art and commercial experiences.
Managed by the Sankofa Square Board of Management, a City of Toronto agency, the Square is guided by the Akan principle of Sankofa - “to go back and get it” - drawing inspiration from the past to build a better future. This ethos is reflected throughout our diverse events calendar and in our logo, which symbolizes connection and cultural evolution.
Building on our history of hosting major cultural festivals, we are expanding our own daily community programming and engagement. Our goal is to create a downtown "living room" where visitors choose to relax, connect, and stay.
We believe that a thriving public square is essential for a connected city. The Manager of Marketing & Communications will play a vital role in transforming our downtown core by sharing hopeful visions of the future and celebrating the rich mosaic of Toronto.
We are a small, dedicated team with big ambitions. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, moving easily from day-to-day hands-on tasks to high-level strategic planning. As Manager of Marketing & Communications, you will champion the Square’s new brand identity. Working closely with our leadership team, creative agencies, and community partners, you will lead our digital storytelling, media relations, and public engagement to share our story locally and beyond. By joining Sankofa Square, you will help make a measurable difference in how Torontonians experience their city, shaping the narrative of one of our most prominent civic landmarks.
Core Responsibilities
The Manager of Marketing & Communications will focus their efforts across five key pillars of the Square's operations, acting as a leader and directing the work of external agencies, consultants, and creative partners rather than managing an internal staff:
1. Brand Stewardship, Reputation & Marketing
- Develop and execute integrated annual marketing, communications, and brand strategies that position Sankofa Square as a welcoming, dynamic civic commons locally and internationally.
- Act as a steward of the Square's public identity and reputation, directing messaging for major programs, public announcements, proactive/reactive public relations, and leading storytelling campaigns that rebuild civic confidence and excitement.
- Oversee owned media channels - including digital screens, website, social platforms, and print collateral - while directing external PR, creative, and digital agencies to ensure unified brand delivery.
2. Curated & Self-Produced Programming
- Lead integrated promotional strategies across the Square’s three-tier activation rhythm - from daily micro-animations and recurring community engagement to signature series (such as the "Hot Square Summer" programming including Music, Movies, Fitness, and Lunchtime in the Square, as well as SankofaFest).
- Ensure marketing campaigns actively celebrate Toronto's cultural mosaic and invite community members to experience the Square as a daily destination.
3. Values-Aligned & Community Partnerships
- Cultivate and steward strategic promotional partnerships and media sponsorships.
- Actively partner with internal team members and external consultants to pursue, pitch, and secure values-aligned event sponsors and funding, co-developing activation proposals that reflect the Square's commitment to equity, inclusion, and cultural dynamism.
- Collaborate on marketing and communications initiatives with neighborhood and cultural partners (e.g., Downtown Yonge BIA, Melanin Market, Make Room, TMU, etc.) to amplify shared goals and foster lasting civic relationships.
4. Event Client Amplification & Marketing
- Support external event clients who book the Square by featuring their festivals and activations across Sankofa Square’s owned promotional channels (newsletters, website, event calendar, digital screens, and media notices).
- Working with the Events team, develop marketing collateral and outreach strategies targeted at prospective and returning event clients (both brand and community organizers) to drive revenue and vibrant, inclusive Square usage.
5. Leadership & Administration
- Set annual departmental priorities, manage marketing budgets, and establish efficient processes for briefing, approvals, and project management with external agency partners.
- Own the integrated marketing and editorial calendar, developing clear workback schedules and coordinating asset deadlines for major activations and seasonal campaigns.
- Monitor campaign performance in real-time, interpret data to recommend adjustments to channel mix, and lead post-campaign evaluations focusing on ROI and strategic impact.
- Design and implement audience surveys and evaluate key performance indicators aligned with our strategic goals (including dwell time, cultural reach, visitor sentiment, and community accessibility) to inform strategy and decision-making.
- Attend on-site activations, actively building in-person relationships with attendees, artists, and neighborhood stakeholders.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Post-secondary education in a relevant field and at least 6 to 8+ years of experience in marketing, communications, public relations, and leadership for a complex organization, cultural institution, public space, or nonprofit.
- Demonstrated experience shifting public narratives, cultivating civic pride, and promoting public realm/placemaking initiatives, supported by a deep understanding of the Toronto cultural landscape.
- An exceptional writer and storyteller with a talent for making complex civic or cultural narratives accessible and engaging for diverse audiences.
- Proven experience directing the work of external creative agencies, consultants, and strategic partners to deliver high-impact campaigns.
- Experience building media sponsorship programs, securing values-aligned partners, and leveraging earned media relationships.
- A demonstrated commitment to equity, accessibility, inclusion, and community-centered practice.
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities efficiently and work effectively with senior executives, Boards of Management, funders, and external stakeholders.
Technical & Digital Skills
- Operational Tools: Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Teams) and project management platforms, alongside familiarity with digital design principles (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite). Comfortable utilizing AI tools to accelerate content workflows while applying strong editorial judgment to maintain an authentic, high-quality organizational voice.
- Web Management: Experience managing and maintaining websites, including working with CMS platforms and basic HTML/CSS principles (no direct coding required).
- Digital Strategy & Analytics: Demonstrated experience utilizing digital marketing platforms (CRM, email marketing, social scheduling tools) to direct campaigns and produce actionable reporting.
Helpful but not required:
- Ability to drive a vehicle and current Ontario Driver's License.
- Experience with event management software or similar.
- Ability to speak and write PR materials in French.
Compensation, Logistics & The Workplace
- Compensation: $80,000 to $90,000 depending on experience and qualifications.
- Benefits: Eligible for OMERS Pension and Health Benefits provided through the City of Toronto plans after a qualifying period.
- Vacation: 10 days of paid vacation (pro-rated) during the first 6 months, increasing to 15 days annually after 6 months of continuous service, plus three personal days and ten statutory public holidays.
- Hours: Standard business hours, typically 35 hours per week, with some evenings and weekends required to support Sankofa Square events/programming.
- Environment: This is a HYBRID position, meaning staff may be required to work remotely/from home, and in-office or onsite at Sankofa Square. Candidates must be located in or around Toronto and have easy access to our downtown location. A laptop computer will be provided.
Application Process
Completed applications should be emailed to: [email protected]
The email should have the subject line: Application for Manager of Marketing & Communications – YOUR NAME
Please include in a single PDF document an attachment to your email, with your resume and a cover letter explaining why you wish to join the Sankofa Square team.
In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), accommodations are available upon request for all aspects of the recruitment and employment process. If you require accommodation in order to participate or work at Sankofa Square, please let us know at [email protected].
Sankofa Square is committed to a positive and supportive environment that promotes equity and diversity. We encourage applications by individuals identifying as Indigenous peoples, racialized persons/persons of colour, persons with disabilities, women, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, members of visible minorities, and anyone belonging to equity-deserving groups.
Sankofa Square is deeply grateful to all who express interest in this opportunity. Only those most closely aligned with the position requirements will be contacted for an interview.
