Community Engagement and Brand Marketing Manager

Torstar Corporation

Community Engagement and Brand Marketing Manager strategy for Metroland's community news brands. Focus on relationship building, engagement planning, and marketing initiatives to enhance local presence.

Posted 7/21/2026full-timeRemote • Toronto • 🇨🇦 CanadaMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in community engagement and stakeholder relationship building, with a strong focus on developing and executing strategies that drive audience growth and brand awareness. Proficient in training and coaching staff, utilizing data analytics to inform decision-making and enhance community trust.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Community EngagementStakeholder Relationship BuildingCampaign Design and ExecutionTraining and CoachingData Analytics

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Audience Growth StrategiesCampaign ExecutionProject ManagementCommunity MappingTouchpoint Strategy Development

Soft Skills

Exceptional CommunicationStrategic ThinkingResilienceAuthentic CommunicationCuriosity

Tools & Technologies

Digital Engagement PlatformsNewsletter ManagementAnalytics Tools

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in MarketingBachelor's Degree in CommunicationsBachelor's Degree in BusinessBachelor's Degree in Community DevelopmentBachelor's Degree in Journalism

Industry Keywords

Local MediaCommunity OrganizationsBrand MarketingOntario MarketsGrassroots Campaigns

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Map community stakeholders – builders, organizers, institutions, civic groups, business associations – in each of our markets and build ongoing engagement plans for each stakeholder archetype.
Identify potential high-value relationships.
Identify and help pursue partnership opportunities with organizations that share our audience and/or vision.
Develop a touchpoint strategy that puts our brands in front of new homeowners, new parents, new arrivals, new retirees at the moments when they most need local information
Design and lead a training program that equips staff members with the language, confidence and tools to represent their brand in public.
Create simple, practical playbooks for staff covering how to introduce themselves at community events, how to invite people to subscribe to newsletters, how to present to community groups, how to respond to the “Are you guys still around?” question, and how to turn a casual conversation into a meaningful brand interaction.
Work with editors to identify reporters who have strong community profiles and help them lean into that visibility in ways that serve both their journalism and the brand
Ensure that while the news is local, the experience of our brand -the feeling of trust and utility is identical across all Ontario sites.
Design high-value virtual and in-person events that can be replicated across different markets with minimal friction.
Design and execute grassroots campaigns that drive newsletter subscriptions and app downloads.
Track which communities and which tactics are producing the most engaged new subscribers, and redirect effort accordingly
Provide regular reporting to leadership on brand awareness, audience growth, partnership activity and community sentiment
Identify communities or neighbourhoods within our markets where awareness and engagement are lowest and develop targeted plans to address them

Requirements

What you’ll need

5+ years in community engagement, stakeholder relationship building, or brand marketing
Proven track record building and maintaining relationships with diverse community groups or organizations
Experience designing and executing campaigns that drive audience growth and engagement
Experience training or coaching others and developing practical playbooks/systems
Strategic thinking and ability to understand what builds local trust and credibility
Exceptional communication and presentation skills—ability to influence and inspire others
Comfort with data and analytics; ability to track metrics and adjust strategy accordingly
Strong project management and ability to work cross-functionally with teams
Genuine curiosity about communities and how they work
Entrepreneurial mindset; comfort being scrappy and resourceful
Authentic communication style (no corporate jargon)
Resilience and persistence in relationship building
Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Community Development, Journalism, or related field or equivalent professional experience in related roles
Preferred Qualifications: Background in local media, local business, or community organizations
Experience working in Ontario or similar regional markets
Experience with digital engagement platforms, newsletters, or subscriber models

Benefits

Comp & perks

Work from home and travel within southern/central Ontario required