Director, Brand & Communications

Job Description - Director, Brand & CommunicationsJob Title: Director, Brand & CommunicationsDepartment: Marketing & CommunicationsReports To: President & CEOOverview: The Director, Brand & Communications is a senior strategic leader responsible for strengthening, protecting, and evolving the Edmonton Elks brand across all touchpoints. This role oversees brand strategy, communications, public relations, content development, creative governance, and reputation management.The Director provides strategic leadership of football communications through the Manager, Football Communications & Player Relations, ensuring football storylines and personalities are integrated into the broader brand narrative.This role works as an equal partner to the Director, Marketing & Revenue Development to ensure brand integrity and revenue generation are mutually reinforcing. Together, they collaborate on unified campaign development, shared creative alignment, enhanced fan experience, gameday storytelling, data-informed planning, sponsor activation, and partnership integration.Key ResponsibilitiesBrand Leadership & ReputationDevelop and evolve brand strategy to strengthen relevance, reach, and affinity.Maintain and enforce brand standards (visual + verbal) across all channels.Ensure storytelling and messaging align with Club values and enhance reputation.Monitor brand sentiment and lead proactive reputation management.Align brand direction with organizational goals and strategic priorities.Communications & Public RelationsLead Club-wide communications strategy, including earned media and press engagement.Serve as spokesperson or designate spokespeople as appropriate.Build and maintain strong media relationships locally and nationally.Oversee development, timing, and quality of press releases, media kits, and organizational announcements.Lead crisis and issue communications planning and execution.Oversee internal communications to support alignment, culture, and engagement.Provide editorial oversight to ensure strategic, consistent storytelling across platforms.Content & Storytelling StrategyGuide editorial frameworks highlighting players, coaches, alumni, fans, partnerships, and community impact.Oversee strategic planning and governance of annual content and storytelling themes.Ensure content appears consistently across web, social, broadcast, print, and gameday environments.Partner with Marketing/Digital to ensure content supports audience and engagement growth.Ensure Club history, key narratives, and data are accurately integrated.Leadership & OperationsProvide strategic directions to the Manager, Football Communications & Player Relations.Ensure football-related messaging aligns with overall brand strategy.Support major football announcements and sensitive communication situations.Oversee integration of football storytelling across digital, social, broadcast, and community platforms.Establish KPIs and reporting frameworks.Oversee departmental budgeting, planning, and resource allocation.Champion cross-departmental collaboration.Support Club-wide revenue, data integration, and fan engagement goals.Fan Experience, Partnerships & Community IntegrationEnsure brand storytelling enhances fan experience throughout the customer journey.Collaborate with Partnerships + Marketing & Revenue Development to:Integrate sponsor storytelling + messagingSupport partnership value deliveryAlign commercial initiatives with brand voiceStrengthen sponsor activation + integrationAmplify community initiatives through strategic content + mediaCollaborative Partnership with Director, Marketing & Revenue DevelopmentTo Ensure Brand And Revenue Work In TandemUnified campaign planning and executionShared creative alignmentGameday storytelling and promotional executionFan experience design and enhancementData-driven insight sharing and planningSponsor integration and activationQualifications & Experience7+ years in brand, communications, PR, and/or marketing; sports/entertainment an asset.Proven experience developing and executing brand and communications strategies.Demonstrated success as spokesperson, strong media relationships.Experience in crisis + issues management.Leadership experience managing staff and external partners.Exceptional storytelling, writing, and narrative development.Cross-functional collaboration supporting major announcements and events.Skills & CompetenciesStrategic thinker with strong business and brand acumenExcellent written and verbal communicatorStrong editorial judgmentCreative, detail-oriented, innovativeOrganized, proactive, adaptableAble to manage multiple priorities and deadlinesLeadership presence and integrityWorking ConditionsFull-time; evenings, weekends, and holidays required during games and events.Occasional travel for away games and community activations.