Immigrant Access Fund Canada
National Director of Marketing Communications
_____________________________________________________________
The Role
The first National Director of Marketing Communications for Immigrant Access Fund Canada
(IAF) will build a nationally recognized brand and, over the next several years, help grow by a
factor of ten the organization's human capital impact. Reporting to the CEO, the National
Director of Marketing Communications will develop and manage all marketing and
communications initiatives for IAF with the support of a team of communication and outreach
staff and act as an internal consultant to staff and Board.
About Immigrant Access Fund Canada
IAF supports immigrants and refugees who arrive in Canada with professional skills but who lack
Canadian accreditation. Prevented by Canadian regulatory bodies from working in their field
without accreditation, and without the financial resources to pay for the training and licensing,
they often fall into poverty, living hand to mouth on low paying “survival” jobs. Without income,
collateral or credit history, it is difficult if not impossible for them to access mainstream credit to
bridge the gap.
IAF addresses this problem by providing micro loans of up to $10,000 to internationally trained
immigrants so they can obtain the Canadian licensing or training they need to work in their field.
Since 2005, IAF has provided $17 million in loans to 2,700 immigrants in different occupations
across Canada. The impact of an IAF loan is profound:



The income of skilled immigrants is tripled. With the help of a $7,000 loan, the average
loan recipient's income rises from $16,000 to $50,000.
The contributions of skilled immigrants to the Canadian economy multiplies
exponentially. Every $1 invested in IAF’s program returns $15 for the Canadian
economy in the first year after a borrower completes their learning plan. Loan recipients
increase their tax contribution by 4 times.
Canadians, as a whole, live higher quality lives when immigrants are able to put their
skills to work in Canadian communities, particularly where there are skill shortages. 80%
of loan recipients have found work closely matching what they did in their country, most
commonly as medical professionals, engineers or in the financial industry.
IAF is the only national organization in Canada providing micro loans to skilled immigrants.
_____________________________________________________________________
1 Page
Position Profile
National Director of Marketing & Communications
Immigrant Access Fund Canada
In the past decade, IAF has grown from a grassroots organization in Calgary offering 35 loans to
a national organization offering nearly 500 loans in the past year. With over 170,000 skilled
professionals entering the country every year, and awareness of the program still low, IAF's
board and new CEO are positioning IAF to increase its impact exponentially.
The Opportunity
This role offers the opportunity to build national awareness for a unique Canadian charity whose
mission--to integrate immigrants into the Canadian economy--has never been more timely. The
Director will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with a results oriented CEO who has a
track record building a nationally recognized organization, and enjoy the measurable impact of
their work.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal National Director of Marketing Communication loves the idea of building a national
brand for a charity with an impressive but unknown track record of success. S/he will share IAF's
passion for helping skilled immigrants access opportunities to contribute professionally in
Canada and believe in IAF's values of relevancy, accessibility, integrity, sustainability and equity.
While strategy and planning is a critical part of the role, the candidate must be able to roll out
marketing and communications initiatives quickly and responsively. The successful candidate
comes from a professional marketing environment with tools and metrics for measuring the
success of these initiatives.
Key Accountabilities
Strategy & Planning
 Develop a three-year marketing and communication plan with three specific goals (1) to
increase the number of loan applications from skilled immigrants (2) increase financial
support from the private sector and from governments (3) raise awareness for the
challenges faced by skilled new Canadians with the goal of reducing the barriers to their
professional success.
 Audit current communications and outreach practices.
Brand Development
 Create and mobilize a national brand identity.
 Provide brand oversight, including a brand guide, for all of IAF’s marketing and
communications initiatives.
Marketing Campaigns & Fundraising Support
 Create national awareness campaigns to reach key target groups and improve overall
awareness among the Canadian population.
 Build awareness in the GTA and in the other urban areas that are home to many new
immigrants.
 Support fundraising initiatives with compelling materials including donor impact statements.
_____________________________________________________________________
2 Page
Position Profile
National Director of Marketing & Communications
Immigrant Access Fund Canada
Communications, PR & Media
 Create all marketing and communications materials including web site, proposals, annual
reports and fundraising materials.
 Identify creative and innovative ways to bring IAF’s many success stories to key stakeholders
and the public at large.
 Create a highly effective earned media program to increase visibility nationally.
 Leverage the success of loan recipients to create exciting and inspiring stories to use in
marketing materials.
Staff Management & Operations & Vendor Relations
 Manage and mentor a team of communication/outreach staff.
 Manage the marketing and outreach budgets to ensure dollars receive the highest ROI,
measured by loan application numbers, fundraising success and media metrics.
 Develop a roster of pro-bono marketing and communication companies, inspiring them to
support IAF and its mission.
Qualifications & Required Skills













8 to 10 years as a marketing and communication professional, ideally operating at a national
level. IAF also welcomes marketing and communications candidates from the private sector.
A track record growing a brand with verifiable successes.
Experience developing marketing and communications, PR, earned media and social media
plans and activities.
A skilled manager of staff who understands how to motivate, inspire and coach people to
get the highest level of performance.
An excellent writer and storyteller.
Presents professionally and can bring credibility to a senior leadership role.
A smart and forward thinking professional. Understands trends and the impact of
technology.
High energy, self-starter, solutions oriented, entrepreneurial, fast paced, positive. Sees what
can be done and gets it done.
Is a team player who believes in the mission of IAF.
Someone who enjoys the challenge of creating win-win solutions, of bringing new resources
and ideas into an organization, and of finding creative ways to maximize the impact of
valuable resources.
Can challenge and be challenged. Comfortable with change and ambiguity.
Personal experience with the challenges facing immigrants and refugees is an asset.
An undergraduate degree (ideally in business, marketing and communication) is a must.
_____________________________________________________________________
3 Page
Position Profile
National Director of Marketing & Communications
Immigrant Access Fund Canada
Additional Information

IAF has offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Toronto. The role will be based in
Toronto at the IAF office at Bloor and Bay.
For More Information
If you meet the criteria above and are interested in applying for the position, please send your
resume to [email protected] or call Sandra Paquette at 416-763-0404. We are actively
recruiting for this position, so to ensure you are given due consideration for this opportunity,
interested candidates should send their resumes as soon as possible.
To find out more about SearchSmart and executive search solutions, visit our web site
at www.searchsmart.ca
_____________________________________________________________________
4 Page
Position Profile
National Director of Marketing & Communications
Immigrant Access Fund Canada