Chief Brand and Reputation Officer

Reporting to the Vice President, the Chief Brand and Reputation Officer is accountable for safeguarding and advancing Sheridan's institutional reputation by providing enterprise-wide leadership for brand strategy, communications, public affairs, and reputation management. The role defines, stewards, and activates a compelling and differentiated institutional brand narrative that strengthens public trust and ensures Sheridan communicates with clarity, credibility, and consistency across all channels and audiences. The Officer ensures alignment between institutional priorities and revenue-generating opportunities through clear service governance, disciplined resource prioritization, and measurable outcomes, using data-driven insights to demonstrate impact on reputation, enrolment, engagement, and institutional objectives. As a trusted senior advisor to the President, Executive Team, and senior leaders, the Officer provides expert counsel on communications strategy, issues and crisis management, public positioning, and stakeholder engagement, and may act as an institutional spokesperson as required. Working collaboratively with senior executives and academic and administrative leaders, the role advances an integrated approach to storytelling and institutional positioning and monitors emerging trends to mitigate risk and reinforce Sheridan's leadership and distinctiveness in the postsecondary sector.

What You’ll Be Doing

Providing enterprise-level leadership for an integrated Communications, Public Affairs, Marketing and Brand portfolio, ensuring alignment with Sheridan’s strategic plan and institutional priorities;
Establishing and governing Sheridan’s institutional brand, positioning, and narrative across all audiences, platforms, and touchpoints, and leading the development, implementation, and continuous evolution of a comprehensive institutional communications and brand strategy that reinforces trust, relevance, and distinctiveness within the post-secondary and public sector environment;
Accountable for executive and institutional communications in support of the President, Executive Team, and Senior Leadership, and for the proactive management of Sheridan’s reputation;
Providing leadership for issues management, media relations, and crisis communications, navigating complex, highprofile, and sensitive matters, and providing strategic direction for public affairs and government relations support to advance institutional priorities;
Serving as, or designating, an institutional spokesperson and providing coaching and guidance to senior leaders in public, media, and stakeholder engagements;
Leading internal communications and employee engagement strategies that promote transparency, alignment, and a shared understanding of institutional priorities;
Providing strategic oversight of integrated marketing, paid media, digital strategy, social media, and institutional content, ensuring marketing and communications activities are aligned with brand strategy/institutional objectives;
Establishing and maintaining governance for institutional web properties and corporate channels, and overseeing institutional publications, creative services, and content standards for quality, consistency, accessibility and compliance;
Establishing and maintaining a transparent service governance framework that aligns institutional priorities with the needs of academic and administrative units, including revenuegenerating areas;
Defining service models, accountabilities, performance expectations, and resource prioritization mechanisms, and measuring and reporting on performance using data-driven insights to demonstrate impact on reputation, enrolment, engagement, and broader institutional objectives;
Providing overall leadership for portfolio planning and operations, including budget development and management, resource allocation, risk mitigation, and workforce planning;
Leading, coaching, and developing Directors, Managers, and staff, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing culture, and driving continuous improvement and modernization in communications, brand, and reputation management practices;
Performing other related duties, as assigned.
About You

You value participating in and creating safe, brave and inclusive environments at work and in the community and want to be a part of a culture where we strive to take actions to ensure no one is left behind.

You bring a forward-thinking, energetic, and visionary approach, proactively identifying opportunities, anticipating challenges, and driving innovative, strategic solutions.

You demonstrate solid political acuity, tact, and diplomacy, supported by highly developed conflict resolution and negotiation skills.

You are results-driven and committed to excellence in your own work, the performance of your team, and communications initiatives that reflect and advance the organization.

You effectively manage competing priorities, remain focused under pressure, and demonstrate composure and patience in complex or high-demand situations.

You operate with uncompromising integrity, earn the trust of colleagues and stakeholders, and exercise sound judgment in managing highly sensitive and confidential information.

You adopt a consultative, collegial leadership style, listen attentively, learn quickly, and use diplomacy to foster effective collaboration and cross-departmental consistency.

You communicate clearly and effectively across diverse audiences and platforms, face-to-face, public presentations, social media, video conferencing, telephone, email, and written materials, while serving as a visible and positive ambassador for the organization.

You apply advanced analytical and critical thinking skills to identify strategic opportunities and risks, anticipate emerging issues, and ensure timely, effective action.

You inspire, energize, and engage your team while nurturing an open, collaborative approach to achieving goals in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

You build solid relationships and develop consensus across diverse communities by being direct, articulate, decisive, compassionate, respectful, and socially and politically astute.

The successful candidate will also meet the following qualifications:

Master’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Government Relations, Marketing or other related field
9 years of experience as a trusted advisor to leadership on reputational, communications and marketing issues, at strategic level. (Equivalency will be considered).
Demonstrated success developing, implementing and measuring the outcomes of strategic marketing, communications and special events to advance organizational objectives
Knowledge of post-secondary academic emerging trends, issues, regulations, processes and best practices
A proven track record of success mitigating and managing sensitive and complex issues and enhancing organizational reputation with a variety of internal and external audiences and stakeholder groups
Experience as a media spokesperson
Expert understanding of crisis communications best practices
Knowledge of freedom of information, CASL, and privacy legislation
Able to leverage current developments and opportunities in social and digital media
Experience in editorial direction and oversight for creating print publications (ex: annual reports, case for support)
Change leadership experience in a post-secondary environment
Financial acumen, budget development and management
The following will be considered assets: APR (accredited in public relations); CMP (communications management professional) or Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) accreditation
Who We Are

Every member of the Sheridan community is passionate about the transformational role we play in people’s lives. Our strategic plan, Sheridan 2027: Forging the Future (https://www.sheridancollege.ca/sheridan2027), charts a path towards a new ground-breaking model of higher education that reshapes post-secondary education and better prepares students for the future. We are committed to demonstrably advancing equity, diversity and inclusivity. Diversity is our strength and fuels our commitment to excellence. Across our campuses, we’re making meaningful strides towards developing an equitable and inclusive community.

For more information, visit: Why Work at Sheridan

Other Details:
Department: Communications, Public Affairs & Marketing
Primary Work/Campus Location: Trafalgar (may be assigned activities at any Sheridan campus)
Work Categorization: Hybrid Position | On-site at least 3 days/week
Reference #: J0326-0174
Employee Group: Administrative
Payband: NQ
Salary Range: $168,584 - $210,730
Application Deadline: March 15, 2026
Type of Vacancy: This is a new position

Commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
First Nations peoples have lived on this part of Turtle Island for millennia, stewarding the land, the water and all that contributes to life in this region. Today, the culture and presence of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples enrich the lands and people of this territory.

Over two centuries ago, the Mississauga people welcomed settlers to this territory, providing sustenance and engaging in trade and commerce. Between 1781 to 1820, eight treaties were signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation who opened their territory to settlement. Today, Sheridan campuses are located on Treaty 14, also known as the Head of the Lake Purchase of 1806 and Treaty 22 and 23 of 1820.

Treaty history is foundational, and it is our collective responsibility to honour the land, as we honour and respect those who have gone before us, those who are here and those who have yet to come. We are grateful for the opportunity to be learning, working and thriving on this land, and we commit to learn the truth and be active in the process of reconciliation.

Sheridan values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. Sheridan regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. Sheridan seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism, and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including those who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Sheridan will provide job applicants with accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. To request accommodation, please contact Human Resources.

You may be asked to provide copies of your educational credentials at the time of interview. Upon hire, we require official confirmation of educational credentials and Canadian equivalency assessments, if applicable.