Marketing & Communications Associate

Marketing & Communications Associate

Part-time: 18 hours per week, with potential for seasonal full-time hours during May–August for candidates who meet Canada Summer Jobs eligibility requirements

Location: Hybrid, Toronto, with a minimum of one in-office day per week on Tuesdays

Hourly wage: $22/hour

Reports to: Marketing & Communications

Anticipated start date: Tuesday, January 19, 2027

Application deadline: Monday, November 23, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. noon Eastern Time

Do you enjoy turning ideas and information into clear communications, and keeping track of the details that help a campaign run smoothly?

STEPS Public Art is seeking a Marketing & Communications Associate to support email campaigns, newsletters, social media, website updates, and storytelling about artists, communities, and public space.

This hands-on role combines writing and content production with the coordination and administration behind effective communications. You might prepare an outreach list, assemble a newsletter, adapt a project story for social media, update a webpage, gather the images and approvals needed to share an artist’s work or metrics related to a campaign’s reach.

Working with the Marketing & Communications portfolio lead, you will help STEPS maintain consistent, accurate and accessible communications with artists, clients, partners, funders and community members. They will provide direction, briefs and approvals, with priorities established to fit the position’s available hours.

This opportunity may suit an early-career communications professional or someone bringing transferable experience from arts administration, community engagement, digital content or related work. Training will be provided on STEPS’ platforms, templates and standard operating procedures.

About STEPS

STEPS Public Art is a Canadian charity and social enterprise working across public art, placemaking, community engagement, artist development and cultural planning.

Our mission is to engage and empower artists and communities to transform public spaces into vibrant places. We envision a world where artists and communities co-create meaningful, welcoming, and safe public spaces.

Key responsibilities

Newsletters, social media and website content

• Assemble and distribute newsletters for artists, clients, partners and other audiences using approved content plans.
• Draft, adapt, schedule and post social media content that reflects STEPS’ voice and the needs of different audiences.
• Prepare simple branded graphics and adapt approved visual assets using existing templates.
• Coordinate artist and partner tagging, credits and opportunities to share or amplify content.
• Complete routine website updates, including content formatting, image uploads, alternative text and link checks.
• Support approved paid campaigns through asset preparation, campaign administration and results collection, as assigned.

Storytelling and project communications

• Gather project information, documentation, quotes, testimonials and approvals from staff, artists and partners.
• Draft and adapt long-form blog articles, project profiles, case studies, research findings and impact stories for email, social media and website use.
• Support project announcements, artist opportunities, event promotion and client or funder recognition requirements.
• Check names, project facts, captions, image permissions and artist, photographer, partner and funder credits before publication.
• Maintain organized content and image files with clear information about sources, permissions and approval status.

Measurement documentation and coordination

• Compile agreed campaign and channel metrics, check for missing or inconsistent information, and prepare concise reporting inputs.
• Maintain contact-list accuracy and campaign documentation in collaboration with colleagues responsible for organizational data.
• Update communications templates, checklists, and standard operating procedures as assigned.
• Coordinate deadlines, information requests and approvals with project teams and external collaborators.
• Participate in relevant team meetings and selected project kickoff or wrap-up discussions.
• Identify competing deadlines, missing information and approval needs early.
• Undertake related communications and administrative tasks consistent with the role and available hours.

Email campaigns and relationship stewardship

• Research prospective clients, partners, and relevant organizations using approved sources and lead identification tools.
• Prepare and organize outreach lists using spreadsheets, email verification tools and documented procedures.
• Update contact records, audience segments, campaign records and follow-up information in STEPS’ customer relationship management system.
• Build and test email campaigns, including formatting, links, audience selections and campaign tracking links, following established review and approval procedures.
• Support outreach inbox monitoring, approved routine replies and follow-up lists; direct qualified inquiries and sensitive responses to the appropriate team member.
• Follow STEPS’ procedures for contact sourcing, privacy, consent, unsubscribes and record management.
• Maintain clear campaign calendars, status updates and source documentation.

Skills and qualifications

Essential

• Relevant experience in communications, marketing, digital content, outreach or related coordination work. Approximately one to three years of experience is a useful guide; we welcome equivalent combinations of education, employment, freelance, volunteer, community and personal project experience.
• Strong writing, editing and proofreading skills, with the ability to adapt information for different audiences and formats.
• Experience producing digital communications, such as newsletters, social media posts, website content or outreach emails.
• Strong organization and attention to detail, including comfort maintaining spreadsheets, files, and recurring deadlines.
• Basic visual judgment and the ability to prepare clear, readable materials using templates.
• Ability to follow documented procedures, work independently within clear direction, and seek clarification when needed.
• A collaborative approach to gathering information, receiving feedback and coordinating approvals.
• Commitment to equity, accessibility, cultural responsiveness and respectful representation of artists and communities.
• Ability to meet the position’s Toronto-based hybrid work requirements.

Assets

• Experience with email marketing platforms, customer relationship management systems, social scheduling tools or website content management systems.
• Experience preparing outreach lists, researching prospective contacts, or maintaining contact data.
• Familiarity with graphic design tools, basic photo or video editing, accessible content practices, search engine optimization or paid digital campaigns.
• Experience communicating with business, municipal, nonprofit, arts or cultural-sector audiences.
• French-language communication skills.

You do not need experience with every type of platform listed above. We are interested in your transferable skills, attention to detail, and ability to learn.

Working arrangements and compensation

• $22/hour for a regular part-time schedule of 18 hours per week.
• Hybrid work based in Toronto, with a minimum of one in-office day per week currently on Tuesdays. Weekly hours and their distribution will be agreed with the successful candidate.
• Occasional local event or project attendance, including some evening or weekend work, may be required with advance notice.
• Potential for a temporary increase to full-time hours during May–August for candidates who meet Canada Summer Jobs requirements, subject to funding approval, approved employment dates, organizational needs and candidate availability. Full-time summer hours are not guaranteed.
• Canada Summer Jobs eligibility is not required for the ongoing part-time position.
• Supportive onboarding and training on STEPS’ tools, communications standards and workflows.

Our organizational culture

At STEPS, we value equity, commitment, collaboration, inspiration and community impact. We work with artists, communities and partners to create meaningful public art and more welcoming public spaces.

We welcome applications from people with varied experiences and perspectives, including Indigenous, Black and racialized people, newcomers, disabled people, and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

Learn more about our workplace at stepspublicart.org/about/careers.

How to apply

Complete the application portal by Monday, November 23, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. noon Eastern Time.

Please submit:

• Your résumé.
• Responses to the application questions.
• Three relevant work samples: one writing sample, one visual or digital photo or video sample, and a link to a social media post that you created, with a brief explanation of your contribution to each.

Samples may come from paid work, volunteering, coursework, community involvement, or personal projects. Template-based and collaboratively produced work is welcome when your contribution is clearly identified. Please remove confidential information and submit only materials you have permission to share. A cover letter is not required.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to one virtual interview and asked to complete a brief exercise in advance. Instructions and assessment criteria will be provided with the invitation. References will be requested during the interview process.

Accommodation is available throughout the recruitment process. The application portal includes an option to request a confidential follow-up about access needs.