About this role
WHO WE ARE Opened in 1914 and welcoming over 1.3 million visitors annually, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Canada's most-visited museum, ranking among the top 10 cultural institutions in North America. At ROM, we are dedicated to building and sharing global collections, sharing knowledge, inspiring learning, and fostering community engagement. As a globally recognized field research institute, ROM houses an impressive collection of over 18 million artworks, cultural objects, and natural history specimens, showcased in over 40 galleries and exhibition spaces. We are committed to creating a space where art, culture, and nature intersect, connecting people and communities to the past, present and shared future. As we continue to work toward our goals to transform and evolve as one of the world’s foremost 21st-century museums, we seek passionate and dynamic team members who embody our mission and values. WHO WE NEED We are seeking a strong storyteller to join Canada’s largest and most comprehensive museum who can develop, execute, and track compelling media campaigns and outreach strategies that support exhibitions, events, programs, and institutional initiatives to increase public awareness, drive attendance and engagement, and support ROM’s strategic direction. The successful candidate will have a knack for establishing strong relationships inside and outside of the Museum – including building and maintaining key media contacts, collaborating with colleagues from across the organization, and working with external stakeholders on engaging narratives that support the Museum’s messaging, goals, and reputation. This unique opportunity to help tell the many fascinating stories behind the Museum’s storied exhibitions, galleries, and collections also calls for internal communications and issues management experience. With research and collections that span art, culture, and nature from around the world and across the ages, we’re looking for someone who can operate as both a strategic communications lead and a skilled storyteller to connect with diverse audiences and share the broad spectrum of all ROM has to offer. HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT Develop and implement comprehensive public relations strategies that promote exhibitions, curatorial research, public programs, acquisitions, and institutional initiatives, with a focus on increasing organizational profile and driving visitor attendance. Write and edit a variety of media materials – including news releases, media backgrounders, Q&A documents, communication plans, crisis management documents, briefing notes, and more. Secure media interviews through targeted pitching and compelling story concepts to ensure maximum coverage. Coordinate and supervise onsite media visits and shoots, as well as supporting ROM spokespeople (leadership, curators, etc.) with key messaging and advance interview preparation. Develop and sustain media contacts and relationships at the local, national, and international levels, and assist in maintaining media database. Actively respond to incoming media requests as required. Develop advance plans and effective messaging strategies to assist with timely management of communications issues. Track earned media coverage and produce campaign media reports for relevant stakeholder audiences. Collaborate closely across Museum departments to ensure impactful, aligned messaging across all communication channels. Assist with internal communications needs, including the development and distribution of all-staff emails and other messaging. Opportunity to assist with hiring and supervision of seasonal Communications intern. WHAT YOU BRING A minimum of a college diploma (3 years) in a communications, public relations, journalism, or related program – OR an acceptable equivalent in education a