Marketing, Branding and Events Lead

About the Role

This prominent position at Branch Out Neurological Foundation centers on storytelling and community building. The chosen candidate will be responsible for spearheading marketing initiatives, enhancing brand recognition beyond the organization's current scale, and leading two major annual events. The role offers broad responsibilities with significant autonomy in a small, dynamic team, providing an opportunity to shape future directions. It requires balancing genuine relationship-building within the foundation and ambitious growth strategies.

Our Mission

Branch Out focuses on transformative neurological research by funding studies that support brain healing, resilience, and disease prevention. Operating from Calgary, Alberta, the foundation has invested over $2.9 million into more than 230 research projects across Canadian universities in the last fifteen years. Its core values—compassion, open-mindedness, courage, and commitment—drive rigorous research and foster collaboration among industry experts to achieve meaningful clinical outcomes.

Our Impact

The foundation supports integrative research that examines the brain holistically, including nutrition, microbiome, mind-body connections, rehabilitation, precision medicine, preventative health, and neurotechnology. This approach aids healthcare providers and patients in making informed decisions across treatment options.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute brand strategies to define Branch Out's identity and ensure consistency across all platforms.
• Manage communications such as newsletters, social media content, website updates, and outreach to various audiences including donors, community members, researchers, and partners, making complex scientific topics accessible and engaging.
• Design and implement marketing campaigns that effectively communicate each appeal, partnership, and milestone to inspire action.
• Oversee the full planning and execution of two signature events: the annual Bike Tour in June and the Your Brain on Art gala in November.
• Identify, approach, and maintain relationships with event sponsors and partners to meet fundraising goals.
• Handle event logistics including vendor coordination, participant management, ticketing, and day-of-event experience delivery.
• Cultivate genuine connections with donors, artists, riders, volunteers, and partners, ensuring clear communication to support their engagement and align them with the foundation's mission.

Candidate Profile

• Relational and personable, adept at building trust through authentic conversations within grassroots communities.
• Driven to innovate and expand scope rather than maintain status quo.
• Strong project management capabilities to manage complex events and campaigns from conception to completion.
• Highly self-motivated and autonomous with a proven track record of impactful results.
• Receptive to feedback, adaptable, and focused on achieving positive outcomes over being right.
• Technologically savvy including proficiency with AI tools and modern collaboration software.
• Excellent communicator, able to write and speak clearly with adaptability for diverse audiences.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary ranging from $65,000 to $85,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
• Contractual position with options for full-time or part-time arrangements initially, transitioning to a permanent role for the right candidate.
• Hybrid work model with several days per week at our downtown Calgary coworking space.
• Substantial autonomy within a well-established foundation with a track record of success and growth potential.

Qualifications

• Solid foundation in marketing or communications via practical experience, formal education, or a combination.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing all aspects of events including logistics, ticketing, marketing, sponsorship acquisition, and fundraising.
• Experience with social media management and promotional content creation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication along with strong organizational skills.
• Comfortable using contemporary tools such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Canva or Adobe Creative Suite, and AI applications.

Preferred

• Academic background in neuroscience or health sciences at undergraduate or postgraduate levels.
• Experience working in the nonprofit sector or with funding mechanisms in startups, nonprofits, or academic environments.
• Expertise in design and brand development.