The Heights Merchants Association Marketing and Events Coordinator

Job Opportunity
Introduction
We are seeking a warm-hearted, marketing-savvy and multi-skilled individual who is looking for a positive, supportive, ever-changing, and challenging (in a good way!) job that serves the community in a meaningful way.

Who are we?
The Heights Merchants Association BIA serves the Burnaby Heights neighbourhood commercial district. Our BIA has approximately 550 members (businesses and commercial property owners). We are located along Hastings Street in the Heights community in north Burnaby. Our Mission is to “Foster the Economic Development of the Heights commercial district, in cooperation with the Burnaby Heights community.” Think of us like a “head office” for a local shopping district, responsible for its “shop local”- based marketing, events, physical appearance and appeal, and advocating for its needs.

The HMA is a small, yet very dynamic and productive not-for-profit society. We have a multi-faceted approach to our work, with a wide variety of meaningful projects that make a difference to our whole community. It’s never a dull day. Responsibilities to deliver on our economic development mandate are shared among a small number of employees – and to some degree, among Board members as well, resulting in a very collaborative, familial, and supportive organizational culture. You’ll also build great relationships with local business owners and community members.

Position Begins: Monday, Jan. 5, 2026

Roles and Responsibilities
This role can be deemed to have an approximately 70% Marketing/Communications and 20% Event blend, with approx 10% in Member/Board Communications and Administration Support.

Marketing and Media Responsibilities

• Contributes to the planning, creative production, and execution of a variety of marketing and communications strategies and initiatives, using a wide variety of digital (current and emerging) and traditional/print media;

• Supports strategy and conducts the marketing to promote Burnaby Heights’ shopping district and events (see Events, below);

• Maintains the Burnaby Heights website, and creates original content for the same;

• Develops strategies for district promos that small local businesses can use to augment their own marketing efforts (examples include Crave Neighbourhood Dining Spotlight, social media campaigns, etc.)

• Maintains content for the Burnaby Heights social media accounts in keeping with our brand, using our community-centric, authentic tone and messaging, plus monitors social media activity to look for mentions and other activity that impacts our operations;

• Designs and orders marketing-support collateral, including merchandise/swag and promotional small window displays tied to our events;

• Monitors Google analytics data and makes recommendations for improvements;

• Is a key and integral force in maintaining our brand and raising our district’s awareness;

• Performs other duties related to marketing, publicity, social media, and community relations.

Events
Each year, the HMA hosts and leads approximately five public events. These include Hats Off Day, Hallowe’en, Deck the Heights, Lunar New Year, and Crave the Heights. Infrequently, we also organize non-recurring events such as commemorative launches for new programs or achievements (Street Banner unveiling celebration, or Public Art unveiling, for example).

In addition, the HMA regularly supports local partners; events. These include, but are not limited to, the City of Burnaby’s “Girolino” Children’s Bike Race, and the Long Table’s “STRIDE Arts Fest”.

Note: the HMA contracts the services of an Event Coordinator who handles most of the “heavy lifting” aspects of Event Coordination. In this light, the Marketing & Event Coordinator acts as an information source for the event tasks. The Marketing and Event Coordinator is primarily responsible for the promotional and communications aspects of events, as well as day-of tasks and working with the Event Contractor to pull off execution.

This role:

• With support from an Events contractor, coordinates aspects of HMA events (community and member events) including Burnaby Heights’ signature “Hats Off Day” street festival for 60,000 people (note: Hats Off Day is undertaken in collaboration with an extensive team of community members and City of Burnaby staff);

• Responsible for some aspects of event coordination, as well as all the marketing of smaller events as well, such as Lunar New Year Lion dancers, Halloween on the Heights trick-or-treating, and so on;

• Supports fundraising efforts and keeping fundraising commitments with sponsors;

• Liaises and communicates with our merchants about Events as it pertains to their involvement. In a few cases, photographing merchants and doing other creative work to make sure their participation is promoted.

• With the help of the Events contractor, coordinates a small number of member (internal) events each year, including our Annual General Meeting (AGM), our Member Mixer, and similar projects;

• May assign tasks and provide guidance to seasonal and student/co-op marketing/events staff;

• Contributes to post-event evaluation/debriefing, as well as creating new event ideas.

Member and Stakeholder Relations
Member and stakeholder relations is at the heart of everything we do and overlaps with our Marketing and Event initiatives in nearly every way.

• Maintains (including writing and design) member communications, including e-newsletters and occasionally printed ones;

• Maintains our database of HMA membership (which is also used on our website’s Business Directory);

• Interacts with and serves our HMA members regarding marketing and event initiatives, and trouble-shooting small matters;

• Assists with advocacy efforts as required, from time to time;

• Communicates and liaises with members on relevant matters;

• Coordinates direct mail-outs to membership, stakeholders, or to our public, as required (often event-related);

• Meets with merchants face to face to discuss marketing and events and to keep a pulse on local happenings so we can promote them to the public.

Office and Board Related
Administration responsibilities are shared, with tasks and roles divided between staff members.

• Helps maintain office orderliness and supplies, together with the Executive Director;

• Coordinates committee or Board meetings from time to time;

• Takes committee or Board meeting minutes as needed;

• Maintains organizational records, particularly pertaining to events and marketing, including media files, photographic documentation (e.g. event photos) and event debriefs;

• Greets walk-in merchants and local shoppers if they have queries about finding things in the district and/or directs them to the appropriate party;

• Provides back-up support to the Executive Director on administrative matters and occasionally handles bank deposits or similar tasks;

• As is typical on a small team, assumes some of the Executive Director’s duties when the Executive Director is ill or on vacation. (The Executive Director does the same for the Marketing and Events Coordinator.)

Qualifications
This position requires a degree or diploma in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Business, Interactive Arts & Technology, or similar, with at least four years work experience (two of which must be in a related field).

In addition, the successful candidate will have:

• Strong English writing for marketing, and good grammar with proofreading skills, even without AI support.

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, and be visually intuitive with competent graphic design skills.

• Working knowledge of graphic design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) is needed.

• Ability to use Google Analytics, WordPress, LATER or Hootsuite, e-mail platform Constant Contact, and video editing software are strong assets.

In addition to these technical and creative skills, the right candidate will be organized, self-directed, able to work well independently and as part of a team. They will have good problem-solving skills and judgment, warmth, tact, and have a customer-oriented disposition. They will have demonstrated experience in conceptualizing and coordinating marketing initiatives and know how to follow brand-based messaging. Knowledge of experiential marketing and/or placemaking methods is an asset. A sense of humour and a heart for building community are also vital.

References: At least three references will be required.

Compensation
This position compensates with a competitive annual salary ($57,000 to $61,000 depending on experience) and paid vacation time. It also offers a comprehensive benefits allowance package, including:

• Extended Health & Dental Plan (including a small Life Insurance package)

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Additional recognized benefits for vision care and similar, covered by the allowance.

Other Benefits:

• Annual Professional Development Training Allowance

• Conference Opportunities

• Cell Phone Allowance

The HMA offers a supportive, stimulating, and vibrant work environment complemented by a team of dedicated, hard-working, volunteer Board of Directors.

Job Hours and Reporting Structure
This full-time, permanent position reports to the Executive Director of the Heights Merchants Association.

This salaried job entails a 37.5 hour work week. Because we are a community-facing and community-serving organization, this is generally an on-site position*, with mostly regular office hours, Monday through Friday, with a small amount of evening and weekend work: approximately 1 or 2 evening shifts per month, depending on events or meetings, and approximately 6 to 8 weekend shifts per year.

• The schedule also offers hybrid-work flexibility within the framework above, allowing occasional work-from-home and adjusted hours to accommodate life’s demands.

This position reports to the Executive Director of the Heights Merchants Association. To apply, e-mail jobs@burnabyheights.com by Nov. 10, 2025.

Education : College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma from a program of 1 year to 2 years

Experience : 3 years to less than 5 years