Director of Marketing And Business Development
Top Benefits
About the role
Help Shape the Future of Organic in Canada
The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) is seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial, and strategic Marketing & Business Development Director to lead our marketing, communications, membership growth, sponsorship development, and industry engagement initiatives.
This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic leader who is passionate about building partnerships, growing revenue, strengthening brand awareness, and advancing the organic sector across Canada. Working closely with the Executive Director and a collaborative team, you will play a key role in driving COTA's strategic priorities and expanding our influence with retailers, foodservice operators, government stakeholders, industry partners, and members.
About the Canada Organic Trade Association
The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) is the national voice for organic businesses in Canada. We connect, advocate for, and promote the Canadian organic sector while advancing opportunities for market growth, industry collaboration, and consumer awareness.
The Details
Location: Ottawa, ON (Hybrid) Salary: $85,000-95,000 annually, commensurate with experience, + performance bonus opportunity Reports to: Executive Director
What You'll Do
As Marketing & Business Development Director, you will: Strategic Leadership Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing and business development strategy aligned with organizational priorities. Identify new opportunities for revenue growth, partnerships, sponsorships, and grants. Analyze industry trends, market developments, and member needs to inform organizational growth strategies.
Membership & Revenue Growth
Oversee membership recruitment, retention, and engagement initiatives. Develop compelling value propositions and marketing materials to support member and sponsor acquisition. Build relationships with prospective and current members, sponsors, funders, and strategic partners. Support revenue generation goals through sponsorships, events, educational programming, and partnership development.
Marketing & Communications
Lead the annual marketing and communications planning process. Oversee brand strategy and ensure consistent messaging across all channels. Direct digital marketing efforts, including website management, email marketing, social media, and advertising campaigns. Lead media relations and public relations activities.
Industry & Stakeholder Engagement
Lead retailer and foodservice engagement initiatives, including programs such as Organic Month, Organic Campus, and the Organic School Food Program. Represent COTA at conferences, trade shows, government meetings, and industry events. Foster relationships with industry stakeholders, government representatives, retailers, and strategic partners.
Team Leadership
Provide leadership and oversight to team members responsible for revenue generation and program delivery. Establish and monitor performance metrics and key performance indicators alongside the Executive Director. Manage external marketing and communications consultants and service providers as required.
What We're Looking For
Qualifications Post-secondary education in marketing, business, communications, public affairs, or a related field. 10+ years of progressive experience in marketing, business development, membership organizations, associations, non-profits, or related sectors. Experience leading strategic marketing and communications initiatives. Demonstrated success in revenue generation, sponsorship development, partnership building, and stakeholder engagement.
Skills & Competencies
Strong understanding of digital marketing and communications channels. Strong leadership and relationship-building skills. Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication abilities, in both official languages (ideally French bilingual). Experience managing multiple projects and competing priorities. Proven ability to develop and execute growth strategies. Analytical mindset with the ability to identify market opportunities and measure results. Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with diverse stakeholders.
Assets
Knowledge of Canada's organic sector, food industry, agriculture, sustainability, or public policy environments. Experience working with retailers and foodservice sector. Experience with grant writing and funding development. Bilingualism (English/French).
What We Offer
Competitive salary of $85,000-95,000 annually, commensurate with experience Performance bonus opportunity of up to 15% Employer-paid group benefits Optional RRSP matching program Hybrid work environment with flexibility Opportunities for professional growth and national industry leadership The chance to make a meaningful impact on the future of Canada's organic sector
Working Conditions
Full-time position (37.5 hours per week) Hybrid work arrangement Occasional evening and weekend work required Some travel for conferences, events, meetings, and industry engagement
Apply Today
If you are a strategic marketer, relationship builder, and business development professional who is passionate about growing Canada's organic sector, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the position to Tia Loftsgard, Executive Director, tloftsgard@canada-organic.ca. Due to the volume of interest, we apologize that only successful candidates will be contacted for next steps in the hiring process.
Application Deadline: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Start Date: September 1, 2026 (Ideally) Location: Ottawa, Ontario (Hybrid)
Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.
About Canada Organic Trade Association
The Canada Organic Trade Association is the membership-based association for the organic sector in Canada: representing growers, processors, certifiers, provincial farmers' associations, importers, exporters, retailers and others throughout the organic value chain. COTA's mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy. COTA brings together the diversity of Canada’s organic sector: from farmer and processor to retail, including food products, fibre and textiles, personal care, and emerging sectors such as organic aquaculture.
COTA is a member-service organization: providing information, data and strategic insights to its membership base, representing organic to the media and government, and leading consumer education and promotion campaigns to benefit organic. COTA is the co-founder of Organic Week and manages the national “Choose Canada Organic” campaign. COTA protects organic by playing an active role in standard-setting and industry priority-setting, as well as influence on important regulatory issues, including a seat on the Plant Breeders’ Rights Advisory Committee. COTA also leads a series of export missions internationally: promoting Canadian organic products abroad, building market intelligence on key markets, and developing the market and regulatory conditions to benefit Canadian organic companies abroad. COTA has been a champion of organic equivalency arrangements to encourage trade and improve market access for Canadian operators.
COTA places a premium on its relationship with Canada’s government in Ottawa, and takes a leadership role on behalf of the organic sector to ensure our stakeholders and their needs are heard by policymakers.
Similar Jobs
Director of Marketing And Business Development
Top Benefits
About the role
Help Shape the Future of Organic in Canada
The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) is seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial, and strategic Marketing & Business Development Director to lead our marketing, communications, membership growth, sponsorship development, and industry engagement initiatives.
This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic leader who is passionate about building partnerships, growing revenue, strengthening brand awareness, and advancing the organic sector across Canada. Working closely with the Executive Director and a collaborative team, you will play a key role in driving COTA's strategic priorities and expanding our influence with retailers, foodservice operators, government stakeholders, industry partners, and members.
About the Canada Organic Trade Association
The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) is the national voice for organic businesses in Canada. We connect, advocate for, and promote the Canadian organic sector while advancing opportunities for market growth, industry collaboration, and consumer awareness.
The Details
Location: Ottawa, ON (Hybrid) Salary: $85,000-95,000 annually, commensurate with experience, + performance bonus opportunity Reports to: Executive Director
What You'll Do
As Marketing & Business Development Director, you will: Strategic Leadership Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing and business development strategy aligned with organizational priorities. Identify new opportunities for revenue growth, partnerships, sponsorships, and grants. Analyze industry trends, market developments, and member needs to inform organizational growth strategies.
Membership & Revenue Growth
Oversee membership recruitment, retention, and engagement initiatives. Develop compelling value propositions and marketing materials to support member and sponsor acquisition. Build relationships with prospective and current members, sponsors, funders, and strategic partners. Support revenue generation goals through sponsorships, events, educational programming, and partnership development.
Marketing & Communications
Lead the annual marketing and communications planning process. Oversee brand strategy and ensure consistent messaging across all channels. Direct digital marketing efforts, including website management, email marketing, social media, and advertising campaigns. Lead media relations and public relations activities.
Industry & Stakeholder Engagement
Lead retailer and foodservice engagement initiatives, including programs such as Organic Month, Organic Campus, and the Organic School Food Program. Represent COTA at conferences, trade shows, government meetings, and industry events. Foster relationships with industry stakeholders, government representatives, retailers, and strategic partners.
Team Leadership
Provide leadership and oversight to team members responsible for revenue generation and program delivery. Establish and monitor performance metrics and key performance indicators alongside the Executive Director. Manage external marketing and communications consultants and service providers as required.
What We're Looking For
Qualifications Post-secondary education in marketing, business, communications, public affairs, or a related field. 10+ years of progressive experience in marketing, business development, membership organizations, associations, non-profits, or related sectors. Experience leading strategic marketing and communications initiatives. Demonstrated success in revenue generation, sponsorship development, partnership building, and stakeholder engagement.
Skills & Competencies
Strong understanding of digital marketing and communications channels. Strong leadership and relationship-building skills. Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication abilities, in both official languages (ideally French bilingual). Experience managing multiple projects and competing priorities. Proven ability to develop and execute growth strategies. Analytical mindset with the ability to identify market opportunities and measure results. Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with diverse stakeholders.
Assets
Knowledge of Canada's organic sector, food industry, agriculture, sustainability, or public policy environments. Experience working with retailers and foodservice sector. Experience with grant writing and funding development. Bilingualism (English/French).
What We Offer
Competitive salary of $85,000-95,000 annually, commensurate with experience Performance bonus opportunity of up to 15% Employer-paid group benefits Optional RRSP matching program Hybrid work environment with flexibility Opportunities for professional growth and national industry leadership The chance to make a meaningful impact on the future of Canada's organic sector
Working Conditions
Full-time position (37.5 hours per week) Hybrid work arrangement Occasional evening and weekend work required Some travel for conferences, events, meetings, and industry engagement
Apply Today
If you are a strategic marketer, relationship builder, and business development professional who is passionate about growing Canada's organic sector, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the position to Tia Loftsgard, Executive Director, tloftsgard@canada-organic.ca. Due to the volume of interest, we apologize that only successful candidates will be contacted for next steps in the hiring process.
Application Deadline: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Start Date: September 1, 2026 (Ideally) Location: Ottawa, Ontario (Hybrid)
Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.
About Canada Organic Trade Association
The Canada Organic Trade Association is the membership-based association for the organic sector in Canada: representing growers, processors, certifiers, provincial farmers' associations, importers, exporters, retailers and others throughout the organic value chain. COTA's mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy. COTA brings together the diversity of Canada’s organic sector: from farmer and processor to retail, including food products, fibre and textiles, personal care, and emerging sectors such as organic aquaculture.
COTA is a member-service organization: providing information, data and strategic insights to its membership base, representing organic to the media and government, and leading consumer education and promotion campaigns to benefit organic. COTA is the co-founder of Organic Week and manages the national “Choose Canada Organic” campaign. COTA protects organic by playing an active role in standard-setting and industry priority-setting, as well as influence on important regulatory issues, including a seat on the Plant Breeders’ Rights Advisory Committee. COTA also leads a series of export missions internationally: promoting Canadian organic products abroad, building market intelligence on key markets, and developing the market and regulatory conditions to benefit Canadian organic companies abroad. COTA has been a champion of organic equivalency arrangements to encourage trade and improve market access for Canadian operators.
COTA places a premium on its relationship with Canada’s government in Ottawa, and takes a leadership role on behalf of the organic sector to ensure our stakeholders and their needs are heard by policymakers.