Manager, Communications & Branding

Manager, Communications & Branding

COVE

Dartmouth, NS

COVE is a global technology partner advancing high-impact solutions from seabed to space. COVE transforms innovation into market-ready technologies through testing, commercialization support, market expertise and access to critical infrastructure. Leveraging its networks and mission-driven platform, COVE connects investors, innovators, industry, and the research community to drive cutting-edge capabilities for commercial and defence applications.

Based in Canada and operating internationally, COVE supports the full lifecycle of maritime and multi-domain technologies – from research and development to manufacturing, integration, and export – linking Canadian innovation to global markets. COVE has built a globally recognized innovation platform, with an ecosystem of more than 700 organizations spanning startups, multinational firms, researchers, Indigenous partners, and public sector collaborators.

Through its programs, facilities, and partnerships, COVE enables real-world testing and validation, strengthens supply chains, and accelerates technology adoption in complex operating environments. With strong connections across the North Atlantic, the United States, and the Arctic, and as part of international networks including NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), COVE plays a key role in advancing technologies that support economic growth, environmental sustainability, and global security.

As COVE experiences rapid expansion, it is actively seeking to expand its team to further bolster its transformational influence as a global technology partner in advancing high-impact solutions. COVE recognizes that its journey toward this goal hinges on the strength of its team – a group of individuals who collaborate, innovate, and continually strive for excellence. Join COVE as it embarks on this exciting journey of discovery and advancement.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the VP | Strategic Engagement & Impact, this role is accountable for COVE’s brand, reputation, and market presence through strategic communications, marketing, media relations, digital engagement, and stakeholder outreach. The position is responsible for delivering measurable increases in brand awareness, audience engagement, media exposure, and stakeholder participation while ensuring all communications activities support COVE’s strategic priorities and organizational objectives.

What You'll Do

The Manager, Communications & Branding provides leadership in the planning, coordination, and delivery of integrated communications and marketing initiatives across the organization. The role establishes communications priorities, oversees content development and distribution, manages relationships with media and external partners, and ensures a consistent and compelling organizational narrative across all channels. Working closely with internal teams and stakeholders, the Manager supports the promotion of COVE’s programs, partnerships, events, and strategic initiatives to enhance the organization’s profile and impact regionally, nationally, and internationally.

• Develop and execute integrated marketing, communications, and brand strategies that support COVE’s priorities, programs, and stakeholder engagement goals, measuring effectiveness through key performance indicators.
• Lead the development, review, and distribution of brand-aligned content across communications channels, including digital platforms, publications, newsletters, media materials, website content, press releases, and events.
• Oversee COVE’s digital presence, including its website and social media platforms, ensuring content is current, engaging, and aligned with organizational priorities and brand standards.
• Direct the development of creative and multimedia assets, managing internal and external resources, including designers, photographers, videographers, and communications service providers.
• Build and maintain relationships with media, industry partners, influencers, and stakeholders to enhance visibility and identify profile-building, thought leadership, and partnership opportunities.
• Lead the development and execution of COVE’s thought leadership strategy, positioning the organization and its partners as leaders in innovation, commercialization, and technology.
• Lead media relations activities, including outreach, story development, interview coordination, and promotion of COVE’s programs, initiatives, achievements, and events.
• Collaborate with leadership and internal teams to identify cross-promotional opportunities, ensure consistent messaging, and strengthen stakeholder engagement.
• Monitor industry, marketing, and communications trends, recommending innovative approaches to strengthen COVE’s brand and market presence.
• Represent COVE at meetings, events, and external engagements as an ambassador for the organization and its mission.
• Ensure compliance with COVE’s policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Take on additional responsibilities as required to support COVE’s strategic priorities and growth.

What You Bring

• Degree in Public Relations, Communications, or similar
• 5-7 years' experience in a similar role
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada security clearance is required.
• Experience in developing and maintaining strong working relationships, combined with excellent client-facing skills.
• Highly motivated, analytical, logical thinker with a very strong attention to detail and the ability to meet multiple and/or unexpected deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Initiative, good judgment, a strong work ethic, and demonstrated ability to recognize risk and proactively mitigate.
• Solid team player with advanced personal time management skills with a proven track record in planning, implementing, and managing multiple projects.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills with poise and professionalism to interact with clients.
• Strong ability to communicate verbally and in writing with ability to create blogs, newsletters, and press releases.
• Experience with social media.
• Strong digital skills, proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Word, Excel and PowerPoint and strong technical skills with the ability to learn new processes and systems quickly.

Additional Assets

• Experience in the innovation and technology sectors.

Working at COVE

At our core, we are a team driven by our passion for empowering marine tech innovators, serving as unwavering advocates for every visionary who walks through our doors. Integrity, creativity, and diversity are not just values to us - they are the bedrock of our identity. We thrive within an integrated team environment, where collective efforts culminate in tangible results. Embracing diversity in our workforce is paramount for fostering genuine collaboration and fulfilling the impactful responsibilities we hold within our community. We cultivate a workplace culture that celebrates individual differences, ensuring that each person's unique talents and strengths are fully recognized, appreciated, and utilized. Operating within a hybrid and flexible work environment allows us to optimize the collective potential of our highly collaborative team, enabling us to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Benefits

• Opportunity to learn and make an impact by working for a dynamic, growing company on meaningful projects that find solutions to real-life problems.
• Comprehensive paid time off including vacation, personal sick time, and additional days for family illness or medical appointments.
• Hybrid work model with flexibility to work remotely 1 day/week.
• Team wide bonding activities and casual work environment.
• Tech focused office location, convenient via transit and bike paths.
• Employee wellbeing including full medical & dental benefits and a health spending account.
• Group RRSP matching program & Income Insurance Plans.
• Maternity & parental leave top-up allowance.
• Learning and growth opportunities.
• Employee referral program.
• Competitive salary.

Talent Pool

As part of our ongoing recruitment efforts, we continually identify candidates who demonstrate the skills, experience, and potential to contribute to our organization. By submitting your application, you will be considered for current and future opportunities that match your qualifications and interests.

Should your profile align with our current or future needs, a member of our recruitment team may reach out to you to discuss potential opportunities and to further assess your fit for specific roles within our organization.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At COVE, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role, but your past experience does not align with every single qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are committed to ensuring accommodations are made available to persons with disabilities during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes and will provide reasonable accommodation upon request.

We offer an excellent working environment where life balance is valued. Our people and their commitment to quality work is what drives our success. You can find out more information about COVE at . Salary for this position will be commensurate with experience, note that relocation costs are not supported.

To be considered for this position, please apply online by clicking “Apply”. The deadline for submission is July 16, 2026 at 5pm (Atlantic). We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.