Director, National Communications
Toronto, Ontario
Reference # - AC 17912
Our client, a leading global business law firm is currently looking for a Director, National Communications to join their office in Toronto, Ontario. Reporting to the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMO), the Director of National Communications (Director) will lead the development of a progressive, forward-leaning communications team that delivers bold advancement of our client’s brand across key internal and external stakeholders - including current, prospective and former employees (alumni), the general market (aligned with marketing), the media (Tier 1 and legal trades) and community. This role has a high degree of accountability for providing editorial direction and oversight for the communications and media relations programs for our client. This includes establishing proper processes and cadence to communications across multiple channels (internal and external).
The successful candidate will be energized by the opportunity to create a transformational multi-year Communications strategy which integrates the firm's three key priorities – Culture, Revenue & Profitability and our client’s Talent Agenda.
Your Responsibilities:
• Leading a team of media and communications professionals, the Director will have 6 direct reports
• The Director will define and drive a comprehensive multi-year communications strategy that authentically and consistently tells the our client’s Canada story and highlights all that is special about and differentiates the firm
• Identify and develop the right messages and channels to engage with all internal and external stakeholder groups nationally and locally
• In partnership with the People and Development team and key leaders, build and lead an internal communications capability that engages, inspires and informs employees through all stages of the people experience, from recruitment, to onboarding, to development and more, supporting the our client’s people experience and culture
• Provide strategic counsel regarding reputational opportunities and threats and marketplace feedback. Stay abreast of current market trends and storylines ensuring the our client’s Canada team has a voice in key conversations as appropriate
• Drive and manage executive communications, including high profile speaking engagements and interviews
• Evaluate, develop and lead a high-performing national Communications team. This includes how to best structure the team, build bench strength within the team and provide ongoing coaching and upskilling for professional growth and development
• Develop and lead a communications strategy for all reputation issues and crises. Develop crisis management plans with the ability to execute these plans in consultation and collaboration with appropriate stakeholders
• Partnering with Marketing, help to ensure the our client is speaking with “one voice” across all Practices, Offices, channels, both internally and externally
• Develop and implement a social media strategy that promotes the firm’s brand and strategy in the market with our clients and people - current, future (recruits) and past (alumni)
• Ensure the Communications function is leveraging and experimenting with new communications techniques
• Drive quantifiable impact of communications. Develop measurement and reporting processes to assess the effectiveness of communications activities on a regular basis (e.g. share of voice, employee engagement, cost to consume, etc.)
• Liaise with key our client global and territory contacts to ensure consistency in message and best practices approaches
• Create a transformational strategy aligned with firm's strategy, goals and priorities.
• Ensure strategy is proactive and connected in nature
• Assess talent, manage and provide leadership for talent measured through feedback and engagement
• Implement a strategy that leverages multi-media and focuses on effectiveness (modernize the Communications function)
• Establish Communications as an advisor to the business/leadership outlining recommendations and key rationale to support
• Be referred to as a key part of the Firm strategy and respected by leadership and associates
• Rebrand Communications as a function to the firm as a group, with value in driving results
• Demonstrate discernment and purpose in adopting campaigns/ideas that align with the strategy and rejecting those that do not
Your Requirements:
• 15+ years of relevant experience, including broad-based experience in executive and corporate communications and public relations, preferably at a leadership level. Prior experience working in a professional services firm is a definite asset.
• Successful candidate must be fluent in both English and French
• Skilled strategist with extensive experience in employee engagement, media relations, crisis management, digital and broad strategic messaging
• Must demonstrate excellent business judgment and be capable of advising the CEO and leadership on complex and delicate communication and PR matters.
• Must have strong hands-on strategic messaging experience, writing and presentation skills, a proven track record in advising and counselling senior leadership and place a high value on diversity and inclusion
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in issues and crisis management
• Demonstrated success developing and leading high impact communications strategies that leverage top tier media and engage employees
• Strong track record of providing effective counsel to executive leadership and generating buy-in and trust at all levels of the organization
• Bring energy and passion to build the capabilities of the communication function to align with our client's strategy
• Ability to understand how to deliver integrated messages to a wide variety of audiences with varying levels of knowledge about the firm
• Broad familiarity with business and regulatory trends, including but not limited to those relevant to professional services firms
• Relationship-centric
• Forward-looking
• Strategic
• Welcomes change
• Both a leader and team player
• Ambitious
• Professional
• Autonomous but can navigate a partnership and matrix
Our client is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace; together we welcome applications from women, racially visible individuals, people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and LGBTQ+ persons.
To express interest in this opportunity, please click on the "Apply Now" button below.
For more information, please contact Adam Creaghan, Partner at acreaghan@kbrs.ca or 647-336-1416 or Muna Dhere, Recruitment Specialist at mdhere@kbrs.ca or 647-480-1718 If you require accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please let Muna Dhere know.
Meridia Recruitment Solutions connects leading organizations with top talent by building strong relationships and creating ideal matches with candidates because we are only successful when you are. We appreciate your interest in this opportunity.
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