Manager, Strategic Communications
BMO · Toronto, ON
- On site
- Full-time
- $89,500 / year
- Toronto, ON
Job highlights
- Lead strategic communications for Wealth Management.
- Develop and execute impactful communication plans.
- Advise leaders and manage stakeholder relationships.
- Create content for diverse communication channels.
- Measure and improve communication effectiveness.
About the role
Manager, Strategic Communications
BMO is seeking a Manager, Strategic Communications to collaborate with the Head of Corporate Communications for Wealth Management and the broader strategic communications team. This role is crucial for supporting business groups and stakeholders by assessing communication needs, recommending effective communication plans and solutions, securing necessary approvals, and delivering high-quality communication outputs. The position also provides support for executive communications within Wealth Management as needed.
Key Responsibilities
- Source content and feedback, analyze information, and translate ideas into effective communication solutions.
- Deliver high-quality communications that are easily accessible, understandable, and actionable by target audiences, ensuring alignment with company standards.
- Act as a trusted advisor to Wealth Management partners and leaders, influencing and negotiating to achieve business objectives.
- Recommend and implement solutions based on thorough analysis of issues and their implications.
- Assist in the development of strategic plans and identify emerging issues and trends to inform decision-making.
- Lead the communications strategy planning process, offering strategic, professional counsel, planning, and direction to leaders.
- Develop strategies and tools to measure, analyze, and report on the effectiveness of communication initiatives, monitoring performance and addressing issues.
- Lead the execution of communication solutions, assessing and adapting as needed to ensure quality.
- Manage business/group change management activities from a communications perspective.
- Assess communication requests for relevancy, appropriateness, pacing, sequencing, and alignment with business priorities.
- Gather content from multiple sources and develop communications for various vehicles, including leadership messages, intranets, town halls, newsletters, video, presentations, and social media.
- Liaise with stakeholders to identify opportunities for broader communication to increase effectiveness and alignment.
- Assist in or lead the planning, development, and execution of events and conferences.
- Serve as the lead communications role in coded/confidential projects.
- Review progress against plans and escalate complaints, issues, and concerns.
- Recommend, develop, and execute communication plans and solutions aligned with business strategy and stakeholder needs.
- Provide communications advice and guidance on communication principles, programs, approaches, effective messaging, vehicle selection, and solution implementation.
- Proactively collaborate with stakeholders to provide business context for the design, development, and implementation of communication solutions.
- Lead or participate in defining communication plans designed to influence behavior, developing tailored messaging and identifying appropriate distribution channels.
- Review material to ensure compliance with quality standards, including translation requirements.
- Coordinate, distribute, and publish communication solutions.
- Measure and sustain communication solutions impacting the target employee audience, gathering feedback and evaluating content effectiveness and platform usage.
- Recommend improvements for communication content and platforms, coordinating with partners to ensure relevance.
- Stay abreast of new communication trends, tools, and methods, recommending their application.
- Maintain an understanding of company and industry trends by fostering relationships to identify newsworthy items for communication.
- Build effective relationships with internal/external stakeholders and ensure alignment.
- Actively seek opportunities for continuous improvement of communications processes and procedures.
- Focus primarily on BMO business/groups, with potential for broader enterprise-wide focus.
- Provide specialized consulting, analytical, and technical support.
- Exercise judgment to identify, diagnose, and solve problems within given rules.
- Work independently and handle non-routine situations.
- Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.
- Take measured risks while protecting the bank by applying the Risk Management Framework, making sound and risk-informed decisions.
Qualifications
- Typically 5-7 years of relevant experience.
- Post-secondary degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- In-depth writing and editing skills, utilizing a straight-talk and storytelling approach.
- Ability to distill technical and complex information into key messages.
- Deep knowledge and technical proficiency gained through extensive education and business experience.
- In-depth verbal and written communication skills.
- In-depth collaboration and team skills.
- In-depth analytical and problem-solving skills.
- In-depth influence skills.
- In-depth data-driven decision making.
Key Skills/Competency
- Strategic Communications
- Content Creation
- Stakeholder Management
- Executive Communications
- Change Management
- Messaging Development
- Communication Strategy
- Data Analysis
- Problem Solving
- Leadership
Skills & topics
- Manager Strategic Communications
- Communications Strategy
- Content Development
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Executive Communications
- Change Management Communications
- Public Relations
- Corporate Communications
- Media Relations
- Message Development
- Journalism
- Public Relations
- Communications
- Financial Services
- Banking
- Wealth Management
- BMO
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight strategic communications, content creation, and stakeholder management experience relevant to BMO's needs.
- Craft a compelling cover letter: Express your understanding of BMO's Purpose and how your skills align with the Manager, Strategic Communications role.
- Showcase your portfolio: Prepare examples of successful communication strategies, complex message distillations, and executive communications you've managed.
- Prepare for behavioral questions: Be ready to discuss your experience in influencing, problem-solving, and leading change management initiatives.
- Research BMO's culture: Understand their 'Boldly Grow the Good' Purpose and commitment to an inclusive workplace.
Technical preparation
Master storytelling and straight-talk writing.,Practice distilling complex information into messages.,Familiarize with various communication platforms.,Develop data analysis for communication impact.
Behavioral questions
Describe a complex communication challenge.,How do you influence senior stakeholders?,Share an example of leading change communication.,How do you measure communication effectiveness?
Frequently asked questions
- What does a typical day look like for a Manager, Strategic Communications at BMO?
- A typical day involves collaborating with leaders, developing communication strategies, sourcing and creating content for various channels, analyzing communication effectiveness, and advising stakeholders. You'll also manage projects and contribute to change management initiatives within BMO Wealth Management.
- What are the key qualifications for the Manager, Strategic Communications role at BMO?
- Key qualifications include 5-7 years of relevant experience in communications, a degree in a related field, in-depth writing and editing skills, the ability to simplify complex information, strong communication, collaboration, analytical, and influence skills, and a data-driven decision-making approach.
- How does BMO support employee growth in this role?
- BMO supports employee growth through in-depth training, coaching, manager support, and network-building opportunities, helping you gain valuable experience and broaden your skillset while you assist customers in reaching their goals.
- What is BMO's approach to total compensation for this salaried position?
- BMO offers a total compensation package that may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, and other perks beyond the base salary. Benefits include health insurance, tuition reimbursement, life insurance, and retirement savings plans.
- How can I demonstrate my strategic communication skills during the BMO application process?
- You can demonstrate your strategic communication skills by tailoring your resume to highlight relevant experience, crafting a cover letter that addresses BMO's values and the role's requirements, and preparing to discuss specific examples of your strategic planning and execution capabilities.
- What is BMO's stance on unsolicited resumes for the Manager, Strategic Communications position?
- BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Unsolicited resumes are considered BMO property, and no fee will be paid for placements resulting from them. Agencies must have a valid, written, and executed agency agreement.
- What are the main responsibilities of the Manager, Strategic Communications at BMO Wealth Management?
- The main responsibilities include assessing communication needs, recommending and implementing communication plans, supporting executive communications, developing content for various channels, measuring communication effectiveness, leading change management communications, and acting as a trusted advisor to leaders.