Manager, Corporate Communications

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Manager, Corporate Communications

🔹 Company: Bank of Montreal

🔹 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

🔹 Job Type: Regular

🔹 Category: Corporate Affairs

🔹 Date Posted: 2025-04-29

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Acting as a trusted advisor to assigned business/group
• Influencing and negotiating to achieve business objectives
• Recommending and implementing solutions based on analysis of issues and implications for the business
• Leading the communications strategy planning process
• Developing strategies and tools to measure, analyze and report on the effectiveness of communications initiatives

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, communication, and stakeholder management skills. It involves working closely with business leaders to understand their needs and develop effective communication solutions.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Works collaboratively with business/group and stakeholders to assess communications needs, recommend communications plans & solutions, secure necessary approvals, and create/deliver communication solutions that effectively support and address communications needs.

✅ Sources content and feedback, assesses information and translates thoughts into effective communications solutions.

✅ Delivers high quality communications solutions that target audiences can easily access, understand and action that are alignment with company standards.

✅ Leads the communications strategy planning process bringing strategic, professional communications counsel, planning and direction to leaders.

✅ Develops strategies and tools to measure, analyze and report on the effectiveness of communications initiatives.

✅ Monitors and tracks performance, and addresses any issues. Makes recommendations for improvements based on insights.

✅ Leads the execution of communication solutions; assesses and adapts as needed to ensure quality of execution.

✅ Leads business/group change management activities from a communications perspective.

✅ Assesses communications requests to determine relevancy, appropriateness, pacing and sequencing, and alignment to business priorities.

✅ Gathers content from multiple sources and develops communications for various vehicles including leadership messages, intranets, town halls, newsletters, video, presentations and new social media.

✅ Identifies and liaises with the stakeholders about opportunities for communications to other groups (e.g. customers, media, etc.) to increase communication effectiveness and alignment.

✅ Assists and/or leads planning, development and execution of events and conferences.

✅ Acts as lead communications role in coded/confidential projects.

✅ Reviews progress to plans and escalates complaints, issues and concerns.

✅ Recommends, develops and executes communication plans and solutions based on an understanding of the business strategy and stakeholder needs, and in alignment with an overarching communication strategy.

✅ Provides communications advice and guidance to assigned business/group, on communication principles/programs/approaches, on effective ways to communicate (e.g. message development, vehicle selection, etc.), and on implementation of solutions.

✅ Proactively collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to provide business context in the design, development and implementation of communication solutions.

✅ Leads or participates in defining communication plans designed to positively influence or change behaviour; develops tailored messaging; identifies appropriate distribution channels.

✅ Reviews material to ensure it complies with relevant quality standards, including translation requirements.

✅ Coordinates, distributes and publishes communication solutions.

✅ Measures and sustains communications solutions impacting the target employee audience. Gathers feedback and continually evaluates the effectiveness of communication content and the vehicles/platforms/tools/technology.

✅ Recommends improvements, changes, additions or deletions of communication content and the vehicles/platforms/tools/technology as necessary, and coordinates with partners to ensure content is up-to-date and relevant.

✅ Remains alert to new trends, tools and methods of communication, and makes recommendations on their application.

✅ Stays up to date on company and industry trends by forming and fostering relationships with employees across the company, so as to identify newsworthy items for communication and dissemination.

✅ Builds effective relationships with internal/external stakeholders and ensures alignment between stakeholders.

✅ Actively looks for opportunities for continuous improvement of communications processes and procedures, and participates/leads communications continuous improvement initiatives.

✅ Focus is primarily on business/group within BMO; may have broader, enterprise-wide focus.

✅ Provides specialized consulting, analytical and technical support.

✅ Exercises judgment to identify, diagnose, and solve problems within given rules.

✅ Works independently and regularly handles non-routine situations.

✅ Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.

ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong communication, project management, and stakeholder engagement skills. It involves working with various teams and leaders to understand their needs and develop effective communication strategies.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Typically between 5 - 7 years of relevant experience and post-secondary degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience: 5-10 years of relevant experience in corporate communications or a related field.

Required Skills:

• Writing & editing skills - In-depth
• Verbal & written communication skills - In-depth
• Collaboration & team skills - In-depth
• Analytical and problem solving skills - In-depth
• Influence skills - In-depth
• Data driven decision making - In-depth

Preferred Skills:

• Bilingual (English/French) - an asset
• Experience working in a financial services or related industry - an asset

ASSUMPTION: Strong writing, editing, and communication skills are essential for this role. Candidates should have a proven track record of developing and executing effective communication strategies in a corporate environment.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $68,000.00 - $126,000.00

Benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Accident Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Savings Plans

Working Hours: Full-time, typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with flexibility as needed.

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on industry standards for a Manager, Corporate Communications role in Toronto, Ontario. Benefits are standard for a large financial institution and include health insurance, retirement savings plans, and other perks and rewards.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Financial Services. Bank of Montreal (BMO) is one of the largest banks in Canada, offering a wide range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, and investment banking services.

Company Size: 10,001+ employees. As a large organization, BMO offers a wide range of career opportunities and resources for professional development.

Founded: 1817. BMO has a long history and established reputation in the Canadian financial services industry.

Company Description:

• BMO is committed to helping people at every stage of their financial lives
• The company offers a wide range of banking, wealth management, and investment services
• BMO is known for its strong commitment to corporate social responsibility and community involvement

Company Specialties:

• Personal Banking
• Commercial Banking
• Wealth Management
• Capital Markets
• Asset Management

Company Website: https://www.bmo.com

ASSUMPTION: BMO is a well-established and reputable financial institution with a strong brand and extensive service offerings. It is known for its commitment to customer service and community involvement.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Managerial. This role involves leading a team and managing projects, requiring strong leadership and strategic thinking skills.

Reporting Structure: The Manager, Corporate Communications reports directly to the Director, Corporate Communications.

Work Arrangement: On-site, full-time. This role requires regular on-site presence for collaboration and communication with stakeholders.

Growth Opportunities:

• Progression to a Director or Senior Manager role within Corporate Communications
• Transition to a related role within BMO, such as Marketing or Brand Management
• Expansion of responsibilities to include additional business groups or functions

ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for career growth and development within BMO's Corporate Affairs function or related areas of the organization.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Corporate headquarters. This role is based at BMO's head office in downtown Toronto.

Office Location(s): 33 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Geographic Context:

• Toronto is the capital city of Ontario and the largest city in Canada
• The city is known for its diverse cultural scene, vibrant neighborhoods, and extensive park system
• Toronto has a humid continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with flexibility as needed for project deadlines or stakeholder availability.

ASSUMPTION: The work environment for this role is dynamic and fast-paced, with a focus on collaboration and teamwork. The office is located in downtown Toronto, offering easy access to public transportation, restaurants, and cultural attractions.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application and resume submission
• Phone or video screening with the HR department
• In-depth behavioral and technical interviews with the hiring manager and other team members
• Final round interview with the Director, Corporate Communications
• Background check and reference check

Key Assessment Areas:

• Communication skills, both written and verbal
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Project management and organizational skills
• Industry knowledge and understanding of BMO's business

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare examples of your communication strategies and their impact on target audiences
• Research BMO's corporate communications function and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to its success
• Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company culture

ATS Keywords: Corporate Communications, Manager, Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Management, Project Management, Writing, Editing, Communication, Influencing, Negotiating, Problem Solving, Data Driven Decision Making

ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is competitive, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their communication skills and strategic thinking abilities throughout the interview process.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Microsoft Project)
• Communication and collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams)
• Social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer)
• Content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal)

ASSUMPTION: This role requires proficiency in various communication and project management tools, as well as an understanding of social media and content management systems.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Integrity
• Accountability
• Respect
• Fairness
• Excellence

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Results-driven and focused on delivering high-quality work
• Adaptable and responsive to changing priorities and deadlines
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do you align with BMO's core values, particularly 'Integrity' and 'Excellence'?
• How do you handle working with multiple stakeholders and managing their expectations?
• How do you approach continuous improvement and staying up-to-date with industry trends and best practices?

ASSUMPTION: BMO values candidates who demonstrate strong alignment with the company's core values and a commitment to delivering high-quality work in a collaborative and results-driven environment.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing competing priorities and tight deadlines
• Navigating a large and complex organization with multiple stakeholders
• Keeping up with industry trends and best practices in corporate communications
• Balancing strategic thinking with day-to-day tactical tasks

ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges that require strong project management, stakeholder engagement, and adaptability skills.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Manager, Corporate Communications at a smaller financial institution may have a broader scope and more direct impact on the organization's overall communication strategy
• Manager, Corporate Communications at a larger financial institution may have more specialized responsibilities and work within a larger team
• Manager, Corporate Communications at a non-financial institution may have a different focus, depending on the industry and organization's unique needs

ASSUMPTION: The role of Manager, Corporate Communications can vary depending on the size, industry, and specific needs of the organization. Candidates should consider the unique aspects of this role within the context of BMO's corporate affairs function.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a comprehensive communication plan for a major organizational change initiative
• Creating and distributing a quarterly internal newsletter to keep employees informed about company news and achievements
• Managing a team to plan and execute a large-scale event, such as an annual general meeting or industry conference

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range of responsibilities and the level of strategic thinking and project management required for this role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• What are the biggest challenges facing the corporate communications function in the next 12-24 months?
• How does this role fit into the overall corporate affairs strategy and organization structure?
• What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role?
• How does the company support the professional development and growth of its corporate communications team members?
• What is the team's approach to work-life balance and flexibility?

ASSUMPTION: These questions help candidates better understand the role's context, priorities, and the company's commitment to employee growth and development.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare examples of your communication strategies and their impact on target audiences
• Research BMO's corporate communications function and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to its success
• Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company culture
• Follow up with the hiring manager within one week after your interview to express your continued interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.