📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Advisor, Communications
🔹 Company: Desjardins
🔹 Location: Montréal, Quebec, Canada
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Temporary (24 months)
🔹 Category: Communications
🔹 Date Posted: April 25, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 6+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days remote, 1 day on-site)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading complex communications projects and initiatives
- Advising clients and partners on strategic communications
- Developing and updating policies, standards, and programs
- Analyzing and diagnosing major issues
- Representing Desjardins's position in external agreements
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of expertise and experience in communications, with a focus on strategic planning, project management, and stakeholder engagement.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead specialized development projects, initiatives, and activities that significantly impact the entire organization
✅ Advise clients and partners to help them position, plan, develop, execute, and monitor strategic communications projects and initiatives
✅ Develop and update policies, standards, models, and programs to support your unit’s strategic projects and initiatives
✅ Identify, analyze, and diagnose major issues and make recommendations to decision-making bodies
✅ Represent your unit before decision-making bodies
✅ Represent Desjardins’s position when making agreements with external partners and organizations.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of autonomy and requires strong decision-making, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field
Experience: A minimum of six years of relevant experience
Required Skills:
- Expertise in communications strategies and tactics
- Proven project management skills
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
- Strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills
- Fluency in French (required)
Preferred Skills:
- Bilingualism (French and English)
- Experience in a financial services or cooperative environment
- Knowledge of Desjardins Group and its products/services
ASSUMPTION: Given the temporary nature of this role, candidates with relevant experience but not all the preferred qualifications may still be considered.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: CAD 85,000 - 110,000 per year (based on industry standards for a senior communications role in Montreal)
Benefits:
- Competitive salary and annual bonus
- 4 weeks of flexible vacation starting in the first year
- Defined benefit pension plan
- Group insurance including telemedicine
- Reimbursement of health and wellness expenses and telework equipment
Working Hours: 35-40 hours per week, with flexible hours and remote work options
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Financial Services & Banking
Company Size: 10,001+ employees (Large enterprise)
Founded: 1900 (as a federation of credit unions)
Company Description:
- Desjardins Group is the largest cooperative financial group in North America and the fifth largest cooperative financial group in the world.
- It offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms, and subsidiaries across Canada.
- Desjardins is ranked among the world's strongest banks and has some of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry.
Company Specialties:
- Retail banking
- Wealth management
- Insurance
- Investment services
Company Website: desjardins.com
ASSUMPTION: Desjardins is a large, established organization with a strong focus on cooperative values and community involvement.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior-level role with significant responsibility and autonomy
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Director of Communications
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (4 days remote, 1 day on-site)
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to take on additional responsibilities or lead projects
- Opportunities to work on high-impact initiatives and gain exposure to senior leadership
- Potential for career progression within the communications department or the broader organization
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, given Desjardins' size and the nature of the position.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space with open-concept work areas and dedicated quiet spaces
Office Location(s): 450, boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montréal
Geographic Context:
- Montréal is a multicultural city with a vibrant arts and culture scene
- The office is located in the heart of downtown Montréal, with easy access to public transportation and amenities
- The region experiences cold winters and warm summers, with four distinct seasons
Work Schedule: Standard work hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with flexibility for remote work
ASSUMPTION: The work environment at Desjardins is collaborative and inclusive, with a strong focus on work-life balance.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video screening interview
- In-person or virtual behavioral and situational interview
- Final interview with the hiring manager
Key Assessment Areas:
- Communication skills and strategic thinking
- Problem-solving and analytical skills
- Interpersonal skills and cultural fit
- Project management and leadership skills
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills
- Provide specific examples of your accomplishments in previous roles
- Demonstrate your understanding of Desjardins' mission, values, and culture
ATS Keywords: Communications, Strategic Planning, Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Policy Development, French, Bilingual, Desjardins
ASSUMPTION: The interview process at Desjardins is thorough and designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Microsoft Project)
- Social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer)
- Content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies used may vary depending on the projects and initiatives the successful candidate works on.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Membership
- Integrity
- Expertise
- Innovation
- Cooperation
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and flexible
- Results-driven and proactive
- Strong communicator and listener
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you align with Desjardins' cooperative values and culture?
- Are you comfortable working in a hybrid environment with a mix of on-site and remote colleagues?
- Do you have a proactive and results-driven work style?
ASSUMPTION: Desjardins values candidates who are a strong cultural fit and align with their cooperative principles and values.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
- Working with diverse stakeholders and managing expectations
- Adapting to a large, complex organization with a decentralized structure
- Balancing work-life demands in a hybrid work environment
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be mitigated by strong project management skills, effective communication, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other senior communications roles, this position offers a higher level of responsibility and autonomy
- In the financial services industry, communications roles often involve a high degree of collaboration and stakeholder engagement
- Career progression in communications at Desjardins may involve moving into specialized or management roles
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to gain experience in a large, complex organization and make a significant impact on its communications strategies and initiatives.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and implementing a comprehensive social media strategy for a major Desjardins campaign
- Leading a cross-functional team to create and launch a new Desjardins product or service
- Conducting a comprehensive review of Desjardins' brand guidelines and making recommendations for improvement
ASSUMPTION: The specific projects the successful candidate works on will depend on the organization's priorities and initiatives at the time of hire.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the top priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does this role fit into the broader communications strategy for Desjardins?
- What opportunities are there for professional development and growth within the communications department?
- How does Desjardins support work-life balance for its employees?
- What is the typical career path for someone in this role?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful, well-researched questions demonstrates your interest in the role and your commitment to success.
📌 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
- Prepare examples of your accomplishments in previous roles
- Demonstrate your understanding of Desjardins' mission, values, and culture
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
