Senior Advisor, Communications

📌 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: 6-10 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
• Representing Desjardins's position in external agreements
• Working in a bilingual environment with a focus on French

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of expertise and experience in communications, with a focus on strategic planning and execution. The role involves frequent interaction with stakeholders and requires strong interpersonal skills.

📋 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 project management skills. The successful candidate will be able to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field

Experience: A minimum of six years of relevant experience

Required Skills:

• Excellent communication skills in French (bilingualism is an asset)
• Proven experience in strategic communications planning and execution
• Strong project management skills
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders
• Sound business judgment and analytical skills

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a financial services or cooperative environment
• Knowledge of Desjardins Group and its members

ASSUMPTION: Given the nature of the role, candidates with a background in communications, public relations, or a related field are likely to be the best fit. Experience in a similar role within a large organization or in a consulting capacity would also be beneficial.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Industry standards for a senior communications advisor role in Montréal range from CAD 90,000 to CAD 120,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications. Desjardins offers a competitive salary and annual bonus.

Benefits:

• 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: Full-time, with flexible hours and a hybrid work arrangement (4 days remote, 1 day on-site)

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications. Desjardins offers a comprehensive benefits package to attract and retain top talent.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Desjardins is the largest cooperative financial group in North America and the fifth largest cooperative financial group in the world, with assets of CAD 435.8 billion as of March 31, 2024. It offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms, and subsidiaries across Canada.

Company Size: Desjardins has over 10,000 employees, providing a large and diverse work environment with ample opportunities for growth and development.

Founded: Desjardins was founded in 1900 and has since grown to become a major player in the Canadian financial services industry.

Company Description:

• Desjardins is a mutualist financial cooperative that prioritizes the well-being of its members and communities
• It offers a wide range of financial products and services, including banking, insurance, wealth management, and business solutions
• Desjardins is committed to sustainability and social responsibility, with a focus on supporting local communities and promoting financial education

Company Specialties:

• Retail banking
• Insurance
• Wealth management
• Business solutions

Company Website: www.desjardins.com

ASSUMPTION: Desjardins' size and diversity provide candidates with numerous opportunities to grow and develop their careers. The company's focus on mutualism and social responsibility makes it an attractive option for candidates who value these principles.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is at the senior level, requiring a high degree of expertise and experience in communications.

Reporting Structure: The senior advisor reports directly to the director of communications and works closely with other senior leaders within the communications department and across the organization.

Work Arrangement: This role follows a hybrid work arrangement, with employees working remotely for four days a week and on-site for one day a week.

Growth Opportunities:

• Given Desjardins' size and diversity, there are numerous opportunities for career growth and development within the organization
• This role provides the opportunity to work on high-impact projects and initiatives, allowing the successful candidate to make a significant contribution to the organization's success
• The role also offers the chance to develop leadership and mentoring skills by working with and supporting junior team members

ASSUMPTION: The senior advisor role offers a unique opportunity to work on high-impact projects and initiatives, providing the successful candidate with the chance to make a significant contribution to the organization's success. The role also offers the chance to develop leadership and mentoring skills by working with and supporting junior team members.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Desjardins' headquarters is located in Lévis, Quebec, with additional offices in Montréal, Toronto, Calgary, and other locations across Canada.

Office Location(s): The senior advisor role is based in Montréal, with the option to work remotely for four days a week.

Geographic Context:

• Montréal is the second-largest city in Canada and the largest city in the province of Quebec
• The city is known for its vibrant culture, diverse communities, and high quality of life
• Montréal is also a major hub for the financial services industry in Canada

Work Schedule: The role follows a hybrid work arrangement, with employees working remotely for four days a week and on-site for one day a week.

ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement provides employees with the flexibility to balance their work and personal lives while still benefiting from the collaboration and networking opportunities that come with working on-site.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening
• In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager and/or team members
• Final interview with senior leadership

Key Assessment Areas:

• Communication skills, both written and verbal
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Project management skills
• Cultural fit and alignment with Desjardins' values

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Demonstrate your understanding of Desjardins' mission, values, and culture in your application materials
• Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills

ATS Keywords: communications, strategic planning, project management, stakeholder engagement, bilingual, French, English

ASSUMPTION: Desjardins uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to screen and manage job applications. Including relevant keywords in your resume and application materials can help ensure that your application is seen by the hiring team.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

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

ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the projects and initiatives the successful candidate is working on.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Member-centricity
• Integrity
• Expertise
• Innovation
• Cooperation

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Adaptable and flexible
• Results-driven and proactive
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do you demonstrate member-centricity in your work?
• Can you provide an example of a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your work environment?
• How do you approach collaboration and teamwork in a remote work setting?

ASSUMPTION: Desjardins values candidates who are a strong cultural fit and who align with the company's mission, values, and culture. The self-assessment questions are designed to help candidates reflect on their fit with Desjardins' values and work style.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• The role may require working on multiple projects simultaneously, with tight deadlines and competing priorities
• The successful candidate will need to navigate a large and complex organization, with multiple stakeholders and competing interests
• The role may require working in both French and English, with a focus on French
• The hybrid work arrangement may present challenges in terms of communication and collaboration with team members and stakeholders

ASSUMPTION: The senior advisor role presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth and development. Candidates should be prepared to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, with a focus on delivering high-quality results under tight deadlines.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is similar to a senior communications manager or director of communications role in a large organization, with a focus on strategic planning and execution
• However, this role is unique in that it is based within a cooperative financial group, with a focus on member-centricity and mutualism
• This role offers the opportunity to work on high-impact projects and initiatives, with a focus on driving meaningful change and impact within the organization

ASSUMPTION: While this role shares similarities with other senior communications roles, it is unique in its focus on member-centricity and mutualism within a cooperative financial group. Candidates should be prepared to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, with a focus on driving meaningful change and impact within the organization.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a comprehensive communications strategy for a major organizational initiative
• Managing a team of communications professionals to deliver high-quality results under tight deadlines
• Negotiating agreements with external partners and organizations on behalf of Desjardins

ASSUMPTION: The sample projects provided are intended to give candidates a sense of the types of projects and initiatives they may be working on in this role. The specific projects and initiatives will vary depending on the organization's priorities and needs.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the team structure and dynamics within the communications department?
• How does Desjardins support the professional development and growth of its employees?
• Can you provide an example of a time when Desjardins' values and culture were particularly evident in the organization's decision-making or actions?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
• How does Desjardins approach work-life balance and flexibility in its hybrid work arrangement?

ASSUMPTION: The key questions to ask during the interview are designed to help candidates better understand the role, the team, and the organization. Candidates should use the interview as an opportunity to gather information and assess their fit with the role and the organization.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the Desjardins careers website
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills
• Research Desjardins' mission, values, and culture to demonstrate your understanding and alignment with the organization
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and reiterate your interest in the role

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