📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Manager, Communications
🔹 Company: Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
🔹 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
🔹 Job Type: Hybrid
🔹 Category: Communications
🔹 Date Posted: May 9, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site with remote flexibility
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving external communication strategies to support business priorities
- Managing a small team of communications professionals
- Developing thought-leadership campaigns and media relations
- Overseeing press releases and spokesperson interviews
- Collaborating with global teams and RBC communications and marketing colleagues
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, exceptional writing skills, and previous people management experience.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop and execute external communication strategies to support business priorities
✅ Manage a small team of communications professionals, providing work direction, coaching, and skill-building opportunities
✅ Develop, manage, and maintain relationships with key trade and business media, identifying and pitching story opportunities
✅ Oversee press releases and spokesperson interviews, ensuring consistent and impactful messaging
✅ Lead media measurement and reporting, demonstrating and analyzing results and impact of media activities
✅ Monitor and analyze industry trends, competitor activities, and market developments to identify opportunities for promoting the RBC Wealth Management brand and messaging
✅ Anticipate and manage reputational risks; provide crisis management advice and develop communications strategy and key messages to brief senior leaders and respond to internal and external inquiries
✅ Promote a consistent brand identity through corporate and executive social media
✅ Provide communications counsel to executives and senior leaders, including talking points for internal and external events, reputational issue management, and media prep
✅ Collaborate with RBC communications and marketing colleagues, as well as global teams to identify, develop, and execute integrated campaigns for external and internal audiences
ASSUMPTION: This role may require occasional travel to RBC offices and events.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, or a related field
Experience: 8-10+ years of communications experience in a corporate or agency environment, with a focus on media relations and providing strategic counsel to executives
Required Skills:
- Exceptional writing and editing skills
- Strategic mindset with the ability to think creatively
- Ability to prioritize and deliver results in a tight time frame
- Detail-focused, with keen critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Effective at cross-functional collaboration
- Knowledge of financial services industry
- Previous experience as a people manager
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working with a global team
- Fluency in additional languages
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with relevant industry-specific experience may be given preference.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $85,000 - $150,000 per year, depending on factors including experience, skills, and market conditions
Benefits:
- Bonuses and flexible benefits
- Competitive compensation, commissions, and stock options
- 401(k) program with company-matching contributions
- Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
- Paid time-off plan
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and skills.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Banking
Company Size: 10,001+ employees
Founded: 1864 (as a bank)
Company Description:
- Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance
- RBC has a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to its clients
- RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments, and employee volunteer activities
Company Specialties:
- finance
- banking
- investing
- insurance
- financial planning
- wealth management
- capital markets
Company Website: www.rbc.com
ASSUMPTION: RBC's size and global presence provide opportunities for career growth and development.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior Manager
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Head of Communications or a similar role
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (on-site with remote flexibility)
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to advance to a director or vice president level within the communications department
- Opportunities to work on global projects and collaborate with international teams
- Possibility to transition into a different role within RBC, such as marketing or public affairs
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within RBC's communications department and potentially across other departments.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid (onsite and remote work arrangement)
Office Location(s): 60 S 6th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402, US
Geographic Context:
- Minneapolis is the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the 46th-most populous city proper in the United States
- The city is known for its cultural attractions, including the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Walker Art Center, and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
- Minneapolis has a humid continental climate, with warm summers and cold, snowy winters
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexibility for remote work
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers a balance between on-site collaboration and remote flexibility.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume submission
- Phone or video screening with the hiring manager
- In-depth interviews with the hiring manager and other team members
- Final round interviews with senior leadership
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Communication skills, both written and verbal
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Leadership and team management skills
- Industry knowledge and understanding of RBC's business
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your communication skills, leadership experience, and problem-solving abilities
- Research RBC's company culture and values to demonstrate your fit for the organization
ATS Keywords: Strategic Communications, Media Relations, Thought Leadership, Team Management, Crisis Communications, Brand Management, Executive Communications, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Global Communications
ASSUMPTION: The interview process may vary depending on the specific needs of the hiring team and the candidate's experience level.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides)
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira)
- Social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer)
- Media monitoring and analysis tools (e.g., Mention, Brand24)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required may vary depending on the team's needs and the candidate's role within the department.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Service
- Trust
- Putting Clients First
- Doing What's Right
- Excellence
- Leadership
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Results-driven and focused on delivering excellence
- Adaptable and open to change
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with RBC's values, particularly 'Putting Clients First' and 'Doing What's Right'?
- How comfortable are you working in a hybrid environment, balancing on-site collaboration and remote work?
- How do you approach managing a team and providing coaching and skill-building opportunities?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong fit with RBC's values and work style will be more likely to succeed in this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a team remotely and ensuring consistent communication strategies
- Balancing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Adapting to changes in the communications landscape and media trends
- Managing reputational risks and crises effectively
- Working with diverse stakeholders, including executives, internal teams, and external partners
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong communication skills, strategic thinking, and adaptability.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other communications roles, this position offers a broader range of responsibilities, including thought leadership, media relations, and crisis communications
- As a senior manager, this role provides more strategic decision-making and team leadership opportunities than mid-level communications positions
- Within RBC, this role offers opportunities to work with global teams and collaborate on international projects
ASSUMPTION: This role provides a unique blend of strategic, managerial, and tactical communications responsibilities.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a thought-leadership campaign to position RBC Wealth Management as an industry expert
- Managing a media relations crisis, including drafting key messages and coordinating with senior leadership
- Revamping RBC's spokesperson training program to enhance the skills of company leaders
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the strategic and tactical aspects of the role and the impact it can have on RBC's reputation and business success.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the biggest challenges facing the communications department currently, and how can this role address them?
- How does this role collaborate with other departments, such as marketing and public affairs?
- What opportunities are there for professional development and growth within the communications department and RBC?
- How does the hiring manager envision this role evolving in the next 3-5 years?
- What is the team's approach to work-life balance, and how is it supported within the department?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful questions demonstrates your interest in the role and the organization and provides valuable insights into the work environment and career growth opportunities.
📌 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 for behavioral interview questions that focus on your communication skills, leadership experience, and problem-solving abilities
- Research RBC's company culture and values to demonstrate your fit for the organization
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
