Head, Corporate Communications, Cdn Commercial and NA Integrated Solutions

BMO•Toronto, ON

About The Position

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. Fosters a culture aligned to BMO purpose, values and strategy and role models BMO values and behaviours in all that they do. Ensures alignment between values and behaviour that fosters diversity and inclusion. Regularly connects work to BMO's purpose, sets inspirational goals, defines clear expected outcomes, and ensures clear accountability for follow through. Builds interdependent teams that collaborate across functional and operating groups to create the highest value for all stakeholders. Attracts, retains, and enables the career development of top talent. Improves team performance, recognizes and rewards performance, coaches employees, supports their development, and manages poor performance. Acts as a trusted advisor to senior leaders for making business decisions and implementing strategic initiatives. Develops an expert understanding of business/group challenges. Influences and negotiates to achieve business objectives. Identifies emerging issues and trends to inform decision-making. Recommends and implements solutions based on analysis of issues and implications for the business. Networks with industry contacts to gather competitive insights and best practices. Recommends measures to improve organizational effectiveness. May consult to or serve on various committees and task forces. Leads the communications strategy planning process bringing strategic, professional communications counsel, planning and direction to senior leaders. Recommends business priorities, advises on resource requirements and develops roadmap for strategic execution. Conducts independent analysis and assessment to resolve strategic issues. Acts as the prime subject matter expert for internal/external stakeholders. Acts as the prime contact for internal/external stakeholder relationships, which may include regulators. Leads the development of 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 and oversees the design and development of communications strategy and execution of communication plans and solutions for senior leaders. Assesses and adapts as needed to ensure quality of execution. Guides communicators on relevancy, appropriateness, pacing and sequencing of messages, choice of channels 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. Collaborates across BMO to develop communications strategies and ensure consistency of messaging, in order to positively influence or change behaviour. Leads business/group change management activities from a communications perspective. Evaluates and prioritizes requests for senior leader involvement in external activities/events, and provides recommendations for final approval. Manages specialized senior leader communications including customer & employee correspondence, articles and speaking engagements (as required). Leads and oversees the planning, development and execution of events and conferences. Develops the strategy for and leads ongoing initiatives to continuously improve communications processes & tools. Reviews progress to plans and escalates complaints, issues and concerns. Manages expenses and external suppliers (as required). Acts as the day to day contact for vendors; supports the implementation, maintenance, and sustainment of vendor solutions. 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 (e.g. Intranet, Portal, conference calls, e-mail, shared drives and SharePoint sites, social networking platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and blogs, etc.). 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. Operates at a group/enterprise-wide level and serves as a senior specialist resource across BMO. Influences how teams/groups work together. Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to multiple, interdependent, complex problems. Communicates abstract concepts in simple terms. Fosters strong internal and external networks and works with and across multiple teams to achieve business objectives. Anticipates trends and responds by implementing appropriate changes. Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed. Take measured risks while protecting the bank by applying our Risk Management Framework in the execution of your role, in line with our Risk Culture and within our approved Risk Appetite, making sound and risk informed decisions that align to business strategy, protect assets, and adhere to applicable policy documents (Frameworks, Policies, Standards, Procedures and Supporting documents), laws and regulations.

Requirements

Typically 9+ years of relevant experience and post-secondary degree in in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or a related field of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Writing & editing skills - Expert.
Uses a straight-talk and story-telling approach for communications.
Ability to take technical and complex information and distill it to key messages that make sense.
Demonstrated experience influencing and coaching senior leaders.
Seasoned expert with extensive industry knowledge.
Technical leader viewed as a thought leader for innovation.
Verbal & written communication skills - Expert.
Analytical and problem solving skills - Expert.
Influence skills - Expert.
Collaboration & team skills; with a focus on cross-group collaboration - Expert.
Able to manage ambiguity.
Data driven decision making - Expert.

Responsibilities

Assess communications needs, recommend communications plans & solutions, secure necessary approvals, and create/deliver communication solutions.
Source content and feedback, assess information and translate thoughts into effective communications solutions.
Deliver high quality communications solutions that target audiences can easily access, understand and action and are aligned with company standards.
Foster a culture aligned to BMO purpose, values and strategy and role model BMO values and behaviours.
Ensure alignment between values and behaviour that fosters diversity and inclusion.
Connect work to BMO's purpose, set inspirational goals, define clear expected outcomes, and ensure clear accountability for follow through.
Build interdependent teams that collaborate across functional and operating groups.
Attract, retain, and enable the career development of top talent.
Improve team performance, recognize and reward performance, coach employees, support their development, and manage poor performance.
Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders for making business decisions and implementing strategic initiatives.
Develop an expert understanding of business/group challenges.
Influence and negotiate to achieve business objectives.
Identify emerging issues and trends to inform decision-making.
Recommend and implement solutions based on analysis of issues and implications for the business.
Network with industry contacts to gather competitive insights and best practices.
Recommend measures to improve organizational effectiveness.
Consult to or serve on various committees and task forces.
Lead the communications strategy planning process bringing strategic, professional communications counsel, planning and direction to senior leaders.
Recommend business priorities, advise on resource requirements and develop roadmap for strategic execution.
Conduct independent analysis and assessment to resolve strategic issues.
Act as the prime subject matter expert for internal/external stakeholders.
Act as the prime contact for internal/external stakeholder relationships, which may include regulators.
Lead the development of strategies and tools to measure, analyze and report on the effectiveness of communications initiatives.
Monitor and track performance, and address any issues.
Make recommendations for improvements based on insights.
Lead and oversee the design and development of communications strategy and execution of communication plans and solutions for senior leaders.
Assess and adapt as needed to ensure quality of execution.
Guide communicators on relevancy, appropriateness, pacing and sequencing of messages, choice of channels and alignment to business priorities.
Gather content from multiple sources and develop communications for various vehicles including leadership messages, intranets, town halls, newsletters, video, presentations and new social media.
Collaborate across BMO to develop communications strategies and ensure consistency of messaging.
Lead business/group change management activities from a communications perspective.
Evaluate and prioritize requests for senior leader involvement in external activities/events, and provide recommendations for final approval.
Manage specialized senior leader communications including customer & employee correspondence, articles and speaking engagements.
Lead and oversee the planning, development and execution of events and conferences.
Develop the strategy for and lead ongoing initiatives to continuously improve communications processes & tools.
Review progress to plans and escalate complaints, issues and concerns.
Manage expenses and external suppliers.
Act as the day-to-day contact for vendors; support the implementation, maintenance, and sustainment of vendor solutions.
Recommend, develop and execute communication plans and solutions based on an understanding of the business strategy and stakeholder needs.
Provide communications advice and guidance to assigned business/group.
Proactively collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to provide business context in the design, development and implementation of communication solutions.
Lead or participate in defining communication plans designed to positively influence or change behaviour; develop tailored messaging; identify appropriate distribution channels.
Review material to ensure it complies with relevant quality standards, including translation requirements.
Coordinate, distribute and publish communication solutions.
Measure and sustain communications solutions impacting the target employee audience.
Gather feedback and continually evaluate the effectiveness of communication content and the vehicles/platforms/tools/technology.
Recommend improvements, changes, additions or deletions of communication content and the vehicles/platforms/tools/technology as necessary.
Coordinate with partners to ensure content is up-to-date and relevant.
Remain alert to new trends, tools and methods of communication, and make recommendations on their application.
Stay 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.
Build effective relationships with internal/external stakeholders and ensure alignment between stakeholders.
Actively look for opportunities for continuous improvement of communications processes and procedures, and participate/lead communications continuous improvement initiatives.
Operate at a group/enterprise-wide level and serve as a senior specialist resource across BMO.
Influence how teams/groups work together.
Apply expertise and think creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to multiple, interdependent, complex problems.
Communicate abstract concepts in simple terms.
Foster strong internal and external networks and work with and across multiple teams to achieve business objectives.
Anticipate trends and respond by implementing appropriate changes.
Take measured risks while protecting the bank by applying our Risk Management Framework in the execution of your role.