Interim Executive Director, Communications & Engagement

LHH Knightsbridge; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Lee Hecht Harrison Knightsbridge Corp. seeks an experienced Interim Executive Director, Communications & Engagement to lead a regulator’s communications function through a period of transition.

The role focuses on maintaining continuity, guiding the team, and delivering an objective assessment of how to strengthen the function for the long term. The Interim will drive internal and external communications, stakeholder engagement, public affairs and government relations while conducting a

Qualifications

• Senior communications leader with regulator/public sector experience
• Strong background in corporate and strategic communications
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams
• Experience guiding organisations through change and transition
• Expertise in internal/external communications and stakeholder engagement
• Background in government relations and public affairs
• Proficient in media, issues and crisis management
• Credible adviser to CEOs/executive teams
• Experience assessing or transforming a communications function
• Ability to evaluate talent, structure, processes and technology
• Strong executive judgement and relationship-building skills
• Hands-on, delivery-focused interim leadership style

Responsibilities

• Provide visible, engaging and hands-on leadership
• Establish immediate priorities and clarify responsibilities
• Maintain business continuity and service delivery
• Support the team through uncertainty and change
• Identify immediate capacity, capability or leadership gaps
• Build a collaborative, accountable and high-performing culture
• Coach and support team leaders and communications professionals
• Oversee communications and engagement activities for internal and external audiences
• Manage media relations, government relations and public affairs
• Conduct an objective assessment of mandate, structure, processes and technology
• Provide strategic advisory input to the CEO and executive management
• Deliver future-state recommendations for the function and leadership profile

Skills

Regulatory sector experience

Strategic communications

Team leadership

Change leadership

Internal/external communications

Government relations

Media & crisis management

Executive advisory

Org transformation

Talent & structure evaluation

Executive judgement

Hands-on leadership

Job description

Interim Executive Director, Communications & Engagement

Reports to : Chief Corporate Services Officer

Duration: 3 months

Our client is a high-profile regulator operating within a complex, publicly accountable and stakeholder-intensive environment.

The organization is seeking an experienced communications executive to lead its Communications & Engagement function through a period of transition. The role requires a leader who can maintain operational continuity, engage and support the team, and provide executive management with an objective assessment of how the function can improve.

The Assignment

The Interim will provide visible, steady leadership to the Communications & Engagement team while ensuring the continued delivery of effective internal and external communications, stakeholder engagement, public affairs and government relations.

In parallel, the Interim will conduct a strategic review of the function, including its talent, structure, processes, technology and overall operating model. The resulting recommendations will help executive management strengthen the function and define the experience, capabilities and leadership style required in the permanent Director.

This is a dual mandate requiring someone who can effectively “fly the plane” while developing a practical plan for the future.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and Stabilize the Team

• Provide visible, engaging and hands-on leadership
• Establish immediate priorities and clarify responsibilities
• Maintain business continuity and service delivery
• Support the team through uncertainty and change
• Identify immediate capacity, capability or leadership gaps
• Build a collaborative, accountable and high-performing culture
• Coach and support team leaders and communications professionals

Maintain Operational Delivery

Oversee the organization’s communications and engagement activities, including:

• Corporate, employee and executive communications
• External communications and stakeholder engagement
• Media relations and issues management
• Government relations and public affairs
• Digital communications and creative services
• Crisis and reputation-sensitive communications
• Executive messaging and strategic counsel

The Interim will ensure that communications remain timely, coordinated and aligned with organizational priorities, particularly where matters carry government, public, stakeholder or reputational implications.

Assess the Function

Conduct an objective assessment of the function’s:

• Mandate and alignment with organizational strategy
• Talent, leadership capacity and collective capabilities
• Organizational structure and reporting relationships
• Roles, responsibilities and decision-making authority
• Planning, intake, workflow and approval processes
• Internal client service and cross-functional collaboration
• Digital platforms, tools and emerging technology
• Performance measures and executive reporting
• Future resource and capability requirements

The review should identify immediate improvements as well as longer-term opportunities to strengthen the function’s performance, responsiveness and strategic contribution.

Strategic Advisory Role

The Interim will serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive management on:

• Organizational reputation and stakeholder confidence
• Government relations and public affairs
• Media strategy and issues management
• Crisis and sensitive communications
• Executive positioning and messaging
• Emerging public or stakeholder issues
• The future structure and leadership of the function

By the conclusion of the assignment, the Interim will be expected to provide:

• Stable operational leadership and continuity across communications, engagement and government relations.
• An engaged and supported team with greater clarity regarding priorities, roles and expectations.
• An initial risk and priority assessment covering urgent communications, stakeholder and reputational matters.
• A functional effectiveness review addressing talent, structure, processes, technology and performance.
• Future-state recommendations for the mandate, structure, operating model and capabilities of the function.
• A permanent leadership profile defining the experience, competencies and leadership style required in the long-term Director.
• An executive transition report outlining key findings, recommendations, priorities and proposed next steps.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a senior communications and engagement executive with:

• Ideally worked for a regulator, utility or high profile public serving organization
• Significant corporate and strategic communications experience
• A strong record of leading multidisciplinary communications teams
• Experience leading through transition, uncertainty or change
• Expertise in internal and external communications
• Government relations, public affairs and stakeholder-engagement experience
• Strong media, issues, crisis and reputation-management capabilities
• Credibility advising CEOs and executive leadership teams
• Experience assessing or transforming a communications function
• The ability to evaluate talent, structure, processes and technology
• Strong executive judgement, political acuity and relationship-building skills
• A practical, hands-on and delivery-oriented interim leadership style

The underlying position profile identifies at least 10 years of progressive corporate communications experience and five to seven years of management experience. Experience within a unionized environment and knowledge of digital communications, creative services and emerging communications technologies would be valuable.

Lee Hecht Harrison Knightsbridge Corp. is committed to providing equitable treatment and accommodation to ensure a barrier-free recruitment process. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and our AODA policy, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the hiring process. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please provide your accommodation needs in advance to the Recruitment Lead for this opportunity.

We thank all interested candidates in advance; however, only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.