SENIOR ADVISOR, MEDIA RELATIONS

BDC; Montreal (administrative region); Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Savings and Investment Plan

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Wellness and health care spending

Paid vacation, five personal days, and

Hybrid work model

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

BDC, the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, is seeking a seasoned media relations professional to lead national initiatives and craft compelling stories. You will advise senior executives, manage issues and drive visibility across Canada.

As part of the Strategy team, collaborate with PR, government relations, social media and stakeholders to deliver integrated communications. Requires 10–15 years in media relations and fluency in French and English.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, political science or related field.
• 10–15 years of experience in media relations.
• Agency experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with a Crown corporation or financial institution is a strong asset.
• Extensive network of journalists and media contacts across Canada.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in French and English.

Responsibilities

• Lead national media relations initiatives and develop compelling stories.
• Manage issues and provide strategic advice to senior executives.
• Identify opportunities to increase visibility and media coverage.
• Build and maintain a national journalist network in Canada.
• Advise management and spokespersons on media engagements.
• Deliver fully integrated communications with cross-team collaboration.

Skills

Media relations

Bilingual (French & English)

Strategic thinking

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications/public relations/journalism/political science

Job description

We Are Banking At Another Level.

We Are Banking At Another Level.

Choosing BDC as your employer

means working in a healthy, inclusive, and skilled workplace that puts forward the best conditions to bring together unique teams where employees are empowered to act. It also means being at the centre of ambitious economic and financial projects to see further and to do things differently, to fuel the success of Canadian entrepreneurs.

Choosing BDC As Your Employer Also Means

• Flexible and competitive benefits, including an Employee Savings and Investment Plan where BDC matches part of your voluntary contributions, a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, a $750 wellness and health care spending account, to name a few
• In addition to paid vacation each year, five personal days, sick days as necessary, and our offices are closed from December 25 to January 1
• A hybrid work model that truly balances work and personal life
• Opportunities for learning, training and development, and much more...

Explore the BDC Way in our Culture Book

Ideal Candidate:

A highly connected media relations professional with agency experience, a deep understanding of the Canadian media landscape, experience with a financial institution or Crown corporation, excellent judgment, and the ability to turn complex business priorities into compelling stories that drive results.

Position Overview

BDC, the bank for Canadian entrepreneur.es, is looking for a seasoned media relations professional.

Reporting to the Head of Media Relations, you will lead national media relations initiatives, develop compelling stories, manage issues and provide strategic advice to senior executives. As part of BDC's Strategy team, the Media Relations team acts as a lever for corporate strategy by delivering fully integrated 360° communications — public relations, government relations, stakeholder relations and social media — in collaboration with a cohesive team. As a trusted advisor, you will identify opportunities to increase BDC's visibility, strengthen relationships with key journalists and gain relevant media coverage that supports the organization's business objectives.

This role is for a strategic communicator with excellent media acumen, a strong national network and experience in complex and highly visible environments.

CHALLENGES TO BE MET

• Create proactive and reactive media relations strategies that enhance BDC's visibility and reputation on a national scale.
• Develop media angles, media proposals, key messages, briefing materials, Q&A and other communications.
• Build, maintain and engage a strong network of national and regional journalists, publishers and producers across Canada.
• Act as a strategic advisor to the management team and spokespersons on media engagements.
• Manage media requests.
• Identify and obtain media coverage opportunities that advance corporate priorities and thought leadership objectives.
• Collaborate closely with the public relations, government relations, social media, stakeholder and public affairs teams to deliver communications that are fully integrated and directly linked to corporate strategy.
• Lead external communications announcements and initiatives using a 360° approach that reflects how BDC does communications differently: integrated, strategic, and nationally connected.

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, political science or a related field.
• 10 to 15 years of experience in media relations.
• Experience in an agency is strongly desired.
• Experience with a Crown corporation or financial institution is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated track record of gaining high-impact media coverage through proactive approaches and relationship development.
• Extensive network of journalists and media contacts in national, regional, business and specialized media in Canada.
• Demonstrated experience in advising senior executives and members of management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, in French and English.
• Strategic thinking, 360° perspective, and ability to connect media opportunities to broader corporate and business goals.
• Strong collaboration, resourcefulness and ease working under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

Why BDC

• Help shape the national conversation on entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth.
• To support the media relations efforts of one of Canada's most recognized and influential Crown corporations.
• Work alongside talented communications professionals in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.
• Take advantage of flexible work arrangements and the opportunity to make a measurable impact.

Proudly one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible environment where all employees can thrive and feel empowered to bring their whole selves to work. If you require an accommodation to complete your application, please do not hesitate to contact us at [e-mail].

While we appreciate all applications, we advise that only the candidates selected to participate in the recruitment process will be contacted.