Senior Communications Advisor, External Communications & Thought Leadership ( 18 month contract )

McKesson’s Corporate; Mississauga; Hybrid; CAD 99,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

McKesson Canada is seeking a Senior Communications Advisor to shape and elevate our corporate reputation across the healthcare industry. You will develop external communications programs and work with senior leaders to transform complex topics into engaging stories for earned, owned, social, and speaking channels.

You will lead thought leadership initiatives, manage media relations, and coordinate cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact content and strategic communications across multiple

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Typically requires 7+ years of progressive experience in public relations, external communications, corporate communications, journalism, content strategy, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing strategic communications programs.
• Experience creating executive communications, media materials, digital content, and thought leadership initiatives.
• Experience advising senior leaders and business stakeholders.
• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills with the ability to simplify complex information for diverse audiences.
• Experience managing multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute external communications and thought leadership strategies aligned with business and reputation objectives.
• Partner with business leaders and corporate functions to identify proactive storytelling opportunities and emerging issues.
• Provide communications counsel and support to senior executives, including speeches, presentations, articles, media preparation, and social content.
• Research healthcare, policy, industry, and competitor trends to develop compelling thought leadership programs.
• Lead and support media relations activities, including media outreach, news releases, statements, backgrounders, and spokesperson preparation.
• Create high-quality content for digital, social, web, executive, and speaking platforms.
• Coordinate integrated communications plans across earned, owned, social, and speaking channels.
• Support external website and social media content strategies to drive engagement and reach target audiences.
• Contribute to issues management and crisis communications planning and response activities.
• Monitor the external environment to identify opportunities, risks, and emerging trends.
• Measure communications effectiveness using established KPIs and analytics and recommend optimization opportunities.
• Manage external agencies, consultants, and communications vendors.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Government Affairs, HR, Legal, business leaders, and U.S. communication teams on enterprise initiatives.
• Lead multiple high-profile projects while maintaining accuracy, confidentiality, and sound judgment.

Skills

Strategic communications

Executive communications

Media relations

Content strategy

Stakeholder engagement

Writing and editing

Project management

Crisis communications

Analytics

French-English bilingualism

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications

Job description

McKesson is an impact-driven, Fortune 10 company that touches virtually every aspect of healthcare. We are known for delivering insights, products, and services that make quality care more accessible and affordable. Here, we focus on the health, happiness, and well-being of you and those we serve - we care. What you do at McKesson matters. We foster a culture where you can grow, make an impact, and are empowered to bring new ideas. Together, we thrive as we shape the future of health for patients, our communities, and our people. If you want to be part of tomorrow’s health today, we want to hear from you.

About the Role

McKesson Canada is seeking a Senior Communications Advisor, External Communications & Thought Leadership to help shape and elevate our corporate reputation across the healthcare industry. Reporting to the Director, PR & Communications, you will develop and execute strategic external communications programs that support business priorities, strengthen brand reputation, and showcase McKesson Canada's impact on healthcare. This role combines strategy, executive communications, media relations, thought leadership, content development, and stakeholder engagement. You will work closely with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to transform complex healthcare and business topics into compelling stories that resonate with external audiences across earned, owned, social, and speaking channels.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute external communications and thought leadership strategies aligned with business and reputation objectives.
• Partner with business leaders and corporate functions to identify proactive storytelling opportunities and emerging issues.
• Provide communications counsel and support to senior executives, including speeches, presentations, articles, media preparation, and social content.
• Research healthcare, policy, industry, and competitor trends to develop compelling thought leadership programs.
• Lead and support media relations activities, including media outreach, news releases, statements, backgrounders, and spokesperson preparation.
• Create high-quality content for digital, social, web, executive, and speaking platforms.
• Coordinate integrated communications plans across earned, owned, social, and speaking channels.
• Support external website and social media content strategies to drive engagement and reach target audiences.
• Contribute to issues management and crisis communications planning and response activities.
• Monitor the external environment to identify opportunities, risks, and emerging trends.
• Measure communications effectiveness using established KPIs and analytics and recommend optimization opportunities.
• Manage external agencies, consultants, and communications vendors.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Government Affairs, HR, Legal, business leaders, and U.S. communication teams on enterprise initiatives.
• Lead multiple high-profile projects while maintaining accuracy, confidentiality, and sound judgment.

Basic Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Typically requires 7+ years of progressive experience in public relations, external communications, corporate communications, journalism, content strategy, or a related discipline.

• Demonstrated experience developing and executing strategic communications programs.
• Experience creating executive communications, media materials, digital content, and thought leadership initiatives.
• Experience advising senior leaders and business stakeholders.
• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills with the ability to simplify complex information for diverse audiences.
• Experience managing multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience within healthcare, pharmacy, life sciences, or another highly regulated industry.
• Experience supporting corporate reputation and brand-building initiatives.
• Experience with crisis communications and issues management.
• Familiarity with communications analytics and performance measurement.
• Experience managing agencies or external communications partners.
• French-English bilingualism.
• Experience working within a large, matrixed organization.

Travel, Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Hybrid work arrangement based on business needs. Occasional travel may be required for meetings, events, conferences, media engagements, or speaking opportunities. Ability to work on a computer for extended periods and participate in virtual and in-person meetings.

Compensation

We are proud to offer a competitive compensation package at McKesson as part of our Total Rewards. This is determined by several factors, including performance, experience and skills, equity, regular job market evaluations, and geographical markets. The pay range shown below is aligned with McKesson's pay philosophy, and pay will always be compliant with any applicable regulations. In addition to base pay, other compensation, such as an annual bonus or long-term incentive opportunities may be offered. Our Base Pay Range for this position $99,100 - $132,100

McKesson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. McKesson provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, genetic information, or any other legally protected category. For additional information on McKesson’s full Equal Employment Opportunity policies, visit our Equal Employment Opportunity page. McKesson is committed to being an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and offers opportunities to all job seekers including job seekers with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, please contact us by sending an email to (United States) [e-mail] or (Canada) [e-mail]. Resumes or CVs submitted to this email box will not be accepted.