Job Summary
The role is responsible for acting as a strategic resource for the client department's Executives and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) by serving as a communications advisor, planner, and developer. The incumbent builds and owns annual communications plans for the function and handles ad-hoc requests and special projects involving communications. The role identifies key annual communications objectives and develops communications strategies to achieve these goals. The role acts as a CN communication and brand advocate on behalf of CN's Corporate and Marketing Communications, at the assigned department's level, and organization wide. The role acts as a significant contributor to initiatives that improve overall communications content and strategies and increase communications channels adoption.
Main Responsibilities
Communications Plan Development
- Develop, coordinate, align, and own communications plans for clients, including internal and external audiences
- Manage the timely, cost-effective delivery of innovative communication campaigns, overseeing the complete quality assurance and Senior Manager sign-off workflow
- Develop and write key messages to support the client's communications with high impact on target audiences
- Ensure message and tone alignment within the client's organization (campaign to campaign) as well as among departments, ensuring that all communications stay true to CN's overall strategic communications approach
- Measure effectiveness of the client's communications, report back to the client where applicable, and make recommendations for future campaigns based on results
Delivery of Tactics and Materials
- Collaborate with Corporate and Marketing Communications Specialists to define tactical and production plans once communications plans have been established
- Lead production of communications and supporting material that need to be achieved, and take full accountability of the plan by driving its development, results, monitoring, and measurement
- Manage other corporate communications projects to increase knowledge of CN's business, departments, and stakeholders
- Develop and oversee production timelines for creative campaigns, videos, and project deliverables
People Management
- Demonstrate collaboration and leadership within Communications, CN functions, Stakeholder Relations, and among support players
- Adhere to CN's values in the context of cross-functional projects and high-level interaction among internal teams, external stakeholders, and collaborators
- Build trust, pride, and engagement with direct reports, if managing people
Brand Advocacy
- Act as a key representative of the Corporate and Marketing Communications team and advocate for the CN brand and stakeholder experience
- Educate and strive to uphold brand standards while making decisions and recommendations autonomously
Working Conditions
The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday and is eligible to participate in CN's hybrid work model. The incumbent must be available to work evening shifts and weekends when necessary. The role involves managing priorities and delivering work within established timelines, with support from the team to ensure sustainable and effective workload management. The role may require frequent travel within the assigned territory (Western, Eastern, and Southern regions of CN's network).
Experience
Communications
- Between 5 to 7 years of experience in a similar communications role
- Candidates with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered
Education/Certification/Designation
- Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Communications, Marketing, or equivalent
- Candidates with equivalent practical experience, education, or training will be considered
Competencies
- We Care About Each Other
- We Strive for Excellence
- We Succeed Together
- We Lead Responsibly
- Vision and strategic thinking
- Impactful and inclusive leadership
- Performance and value delivery
- Empowerment and talent development
- Strategic communication and influence
- Managerial courage and decisiveness
- Stakeholder management
- Reading the environment
- Process optimization
- Influence
- Customer service
Technical Skills/Knowledge
- Strong business understanding of CN's corporate strategy, mission, and vision
- Fast learner of communications tools used by CN (e.g. Poppulo, Airtable, MS Teams, Viva Engage, Cvent)
- General Microsoft applications skills