Strategic Communications Lead

The Role:

Reporting to the Director of External Communications and collaborating closely with the Director of Internal Communications, the Strategic Communications Lead will oversee comprehensive communication initiatives. The primary focus will be on articulating Maple Leaf Foods' vision, mission, and sustainability objectives to both external and internal audiences. This position involves cultivating and managing strategic alliances with media and agency partners, safeguarding the reputation of Maple Leaf Foods, and delivering impactful communications to diverse stakeholders, including consumers and clients through well-crafted public relations strategies.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in internal communications and the capability to effectively engage with a workforce of over 13,000 across more than 25 facilities in North America. This role requires cross-functional collaboration and the establishment of robust relationships with key subject matter experts, demonstrating leadership to successfully implement strategic internal communication initiatives that enhance engagement among team members.

We seek an outstanding individual who will exhibit leadership in daily interactions with external media and agency partners. The candidate will be responsible for developing and managing a variety of communication campaigns, overseeing budget allocations for these programs, including sustainability and marketing communications. Additionally, the individual will generate relevant content for internal audiences to inform and raise awareness of key organizational strategies and priorities.

Success in this role demands a blend of strategic thinking, functional business knowledge, and the ability to manage multiple stakeholders across internal and external domains while meeting the ongoing demands of leading, planning, and executing key deliverables promptly, all within a dynamic environment.

This position requires exceptional writing, strategic planning, leadership capabilities, and a proven track record of flawless execution and delivery, alongside a deep understanding of public affairs, media relations, and internal communications.

Daily Responsibilities:

• Oversee external media and agency partnerships in crafting public relations campaigns for various Maple Leaf Foods initiatives, including sustainability communications and consumer marketing efforts. This includes developing project execution plans, creating communication materials, managing budgets, and ensuring the successful delivery of key objectives.
• Produce external corporate communication materials such as press releases, key messaging documents, Q&As, spokesperson briefing materials, media pitches, media lists, website content, and corporate fact sheets.
• Manage contracts and relationships with key corporate communications vendors, negotiating competitive agreements to ensure cost efficiency and that services provided meet departmental needs.
• Monitor and address corporate issues, including drafting key messages, corporate responses, and post-issue media analysis reports.
• Provide strategic communication support to senior leaders for business engagements, including media analysis, briefing documents, and presentation content.
• Build and maintain proactive relationships with key media, managing inquiries and addressing media relations during crises, issues, and reputation management scenarios.
• Support social media strategies and content for both external and internal platforms that influence communication and brand reputation.
• Conduct daily media monitoring and distribution, analyzing reports and sharing sensitive articles with internal departments and employees.
• Develop quarterly earnings media reports for the Senior Leadership Team.
• Assist senior communications team members in crisis and issues management, including formulating proactive and reactive strategies that enhance media and consumer engagement.
• Manage all aspects of high-priority corporate events, including budget oversight for hybrid (in-person and virtual) events such as Annual General Meetings, press conferences, and internal Town Hall gatherings.

Internal Communication Duties:

• Facilitate and enhance internal communications within Maple Leaf Foods to improve team members' awareness and understanding of corporate priorities and initiatives.
• Develop and implement confidential change management projects with thoughtful communication strategies to support cross-functional teams during transitions.
• Create effective communication channels from the corporate office to hourly team members across 25+ plants, ensuring consistent messaging and tone.
• Serve as the primary communications partner for the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security, developing engaging internal communication programs that educate and involve the organization's 13,500 team members.
• Promote initiatives surrounding Maple Leaf Foods' sustainability strategy to internal audiences through engaging communication campaigns.
• Collaborate with the Communications Content Specialist to manage the Editorial Committee and key strategies for internal communications on engagement platforms, reviewing content and working with functional content owners to create effective communications and compelling narratives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in communication, public relations, or journalism.
• Post-graduate certificate in communications.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in external and/or internal communications.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and content production skills.
• Proven ability to create digital corporate content for diverse audiences and formats.
• Experience managing direct reports or teams.
• Strong team player with mentoring and coaching abilities.
• Proactive and performance-driven, capable of working under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities.

Competencies:

• Proven ability to lead and mentor others.
• Skill in building mutually beneficial relationships.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Capacity to identify opportunities and resolve complex issues.
• Excellent judgment and commitment to confidentiality.
• Ability to simplify complex business information into engaging, meaningful content.
• Proven track record of collaboration and effective interaction with senior leaders.
• Highly creative with a passion for continuous learning.
• Experience in both corporate and agency environments preferred.
• Familiarity with traditional and innovative communication tools to deliver engaging content and messages.
• Excellent project management skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Self-assured in working independently while recognizing the need for support and guidance.

What Maple Leaf Foods Offers:

• A commitment to becoming the most sustainable protein company globally, with a focus on sustainable practices across North America.
• An inclusive company culture that prioritizes safety, rewards excellence, and empowers all employees to contribute their best.
• A hybrid work model that supports remote work for eligible roles, promoting work-life balance.
• Competitive health and wellness benefits that are flexible to meet individual or family needs, starting on the first day of employment.

About Maple Leaf Foods:

As a carbon-neutral food company, we are dedicated to enhancing food quality through better nutrition, safer food practices, humane animal care, and environmental sustainability efforts. We are committed to addressing food insecurity in Canada and strive to build a better future together.

With over 100 years of experience, we produce delicious, healthy protein products under well-known brands such as Maple Leaf, Schneiders, and Greenfield Natural Meat Co. Our goal is to lead the way in sustainable protein production, not just in Canada but globally.

• We are committed to carbon neutrality.
• We are among the few food companies in Canada to establish science-based targets.
• We aim to reduce our environmental footprint by 50% by 2025.

As a global food company with over 13,500 team members, we operate in more than 20 locations across Canada, with additional sites in the U.S. and Mexico, and business operations in Asia.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:

We believe that championing diversity and inclusion is essential to advancing our collective purpose and vision. We are dedicated to building, investing in, recognizing, and rewarding remarkable individuals who value an inclusive workplace and embrace diversity in all its forms.

Our Values:

Our eight Leadership Values guide our decisions for all stakeholders: consumers, customers, employees, communities, shareholders, and the environment.

• Doing What's Right
• Shared Value
• High Performance
• Diverse and Inclusive Teams
• Disciplined Decision Making
• Our Accountability
• Intense Curiosity
• Transparency and Humility

We appreciate all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with Maple Leaf Foods; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may undergo a background check and must meet the security criteria for the position.

We are committed to accommodating applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment and assessment process and upon hiring.

Disclaimer: Salaries posted on sites other than the Maple Leaf Foods Careers Page may not accurately reflect our compensation and are estimates provided by those job boards. Maple Leaf Foods offers competitive wages and a comprehensive total rewards package, which will be discussed during the interview process.

#LI-Hybrid

---