Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

At CN, everyday brings new and exciting challenges. You can expect an interesting environment where you’re part of making sure our business is running optimally and safely―helping keep the economy on track. We provide the kind of paid training and opportunities that long-term careers are built on and we recognize hard workers who strive to make a difference. You will be able to thrive in our close-knit, safety-focused culture working together as ONE TEAM. The careers we offer are meaningful because the work we do matters. Join us!

The Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, will play a pivotal role in enhancing our corporate reputation, managing internal and external communications, and supporting our organization’s initiatives. The incumbent will be a strategic thinker with a proven track record in internal and external corporate communications, marketing, and public relations. With a strong focus on growing our business and our people, this role is a key member of the Corporate Communications team that shapes and delivers CN’s communications strategy. This role will involve leading a team, collaborating with various functions, and managing both internal and external communications and events to enhance employee experience, growth initiatives, brand visibility, company reputation, and market presence.

·       Develop and implement comprehensive communication and event strategies aligned with corporate objectives, business goals, and brand strategy.

·       Collaborate with senior leadership to align communication strategies with business objectives, including growth and employee engagement targets.

·       Collaborate with various internal clients to effectively communicate corporate strategies, programs, policies, and culture change.

·       Identify and leverage key communication channels to effectively reach target audiences. Identify innovative solutions to reach customers and remote field audiences.

·       Drive corporate communications initiatives for function/department portfolios, including leading corporate event programs and executive communications.

·       Oversee the creation and execution of marketing and employee communication annual plans to support product/program launches, promotional campaigns, and brand initiatives and to keep employees informed and engaged.

·       Support corporate financial communications, media relations, and crisis management activities, as needed.

·       Build engaging event programs for various stakeholders, such as investors, employee recognition programs, board members and community sponsorships.

·       Guide the creation of compelling content for various communication channels, including websites, social media, newsletters, and corporate publications.

·       Ensure that all content aligns with the company’s tone, style, and brand guidelines, in both official English and French languages.

·       Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, partners, and community organizations.

·       Ensure consistent messaging and positioning across all stakeholder interactions.

Team Leadership and Development

·       Manage and mentor a team of communication professionals, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.

·       Provide ongoing training and development opportunities to enhance team skills and performance.

·       Carry out performance management including setting and monitoring goals

·       Participate in the selection and recruitment of new team members

·       Act as a key representative of the Corporate Communications team and an advocate for the CN brand and our elevated internal & external customer experience.

·       Collaborate with the brand strategy and graphic design team to ensure brand consistency across all communication materials, events, and platforms.

·       Educate the functions and strive to uphold brand standards while taking decisions and making recommendations autonomously

Measurement and Reporting

·       Monitor and measure the effectiveness of communication strategies and campaigns. Establish mechanisms for continuous improvement.

·       Prepare regular reports and presentations for senior management, highlighting key metrics and insights.

The role currently has hybrid working conditions (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday in office; other days as required). Although the role has a regular workweek from Monday to Friday, evening and weekend work should be expected occasionally. Due to the nature of the role, the incumbent must be able to meet tight deadlines, handle pressure, and stress. The role requires minimal travel across Canada and the United States (U.S.).

·       Strong leadership and collaboration skills

·       Communicates with impact

·       Strong business acumen and ability to stay current with industry trends

·       Demonstrates agility and drives change

·       Applies critical thinking.

·       Sets direction and inspires others

·       Identifies needs and finds solutions to create value for all stakeholders

·       Delegates and empowers others building trust and sharing recognition

·       Demonstrates active listening

·       Experience working cross-functionally where committing to alignment of objectives, strategy and approach may be required.

·       Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

·       Experience working with various communications tools, platforms, and technology

·       Experience driving both internal communications strategies and programs, as well as external initiatives for public and customer-facing campaigns.

·       Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.

·       Exceptional skills in writing and visual storytelling, with a proven ability to craft compelling narratives and create engaging content that resonates with target audiences.

·       Demonstrated experience in change management, with a proven ability to guide high-priority initiatives and ensure effective communication during transitions.

·       Proficiency in digital communication channels and social media platforms.

·       Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

·       Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and build relationships across all levels of the organization.

·       Knowledge of reputation and brand management in a Business to Business (B2B) corporate setting

·       Fluently bilingual, both written and verbal (English, French)

·       General O365 Microsoft computer skills

·       Knowledge of the rail industry*

·       Knowledge of campaign automation, media buying, and analytics*

·       Knowledge of communications tools used by CN (e.g. Poppulo, MS Teams, Yammer, SharePoint, Salesforce Marketing Cloud)*

*Any knowledge for any of the above would be considered as an asset

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the Southern tip of the U.S. through a 19,500 mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. At CN, we work as ONE TEAM, focused on safety, sustainability and our customers, providing operational and supply chain excellence to deliver results.