Director, Enterprise Communications

Why you’ll love working here:

• high-performance, people-focused culture

• our commitment that equity, diversity, and inclusion are fundamental to our work environment and business success, which helps employees feel valued and empowered to be their authentic selves

• learning and development initiatives, including workshops, Speaker Series events and access to LinkedIn Learning, that support employees’ career growth

• membership in HOOPP’s world class defined benefit pension plan, which can serve as an important part of your retirement security

• competitive, 100% company-paid extended health and dental benefits for permanent employees, including coverage supporting our team's diversity and mental health (e.g., gender affirmation, fertility and drug treatment, psychological support benefits of $2,500 per year, parental leave top-up, and a health spending account).

• optional post-retirement health and dental benefits subsidized at 50%

• yoga classes, meditation workshops, nutritional consultations, and wellness seminars

• the opportunity to make a difference and help take care of those who care for us, by providing a financially secure retirement for Ontario healthcare workers

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Vice President, Enterprise Communications, the Director, Enterprise Communications owns the communications strategy supporting HOOPP's investment activities and the external profile of the Office of the CEO. The role carries enterprise level accountability for how the Plan, the Fund and HOOPP's investment approach are understood by external audiences.

The Director in partnership with the Vice President, Enterprise Communication sets the direction for investment communications, partnering with Investment Management and other business stakeholders on the narrative around portfolio construction, Fund performance, and market conditions. The Director is also accountable for the CEO's speeches, presentations, thought leadership, and key messaging.

The role leads through influence, directing cross functional teams and external partners on major initiatives and coaching communications professionals across the organization. It calls for an exceptional writer and strategic thinker who absorbs complex investment subject matter quickly, advises with confidence, and delivers at pace with sound judgement and discretion. Investment and financial knowledge is a requirement of this role to support credibility in the room with investment professionals.

What you will do:

Investment communications

• Own HOOPP's investment communications strategy, including the narrative, messaging architecture and external positioning for the Fund.
• Act as senior communications partner to Investment Management, working with the Chief Investment Officer, asset class leaders and subject matter experts on complex investment topics.
• Translate portfolio, market and economic subject matter, including the Total Portfolio Approach, Liability-Aware Investing and Sustainable Investing, into clear communications for external audiences.
• Lead communications for Fund performance milestones, annual and interim results, program launches, new strategies and significant transactions.
• Direct the key messages, statements, question-and-answer documents, and remarks that prepare investment spokespeople for external and industry engagements.
• Build relationships with external stakeholders and investment community contacts to identify storytelling opportunities.

CEO and executive communications

• Serve as lead communications advisor to the CEO, accountable for speeches, presentations, speaking notes, and key messaging.
• Develop and steward the CEO's external communications platform and thought leadership agenda, aligned to HOOPP's business priorities and reputation objectives.
• Prepare the CEO and Executive Team for high profile external engagements, including conferences, industry events, panels, and stakeholder meetings.
• Counsel the Executive Team and as required, the Board of Trustees on positioning, messaging, and reputational considerations.
• Lead communications for major organizational announcements, executive events, and enterprise-wide engagements.
• Develop executive presentations, Board materials and briefing packages that meet the standards expected at the most senior levels.

Enterprise leadership and delivery

• Set the cross-channel approach for the communications programs in scope, informed by organizational priorities and audience insight.
• Direct cross functional project teams, agencies, writers, and external partners on major initiatives, setting direction and holding delivery to standard.
• Coach and mentor communications professionals across the team, raising the collective standard of writing, editing, and counsel.
• Set and uphold quality, review, and approval standards for communications products, including accuracy, brand alignment, and accessibility.
• Define how success is measured for the programs in scope and use those measures to sharpen strategy and demonstrate impact.
• Represent Enterprise Communications on enterprise projects and governance forums, and improve communications processes, tools and standards.
• Manage budgets, agency relationships, and external vendors for assigned programs.

What you bring:

Education and experience

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Business, Finance, Economics, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 8 to 10 years of progressive communications experience, including demonstrated ownership of a communications strategy or program at an enterprise level.
• Demonstrated investment and financial knowledge is required, gained through direct experience in investment communications, capital markets, asset management, banking, pension plans or another institutional investment environment.
• Experience as a communications advisor to C-suite executives, including speechwriting and external platform development for a CEO or equivalent.
• Experience developing executive presentations, Board materials, conference presentations, and strategic communications for senior leaders.
• Experience operating effectively within a complex, highly regulated, or stakeholder-rich environment.
• Experience leading through influence, including directing cross functional teams, agencies and external partners without direct reporting authority.

Skills and capabilities

• Exceptional written and oral communication, editing and storytelling skills, adapted to diverse audiences and channels, particularly external ones.
• Solid working knowledge of investment and financial concepts, including asset classes, portfolio construction, capital markets, and risk and return, with the ability to read and interpret financial statements and performance reporting.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to understand complex financial and investment concepts 
• Strong critical thinking to assess communications needs and risks relevant to the CEO, the Executive Team, and the Board of Trustees.
• Deep understanding of corporate communications and multichannel storytelling in building and protecting external reputation.
• Excellent judgement, discretion, attention to detail and project management skills, with the ability to hold several senior priorities at once.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, influence stakeholders at all levels and respectfully challenge perspectives when appropriate.
• Highly motivated self-starter who delivers high-quality work with minimal direction and brings structure to ambiguous problems.
• Demonstrated proficiency with artificial intelligence tools to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of communications, including content development, insight generation, stakeholder sentiment analysis and channel optimization.

Assets

• A CFA, CIM, CAIA, MBA or accounting designation, held or in progress.
• Experience communicating on behalf of a pension plan, institutional investor, or other long-horizon asset owner.

The actual base salary offered to the successful candidate may vary based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, individual's expertise and level of experience applicable to the role they are being offered.  

This role is eligible to participate in discretionary incentive plan(s), subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan text.  

HOOPP may use artificial intelligence tools to assist in screening, assessing and selecting applicants for this position. These tools support our recruitment process but do not replace human judgment and decision-making.