Permanent Full Time
Great-West Lifeco is seeking a Vice-President, Communications to shape and deliver an integrated external communications agenda that strengthens enterprise reputation and supports strategic and financial priorities.
Reporting to the Senior Vice-President, Investor Relations, this role is accountable for enterprise alignment across operating segments, proactive media engagement, and high-stakes communications that influence market understanding-working in close partnership with senior executives to ensure clarity, consistency, and credibility in every external touchpoint.
What you will doCommunications Strategy- Own and advance Great West's enterprise external communications strategy, translating corporate priorities, financial performance, and long-term value creation into a clear, compelling, and disciplined narrative that strengthens reputation and market confidence.
- Develop proactive storylines and thought leadership opportunities that elevate Great West's strategy, performance, and leadership; identify and prepare executives for high-impact interviews and engagements.
- Align media engagement with Investor Relations priorities, disclosure requirements and capital markets strategy
Spokesperson for Great West- Serve as a senior point of contact for media inquiries related to earnings, financial results, outlook, strategy and governance.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with financial, business and capital markets-focused journalists and editors to increase earned media coverage and raise the profile of the company.
- Proactively identify opportunities to increase visibility of Great West and its senior leaders in financial and business media.
Issues and Crisis Communications- Play a senior role in crisis and issues management, including rapid response and reputation protection
- Lead media response for issues that could impact investor perception or market confidence
- Monitor media coverage, analyst commentary and market sentiment to identify reputational or disclosure risks.
Strategic Business Partner- Convene and lead a global centre of practice across operating segments to ensure alignment, consistency, and quality in messaging, processes, standards, and decision-making.
- Work with senior leaders particularly the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Great-West, to create their leadership 'voice', develop a communications strategy and define strategic messaging.
- Support communication needs (e.g. speaking engagements, conferences, media interviews) for senior leaders.
- Provide trusted, strategic counsel and risk-based recommendations to senior leaders, balancing speed, precision, and reputational considerations in a dynamic external environment.
- Partners with Internal Communications, Legal, Marketing, Public Affairs and HR to ensure aligned messaging
Communications Operations- Own the external communications workflow for market-moving announcements, including drafting and coordinating Great-West press releases (quarterly results, transactions, events, and other financially material items) and drafting executive scripts and supporting materials.
- Ensure disclosure-adjacent communications are accurate and aligned with public disclosures, regulatory requirements and IR communications: review operating segment releases prior to publication for consistency with Investor Relations objectives.
- Strengthen Great-West's owned channels and digital presence (e.g., LinkedIn and Great West website) to reinforce the enterprise narrative, ensure content accuracy, and improve discoverability and stakeholder experience.
Measurement and Insights- Track media coverage quality, reach, sentiment and impact
- Provide insights and reporting to senior leadership on media trends, emerging risks and opportunities
- Use data to continuously refine messaging and engagement strategies
Leadership- Mentor junior Investor Relations and communications employees on financial media engagement and disclosure discipline
- Manage agency partners and external advisors supporting financial communications
What you will bring- 10-15+ years experience in corporate communications; preferably serving the insurance and/or financial services sector
- Experience leading external communications including, but not limited to: Media & PR, investor relations / financial communications, Board of Director communications, social media, issues and crisis response
- Demonstrated experience in developing and executing comprehensive multi-year communications strategies in support of overarching corporate objectives
- Proven experience in establishing an external 'Voice' through media/PR initiatives and other, externally facing communication vehicles
- Experience in providing strategic counsel to senior level executives and developing communications to support executive (e.g. C-level) external speaking commitments
- Ability to creatively and continually evolve communication strategies, using a variety of channels / tools, approaches, and methodologies
- Knowledge of the latest communication channel tools and social media for internal and external strategies
- Ability to work through organizational complexity and connect cross-functionally
- Excellent leadership skills, including the ability to manage and influence others
- Strong consultative and diagnostic skills
- Attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, ability to multi-task and meet tight time deadlines
Career opportunities will be open a minimum of 5 business days from the date of posting, closing dates will vary depending on the search activity. All applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
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Requisition ID: 6310
Category: Corporate Functions
Location:
