Article
Job title: Manager, Media Relations
Division: Strategy, Marketing & Communications
Location: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa
Reports to: Vice President, Media Strategy & Communications
Overview
Reporting to and supporting the Vice President, Media Strategy & Communications, the Media Relations Manager plays a pivot role in enhancing and protecting the reputation of Canada’s banking industry. In this role, you will work closely with subject matter experts across the Association and member banks to manage issues of reputational significance and support external communications that advance public policies important to the industry.
Key responsibilities
Media and Public Relations
- Act as the first point of contact for media and, in consultation with the Vice President, Media Strategy & Communications, develop strategic responses and messaging for media requests regarding Canadian banking industry practices, regulations and statistics
- Lead media relations planning and messaging on key and emerging issues in conjunction with the overall communications strategy, delivering timely responses to inquiries from the media, the public and other organizations, and internal divisions within the CBA
- Maintain and update key messages to ensure consistency across communications
- Act as CBA spokesperson and assist in preparing CBA spokespersons for media interviews and corporate events
- Execute proactive media relations outreach regularly, targeting key banking, business, political and general assignment reporters
- Develop various types of communications assets and support broader communications and advocacy initiatives
- Monitor traditional / social media coverage of key banking issues and stakeholders to proactively identify, assess, and manage risks and opportunities
- Oversee media monitoring vendors in delivering CBA’s daily internal media clippings and issues summary
Social Media
- Develop and manage CBA’s social media editorial calendar with the support of the Communications Specialist, amplifying key campaigns (e.g., financial literacy initiatives), industry submissions, and corporate events and sponsorships
- Ensure social efforts are fully integrated with broader communications, advocacy, and media relations strategies
- Foster interaction through creative content approaches (e.g., polls, hashtag campaigns, video snippets) and support community engagement
- Collaborate with vendors or internal teams to support paid social media efforts when applicable
- Ensure alignment with brand tone, reputation risk frameworks, and compliance protocols
- Identify and support internal subject matter experts as digital thought leaders, providing guidance on content and amplification strategies
- Establish protocols to monitor and manage social engagement, escalating or responding to comments when appropriate in collaboration with relevant teams
- Track and analyze content performance across platforms, developing insights and recommendations to improve strategy
Please note: Due to the nature of media relations, occasional work outside of regular business hours or work week may be required to fulfill the requirements of the position
Key Qualifications, Abilities and Skills
- Post-secondary degree in Communications, Public Affairs, Journalism or a related background
- Minimum 5-7 years of experience in a media relations and issues management position, preferably gained in an agency or in a regulated or public-facing sector (e.g., finance, government, associations)
- Proven ability to manage complex reputational issues and provide counsel to senior leaders in fast-paced environments
- Extensive and demonstrated media relations experience with existing relationships with key journalists nationally
- Superior writing skills and strategic thinking with the ability to craft compelling, audience-specific messaging
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and a demonstrated ability to develop creative and targeted communications materials for a variety of audiences
- Experience using social media platforms for a company or organization and executing digital engagement strategies
- Ability to quickly understand complex banking and regulatory issues
- A team player with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build credibility and trust; highly effective at building and sustaining relationships and rapport with individuals at all levels
- A service-oriented relationship builder with proven ability to navigate complex files and engage with a range of stakeholders
- Experience working with media monitoring and common industry software and platforms (e.g. Salesforce, Cision, Hootsuite, etc.)
- Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities under pressure
- A background in banking or the financial services sector would be considered an asset
- Awareness of federal/provincial political landscape would be considered an asset
- Fluency in French would be considered an asset
The CBA welcomes and encourages all interested individuals to apply. We value the unique skills and experiences each person brings to the Association.
We strive to provide equal access to employment and believe in creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request for candidates throughout the recruitment process.
We thank all applicants for their interest in a career at the CBA; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
To apply for this position, please send your resume and accommodation requests, if needed, to talentmanagement@cba.ca, quoting the job title that you are applying for. Visit our Careers page to learn more about our
culture and current opportunities.