Director, Engagement
The Director, Engagement is a key leader responsible for managing client accounts, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring the effective execution of complex projects. This role requires strong leadership, project management, and communication skills to manage teams, advise clients, and deliver high-quality outcomes. Reporting to the Vice President, Engagement, the Director will proactively contribute to business development, mentor staff, and drive new opportunities while cultivating strong client relationships.
Responsibilities:
Client Engagement & Strategy
- Lead the development and execution of engagement strategies for large, complex projects.
- Provide strategic counsel and support for smaller projects, ensuring alignment with client goals and objectives.
- Oversee risk mitigation strategies and adapt to changing environments.
- Ensure high-quality, on-time project deliverables, including written content and proposals.
- Advise clients on risk assessment, strategic opportunities, and long-term solutions.
Team Leadership & Collaboration
- Lead and mentor project teams, setting clear expectations and fostering a collaborative environment.
- Offer constructive feedback, development opportunities, and promote team growth.
- Manage team productivity, ensuring timely and effective execution of client deliverables.
- Foster a positive, inclusive culture that aligns with agency values.
New Business Development
- Participate in new business development, including proposal development, content creation, and pitch presentations.
- Identify new business leads and contribute to thought leadership and marketing content.
Client Care
- Maintain strong client relationships, providing consistent, high-quality communication.
- Monitor budgets and scope, addressing changes proactively.
- Collaborate with senior leadership to define client goals and strategies.
Performance Management
- Regularly track and assess project progress, adjusting plans as needed.
- Hold teams accountable for meeting objectives and delivering high-quality work.
- Ensure alignment with financial goals, including budget and profitability targets.
Qualifications:
- 7+ years in client engagement, project management, or leadership, with proven success in strategic planning, team management, and client relations.
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
- Strong leadership skills with experience building and guiding high-performing teams.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, with a focus on clear, impactful messaging.
- Expertise in managing complex projects, ensuring alignment with client goals, timelines, and budgets.
- Proven track record in business development, including proposal creation and pitching.
- Skilled in risk identification, opportunity assessment, and adapting strategies to changing environments.
- Strong organizational skills, able to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficient in digital media, marketing strategies, and industry trends.
- Ability to work under pressure while maintaining high-quality standards.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to navigate complex client challenges.
- High emotional intelligence, fostering strong relationships based on trust and respect.
Preferred Experience:
- Bilingual (English, French) proficiency in reading, writing and oral interaction in professional settings is considered a strong asset.
- Demonstrated expertise in qualitative and quantitative data analysis, reporting and informing strategic direction to clients from data outputs.
- Experience working with a variety of clients including Indigenous clients, non-profits, government (municipal, provincial and federal) and the private sector.
- Experience working in virtual, hybrid and in-person environments managing team members in multiple geographic areas within Canada.
- Ability to be adaptable in your approach, using multiple tools and strategies, and providing a strategic solutions-oriented lens to meet dynamic client needs.
- Ability to work with inter-disciplinary professionals including graphic designers, engagement professionals, negotiators, business development professionals and others.
- Experience managing and stewarding vendor and sub-contractor relationships to ensure client success