Director, Communications

Colas is a Canadian leader in transportation infrastructure - materials, construction, and maintenance. From roads to rail, airports to ports, we build some of the most important projects that connect our communities.

Backed by our network of Colas companies across Canada and the Colas Group worldwide, Colas offers a wide range of innovative and sustainable solutions for the construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure.

Join the largest transportation infrastructure group in the world and help connect Canada.

Mission

Develop, lead, and execute Colas Canada's internal and external communications strategy to strengthen the organization's reputation, support business objectives, enhance employee engagement, and ensure consistent brand positioning across all operating companies. The Communications Director acts as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing strategic communications counsel, managing corporate messaging, and overseeing communication initiatives that support organizational growth, change management, and stakeholder engagement.

Main Responsibilities

Communications Strategy & Corporate Positioning

• Serve as the trusted communications advisor to the President and Executive Leadership Team, providing strategic guidance on internal and external communications.
• Lead the development and execution of national communications strategies, annual plans, campaigns, and stakeholder engagement initiatives that support business objectives.
• Establish and oversee corporate communications frameworks, standards, governance, messaging, editorial guidelines, and tools to ensure consistency across all Canadian operating companies.
• Protect and strengthen the organization's reputation by monitoring industry trends, emerging issues, media coverage, and public sentiment, while identifying associated risks and opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with media, industry associations, government representatives, and other key external stakeholders.
• Develop high-impact communications materials, including media releases, corporate statements, executive speeches, briefing notes, presentations, and thought leadership content.
• Act as the primary point of contact for media relations, coordinating inquiries and responses in partnership with senior leadership and subject matter experts.
• Lead corporate visibility initiatives that enhance brand awareness, industry presence, and organizational credibility.
• Develop and maintain crisis communications strategies, protocols, and response plans to support business continuity and effective issue management.
• Provide guidance on sensitive communications matters, ensuring coordinated, timely, and aligned messaging across corporate, legal, operational, and executive functions during incidents, emergencies, and periods of change.

Internal Communications, Employee Engagement & Governance

• Develop and distribute internal executive communications, leadership messages, and employee-facing corporate announcements.
• Lead the execution of employee events, town halls, and corporate initiatives.
• Develop, monitor, and report on communication key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to evaluate effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Research, implement, and continuously improve communication channels and methods to effectively reach office-based, field, operational, and remote employees across Canada.
• Partner with Human Resources, Information Technology, Health & Safety, Operations, and other functional teams to communicate organizational changes, strategic initiatives, and key business updates.
• Promote employee understanding of Colas Canada, its subsidiary companies, and the broader Colas Group to strengthen organizational alignment and a One Colas culture.

Brand Management, Digital Communications & Vendor Management

• Ensure compliance with Colas and Colas Canada brand, editorial, and communication standards across all channels and materials.
• Oversee corporate website content, social media strategy, and digital communication channels.
• Manage the creation and dissemination of corporate marketing and communication materials.
• Support the development of multimedia content and storytelling initiatives.
• Build and maintain relationships with external agencies and vendors/suppliers.
• Represent the communications function on corporate committees and strategic initiatives.

Your Profile

Qualifications & Experience

• 12+ years of experience in Communications, Media, Marketing or related field.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications or related field.
• Extensive experience in corporate communications, media relations, public affairs, and executive communications.
• Experience advising senior executives and managing sensitive communications issues.
• Experience leading crisis communications and reputation management initiatives.
• Demonstrated people leadership and project management experience.
• Knowledge of construction, infrastructure, transportation, or industrial sectors is considered an asset.

Skills & Competencies

• Language Skills: English required; bilingual English/French strongly preferred.
• Strong strategic planning and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Exceptional written, verbal, editing, and presentation skills.
• Strong understanding of digital communications, social media, and content strategy.
• Proven ability to influence and collaborate across multiple business units and functions.

Additional Information

Salary range: CAD 169,500 - 188,217
This is a replacement.
Please note that this is a summary of the job description; during the interview process, we will take the opportunity to review the full and detailed job description.

DIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT TO US
At Colas, we believe our workforce should reflect the diversity of the communities we connect. By living our core values of Respect, Commitment, Pioneering, Sharing, we welcome all those who help create the links that bring us together. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of age, ethnicity, national origin, religious beliefs, disability, marital or family status, gender, gender identity or expression.