Vice-President, Communications | Vice-président, communications

About CMHC

The work you do and the work we do together matters. We come to work every day with a common purpose: to contribute to a well-functioning housing system.

At CMHC, we hold ourselves accountable for our results and support our colleagues in their achievements. We thrive on collaboration, connecting across CMHC and involving the right people to get our work done. Our leadership style is guided by trust, where our leaders favour an adaptive approach based on the needs of their teams.

Join us and be part of a team that's committed to making a real difference and be part of something meaningful.

We have retained the services of an Executive Search firm for this recruitment (Spencer Stuart). If your application meets all required qualifications, it will be forwarded to the Executive Search Firm for further assessment. Applicants who have successfully passed the firm assessment will be invited for an interview with CMHC.

What’s in it for you

We’ve got the purpose, the people and the perks you need for a fulfilling career. Here’s the comprehensive and generous benefits you get when you’re a permanent employee:

• Annual Paid vacation.
• Annual individual performance incentive.
• Defined benefit pension plan.
• A Corporate Performance Incentive Plan.
• Comprehensive group insurance plan to support your well-being from day one.
• Support towards your personal and professional growth with training, mentorship and more. 
• An inclusive workplace culture and environment.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice-President, Corporate Services, the Vice President, Communications leads CMHC’s enterprise-wide communications and marketing function, setting a strategic, integrated and forward-looking approach that advances CMHC’s mandate. The role is accountable for defining and delivering the Communications and Marketing Strategy aligned with corporate priorities, culture, and values, while fostering a high performance, collaborative team and ensuring excellence across internal, external, corporate, and government communications.

What you’ll do:

Strategic Advice & Executive Counsel

• Serve as the President’s and senior executives trusted communications and marketing advisor, shaping the communication strategy and reputation while identifying opportunities to accelerate CMHC’s strategic and operational priorities.

Enterprise Communications & Reputation Management

• Lead CMHC’s enterprise narrative, reputation, and crisis communications—delivering consistent, integrated messaging across stakeholders, Government of Canada partners, media, and employees—while positioning the President as a trusted national voice on housing aligned to CMHC’s mandate and priorities.

Corporate Relations & Government Engagement

• Provide strategic oversight to the Chief of Staff and Corporate Relations functions aligning the President’s priorities, stakeholder engagement, enterprise communications strategy, and leading a coherent corporate relations strategy with central agencies, federal departments, industry associations, and key stakeholders.
• Oversee executive messaging and visibility across media, Parliamentary appearances, and Government of Canada interactions, while monitoring political, regulatory, and stakeholder environments and translating insights into actionable advice for senior leadership.

External Relations & Media

• Lead CMHC’s media strategy and external communications, ensuring proactive and reactive engagement, strong media relationships, and disciplined, consistent corporate positioning with federal partners and the Minister’s Office.

Internal Communications

• Lead CMHC’s internal communications strategy by aligning executive messaging with corporate objectives and delivering focused communications programs—leveraging digital platforms to inform, engage, and align the workforce.

Division Strategy, Governance & Operations

• Define and operate a high performing Communications and Marketing function by aligning structure, capabilities, governance, and resources to CMHC’s priorities, while establishing performance standards and ensuring strong vendor oversight and return on investment.
• Establishes and governs the communications and marketing strategy and operating model, ensuring aligned structures, capabilities, resources, and decision rights, while overseeing agency and vendor performance, contracts, and ROI to deliver effective, future ready communications and marketing services.

What you should have:

• A bachelor’s degree in business administration, communications, marketing, public affairs, or a related field (a combination of education and experience will be considered).
• A minimum of 13 years of experience in communications and marketing, including at least 10 years in senior leadership roles with enterprise accountability.
• Demonstrated experience acting as a trusted advisor to CEOs and executives, providing strategic counsel in complex, high profile environments.
• Demonstrated expertise in reputation, media relations, crisis, and issues management, combined with strong leadership of internal communications, corporate messaging, and employee engagement across complex, largescale or distributed organizations.
• Track record of building, leading, and developing high performing, multidisciplinary teams, fostering inclusiveness, collaboration, accountability, and high standards of performance.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments while exercising strong strategic judgment to synthesize information, assess risk, and deliver clear, actionable advice to senior leaders.
• Proven leadership experience in the financial services sector (or a closely related, highly regulated industry) is preferred.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English and French, including experience serving as a spokesperson, advising executives, and effectively influencing media and national stakeholders on complex and sensitive issues.
• An understanding of CMHC’s mandate and regulatory environment.

Posting closing date: Note, the competition will remain active until filled. 

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion 

We’re committed to employment equity and encourage women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, veterans and persons of all races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions to apply. We also welcome applications from non-Canadians who are eligible to work in Canada.

CMHC is an inclusive workplace where diversity of thought – and of people – are recognized, valued, and considered essential to achieving our mission.

Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion 

What happens after you apply 

We know that applying for a new job can be both exciting and daunting, and we appreciate your effort. Learn more about our hiring process.  If you are selected for an interview or testing, please advise us if you require an accommodation.

If you applied before and you were not successful don’t worry – we're always posting new positions, so don’t hesitate to give it another shot. We’re excited to see what you bring to the table this time around!