Interim Executive Director, Communications & Engagement
Reports to : Chief Corporate Services Officer
Duration: 3 months
Our client is a high-profile regulator operating within a complex, publicly accountable and stakeholder-intensive environment.

The organization is seeking an experienced communications executive to lead its Communications & Engagement function through a period of transition. The role requires a leader who can maintain operational continuity, engage and support the team, and provide executive management with an objective assessment of how the function can improve.

The Assignment
The Interim will provide visible, steady leadership to the Communications & Engagement team while ensuring the continued delivery of effective internal and external communications, stakeholder engagement, public affairs and government relations.

In parallel, the Interim will conduct a strategic review of the function, including its talent, structure, processes, technology and overall operating model. The resulting recommendations will help executive management strengthen the function and define the experience, capabilities and leadership style required in the permanent Director.

This is a dual mandate requiring someone who can effectively “fly the plane” while developing a practical plan for the future.

Key Responsibilities
Lead and Stabilize the Team
Provide visible, engaging and hands-on leadership
Establish immediate priorities and clarify responsibilities
Maintain business continuity and service delivery
Support the team through uncertainty and change
Identify immediate capacity, capability or leadership gaps
Build a collaborative, accountable and high-performing culture
Coach and support team leaders and communications professionals

Maintain Operational Delivery
Oversee the organization’s communications and engagement activities, including:

Corporate, employee and executive communications
External communications and stakeholder engagement
Media relations and issues management
Government relations and public affairs
Digital communications and creative services
Crisis and reputation-sensitive communications
Executive messaging and strategic counsel

The Interim will ensure that communications remain timely,



coordinated and aligned with organizational priorities, particularly where matters carry government, public, stakeholder or reputational implications.

Assess the Function
Conduct an objective assessment of the function’s:

Mandate and alignment with organizational strategy
Talent, leadership capacity and collective capabilities
Organizational structure and reporting relationships
Roles, responsibilities and decision-making authority
Planning, intake, workflow and approval processes
Internal client service and cross-functional collaboration
Digital platforms, tools and emerging technology
Performance measures and executive reporting
Future resource and capability requirements

The review should identify immediate improvements as well as longer-term opportunities to strengthen the function’s performance, responsiveness and strategic contribution.

Strategic Advisory Role
The Interim will serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive management on:

Organizational reputation and stakeholder confidence
Government relations and public affairs
Media strategy and issues management
Crisis and sensitive communications
Executive positioning and messaging
Emerging public or stakeholder issues
The future structure and leadership of the function

By the conclusion of the assignment, the Interim will be expected to provide:

Reliable operational leadership and continuity across communications, engagement and government relations.
An engaged and supported team with greater clarity regarding priorities, roles and expectations.
An initial risk and priority assessment covering urgent communications, stakeholder and reputational matters.
A functional effectiveness review addressing talent, structure, processes, technology and performance.
Future-state recommendations for the mandate, structure,



operating model and capabilities of the function.
A permanent leadership profile defining the experience, competencies and leadership style required in the long-term Director.
An executive transition report outlining key findings, recommendations, priorities and proposed next steps.

Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will be a senior communications and engagement executive with:

Ideally worked for a regulator, utility or high profile public serving organization
Significant corporate and strategic communications experience
A strong record of leading multidisciplinary communications teams
Experience leading through transition, uncertainty or change
Expertise in internal and external communications
Government relations, public affairs and stakeholder-engagement experience
Strong media, issues, crisis and reputation-management capabilities
Credibility advising CEOs and executive leadership teams
Experience assessing or transforming a communications function
The ability to evaluate talent, structure, processes and technology
Strong executive judgement, political acuity and relationship-building skills
A practical, hands-on and delivery-oriented interim leadership style

The underlying position profile identifies at least 10 years of progressive corporate communications experience and five to seven years of management experience. Experience within a unionized environment and knowledge of digital communications, creative services and emerging communications technologies would be valuable.

Lee Hecht Harrison Knightsbridge Corp. is committed to providing equitable treatment and accommodation to ensure a barrier-free recruitment process. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and our AODA policy, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the hiring process. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please provide your accommodation needs in advance to the Recruitment Lead for this opportunity.

We thank all interested candidates in advance; however, only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

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📌 Interim Executive Director, Communications & Engagement (Ontario)
🏢 LHH Knightsbridge
📍 Ontario