Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, is the association of choice for financial advisors and planners. With more than 12,000 members across the country, Advocis is the definitive voice of the profession, advocating for professionalism and consumer protection.  Advocis provides a platform of community, protection, education and knowledge for our members. Professional financial advisors and planners are critical to the economy, helping consumers make sound financial decisions that ultimately lead to greater financial stability and independence.  Advocis works with decision-makers and the public, stressing the value of financial advice and striving for an environment in which all Canadians have access to the advice they need. For more information about Advocis see our website at www.advocis.ca.

Reporting to the Vice President, Regulatory and Public Affairs, the Director, Marketing and Communications will provide strategic leadership of the Association’s integrated marketing, brand and communications business plans.

Working collaboratively with our internal business units, volunteers and external resources, the Director will gather and interpret market data analytics, key member/non-member insights, and program-specific needs to develop, oversee, implement, and monitor the success of Advocis’ marketing and communication strategies.

Responsibilities Include:

Strategy

• Ensure market trends are reflected in the development and implementation of new marketing proposals
• Evaluate existing marketing initiatives and make recommendations for improvements
• Maintain awareness of member/non-member expectations and the impact of external competitors on the Association’s effectiveness in the financial services community
• Use creativity to introduce new ideas and processes
• Manage the coordination of marketing projects working with various team members/content holders; assess and implement projects, from the requirements gathering phase, to design, implementation and post-launch maintenance/measurement
• Provide cost-benefit analysis and project measurement reporting
• Manage the marketing/communications resources, including human and financial

Marketing

• As part of the Senior Management team, recognize and develop new growth opportunities based on each business unit’s key priorities
• Analyze and provide strategic leadership on the development of the Association’s multi-media presence
• Assist in building the overall brand equity by guiding the strategy and execution of all member/participant communication, and bringing quality initiatives and innovation to market
• Lead the development of brand standards, guidelines and policies

Communications

• Support the development of multi-media campaigns to deliver communication that is consistent with the Association’s brand image and on time/budget
• Implement ongoing multimedia promotions, contests, surveys and other programs – evaluating and determining scope, requirements/resources and developing support plans
• Oversee the Association’s social media, and website content and strategy
• Develop and support marketing and communication strategies as they relate to other stakeholders, such as legislators, regulators, corporate partners and media
• Support the 40 Chapters’ communications and website content
• Ensure the development and execution of consistent and professional communication for all internal departments
• Other duties as assigned by the Vice President, Regulatory and Public Affairs

Knowledge/Skills Required:

• Minimum of 5 years management experience in a marketing/communications environment
• Post-secondary degree in marketing or communications
• Sound knowledge of marketing best practices with proven ability to put these into action
• Demonstrated experience in leveraging market research/analytics to develop multimedia market strategy
• Financial advisor industry knowledge, at least as it relates to financial products and their distribution
• Highly developed creative writing, editing and verbal communication skills
• Proven track record of writing high-impact, professional-quality marketing and sales content
• Ability to adapt the style, tone and complexity of writing to suit a variety of formats and audiences
• Strong design and brand sensitivity
• Previous experience supervising staff
• Well-developed interpersonal and relationship building skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Strong project, time management and organizational skills
• Creative and innovative thinker
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects within tight deadlines
• Previous not-for-profit experience an asset
• Bilingualism (French) an asset