Media Relations Consultant - Manulife, Toronto

Role Overview

The Media Relations Consultant at Manulife plays a pivotal role in enhancing and protecting the company's reputation through proactive and strategic external communications. This position, part of the global communications team, is crucial for supporting corporate priorities by developing compelling narratives, managing media engagement and relations, and ensuring consistent messaging across earned media channels. The individual will partner with account leads to support Manulife's objectives and assist with the day-to-day needs of the media relations team across various business segments. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented professional with a client-facing skillset who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, committed to service excellence and building stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and continuously update targeted media lists aligned to priority audiences and coverage opportunities.
• Support the development of media strategies and proactive ideas that enhance visibility and promote Manulife’s priorities.
• Draft and tailor timely media pitches by researching journalists’ beats, recent coverage, and audience interests to increase relevance and effectiveness of outreach.
• Develop high-quality briefing notes and background materials to support executive media prep and engagements.
• Assist in reputation tracking and issues management, supporting monitoring, escalation, and coordinated response efforts.
• Monitor media coverage and produce reports with clear insights and analysis to share across teams.
• Manage the distribution and publication of press releases across appropriate channels and platforms.
• Serve as one of the firm’s media contacts, coordinating interviews and ensuring smooth, timely engagement with journalists.
• Ensure all outreach and responses reflect the latest approved messaging, while supporting the drafting of media FAQs and reactive statements as needed for timely and accurate media engagement.
• Assist with tracking and reporting on media performance metrics, including share of voice and key KPIs.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings, both internally and externally, and distill key takeaways into actionable communications inputs.
• Collaborate with North American PR agency partners to support and amplify Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) corporate and brand narratives across earned media channels.
• Handle confidential matters and material information with care, confidentiality, and alignment to Manulife’s code of conduct, media relations and social media policies.
• Work in strong partnership with Thought Leadership team to drive integrated storytelling and fully leverage cross‑functional opportunities.
• Collaborate across Manulife’s global Communications network to contribute to, influence, and lead integrated communications plans (ICPs) that strengthen our reputation and advance strategic priorities.
• Stay up to date and informed on relevant industry trends and developments, analyzing emerging ones that pose reputational risks and opportunities for Manulife.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience (agency experience preferred / a strong plus).
• Strong relationships with business, finance, insurance, and consumer media; US and asset management media are a plus.
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills with the ability to simplify complex topics.
• Proven ability to operate calmly under pressure and manage sensitive issues.
• Strong project management skills, detail oriented, and ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment.
• Prior experience in financial services and/or insurance a plus.
• Experience with Cision, Roxhill (or another journalist database), PublicRelay (or another data and analytics vendor) a plus.
• Expectation of some work required outside of standard working hours to accommodate global time zones, with added flexibility (morning calls before 9AM ET, evening calls 8 – 9PM ET, potential for weekend work).
• Adept at relationship-building.

Why You'll Love It Here

Joining Manulife means becoming part of a global team where your career growth is empowered and supported. We foster a flexible environment that prioritises well-being and inclusion, recognising your contributions. As a Manulife employee, you'll have the opportunity to shape your future and participate in a wide array of customisable benefits. These include health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. Manulife also offers various retirement savings plans, including a pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions, alongside financial education and counselling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada covers holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, plus the full range of statutory leaves of absence.