Manager, Client Engagement (1 year contract)

Our Company

BrandActive specializes in the financial analysis, strategy, and logistics of rebrand implementation. Since 1998, we’ve helped many of the world’s most valuable brands plan, budget, and implement brand change—optimizing spend, improving efficiency, and reducing complexity along the way. 

Our work combines industry-leading analytics with a proven methodology to help clients make smarter decisions, save time and money, and get more value from their brand investments—whether they’re navigating a major rebrand or managing their brand day to day. You can explore examples of our work in our case studies. 

At BrandActive, we’re committed to building an inclusive, supportive workplace where people can do their best work and grow together. We strive to set the global standard for excellence in our industry while fostering a culture rooted in trust, agility, and growth —guided by our North Star: great people, doing great work, and having a great time doing it. 

The Opportunity

Reporting to a Director, the Manager serves as the project lead and is accountable for strategic planning, project formulation/scoping, scenario planning, cost estimating and relationship management that supports the conversion of the client’s branded assets to a new identity/logo. The Manager then oversees the project as it moves into subsequent implementation and roll-out phases while ensuring that the client’s needs are met.

To fulfill these responsibilities, the Manager typically works directly with clients at senior levels of the organization including the C-suite. When conditions safely permit, travel between North America and internationally may be a requirement.

Responsibilities

Strategy/Analytics

• Consult with clients about all elements for project scope and delivery, providing a high-level of expertise and instilling confidence in the client.
• Work with the client and BrandActive’s team to define the scope of brand transition across all branded asset categories (e.g. signage, ID badges, website, etc.)
• Develop several high-level scenarios to achieve brand launch and completion objectives using cost, time, quality and impact as the key variables.
• Provide senior leadership and their Board the information they need to make fiscally responsible brand decisions.
• Establish high-level transition strategies by branded asset category with priority given to those categories which are required for brand launch and have longer lead times.
• Formulate and comprehend overall implementation financials and to evaluate the implications of alternative strategy approaches on these financials at a macro and micro level.
• Develop cost estimates based on developed transition strategies.
• Define the high-level processes required to support an efficient implementation process.
• Create a high-level project communications plan to ensure engagement of all project constituents.
• Define the project organization required to execute the brand transition in a way that ensures achievement of client goals and desired outcomes.

Project Management

• Lead the project team, allocating and utilizing resources in an efficient manner and maintaining a co-operative, motivated and successful team.
• Communicate project status regularly (e.g. using dashboard reports) and escalate issues to stakeholders, sponsor(s), and senior leadership as required.
• Manage project deliverables in line with approved project plans.
• Manage or coordinate partners and work groups engaged in project delivery.
• Lead internal projects and client-facing (or conference call) meetings.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans (following PMI methodologies).
• Record, track and manage project issues and risks, escalating concerns when necessary.
• Manage project scope and change control.
• Monitor project progress and performance.
• Monitor the project budget.
• Create and present deliverables, and facilitate approval of recommendations.
• Review and provide guidance with new statements of work with current projects.
• Manage the creation of change orders with direction from the Director.

Professional Development

• Own your growth by setting and updating development goals, actively seeking feedback, and aligning your aspirations with business goals.
• Contribute to internal initiatives that impact the client and/or team member experience such as our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Community Impact Committee, or our Social Committee.
• Bring forward smarter, faster, better solutions to processes and identify opportunities to be more agile in day-to-day activities.
• Demonstrate inclusive and supportive behavior, contributing to BrandActive’s core values of trust, agility, and growth, commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, (EDI), humanity, and wellbeing.

Qualifications and Experience

You might not tick every box, but if you meet most of the qualifications and are excited about the role, we’d love to hear from you. We value potential, curiosity, and a growth mindset.

Education and Experience

• Demonstrated commitment to life-long learning; post-secondary degree, diploma or certificate preferred.
• Three to four years of project management experience with at least two years as the Project Lead (managing projects from start to finish).
• Strong consultative skills gained through experience working as an internal consultant or in a professional services environment.

Competencies

• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Superior organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complexity including the ability to handle multiple tasks under pressure across more complex/multi-faceted projects.
• Presence including the ability and confidence to manage client calls.
• Proven credibility gained by consistently delivering on commitments.
• Demonstrated ability move across a range of projects and clients over time.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships both internally and externally.
• Excellent client contact, negotiation and problem-resolution skills.
• Detail-oriented, including the ability to identify important details, ensuring things are not overlooked and delivering a consistently high quality of work, keeping the overall goals of the project in mind.
• Demonstrated initiative including finding innovative solutions for the company and the clients.
• Skill in managing the relationship with the client and looking for additional opportunities to bring value and provide additional services.
• Taking action to make the most of the opportunities for the good of the company; takes a long-term view with the client.
• Leadership skills to lead a team of diverse individuals, providing oversight of their work, coaching and supporting them from a developmental perspective.

Technical Skills

• Excellent computer skills including MS Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project or other scheduling software such as Smartsheet or Teamwork Projects.
• At least basic knowledge and experience with MS Visio.
• Additional languages an asset.

Compensation and Benefits

BrandActive offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Competitive compensation: $100,000.00 -$150,000.00 CAD. Total compensation depends on experience, education, and skills and includes non-cash rewards. This range is plus commission.
• Values led culture focused on humanity, trust, agility, and growth. Check out our Culture Statement.
• Comprehensive health and dental coverage with no waiting period – your benefits start on day one.
• Generous paid time off: 3 weeks of vacation, additional office closures, Flex Fridays, and extended long weekends throughout the summer.
• Holistic wellbeing benefits, including a wellbeing allowance, flexible additional time off to care for a loved one, support mental health, or observe meaningful religious or cultural holidays.
• Parental leave benefits to support you and your family.
• Home office and communications reimbursement to help you work comfortably.
• Charitable donation matching to support the causes that matter to you.
• Flexible work options – Hybrid - with adaptable schedules.
• Two annual town halls in Toronto, featuring engaging sessions and fun team activities.
• Supportive leadership and career development, with ongoing coaching and feedback to help you grow and succeed, quarterly formal feedback, annual performance reviews and separate annual development meetings.
• Work-from-anywhere flexibility, with the option to work abroad for up to four weeks (in eligible countries and after a minimum tenure depending on the role and circumstance).
• And more!

Start Date

Immediately.

Location

Hybrid -Toronto, Ontario. BrandActive has an office in Toronto, ON.

Job Vacancy: This role reflects growth in our team and expanded operational scope.

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

BrandActive is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and values inclusion in its workforce. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability status.

Accessibility Statement

BrandActive is dedicated to ensuring an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates. If you require accommodations during the application process, please let the Talent Manager know. We are committed to partnering with you to provide support and make reasonable adjustments throughout the process. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

The Interview Process

At BrandActive, we use AI within our recruitment process in the following ways: screening applicants and recording calls and interviews. All candidates will be notified of the use of AI at the start of a call or interview and can request to opt out. As part of our broader dedication to EDI, we continuously review and refine our use of AI to support equitable experiences for all applicants.

• Initial Call (Pre-Screen): If your application is selected, you will have a prescreen call with the Talent Manager where we will use AI to transcribe for accurate note taking.
• Virtual Interview: Followed by an interview with the hiring manager.
• Case Presentation Interview: The last step is a case study and presentation to our team.

We thank all applicants for their interest in BrandActive, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.