This position develops, organizes, and implements communications strategies and plans that promote and profile departments, programs and services. This position performs market scans, recommends the focus of communications, and develops measurement criteria to evaluate effectiveness. This position provides direction to and oversees the quality of work from freelancers, external contractors and other suppliers as well as directs, allocates, and supervises the work of other staff.

CORE DUTIES:

• Develops, organizes, implements and measures communication plans and initiatives that promote and profile departments, programs, and services.
• Provides input to assist with the development and implementation of communication plans.
• Provides direction to and oversees the quality of work from freelancers, external contractors and other suppliers.
• Directs, allocates, and supervises the work of other staff.
• Organizes the workflow of communications projects.
• Writes articles, as well as prepares information sessions, presentations, Q&As, fact sheets, and other training and learning material.
• Maintains content on the department's website.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES:

• Coordinates the development and maintenance of mailing lists.
• Oversees the development of media releases, media events and media lists for newsworthy activities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION
• Four-Year Bachelor Degree or equivalent. In addition, requires trade certification, qualification, or on-going learning to remain ahead of changes in technology or emerging fields.

EXPERIENCE

• More than 3 years and up to and including 5 years of experience.

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND REQUIREMENTS

• Knowledge and principles in a specialist field that is typically acquired through a combination of advanced professional or academic qualifications and/or substantial work experience.
• Provide effective consultation and advice on non-straightforward and/or complex issues.
• Interaction with others requires interpersonal skills and the ability to understand and influence.
• Adapt messages to meet the different needs of different audiences.
• Builds relationships, trust and credibility.
• Manage own work, train and review the work of the team to see commitments through to completion.
• Set work priorities and direction, supporting the unit in achieving goals and objectives.
• Identify in advance when the intended results may not be achieved and develop a plan to address the gaps.
• Actively participate in project team meetings and develop team and unit project plans.
• Lead procedural or technological change within a unit.
• Identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of work processes.
• Seek information and input to fully understand the cause of problems.
• Appropriately assesses risks before making a decision.
• Contribute to the creation and evaluation of possible solutions.
• Take action to remove obstacles and address problems before the impact performance and results.
• Apply equity, diversity, accessibility, inclusion and Indigenization considerations to decision making and planning.
• Promote a work environment that is free from sexual violence, harassment and discrimination, and the ability to show empathy for those who have experienced trauma.
• Assess the suitability of job candidates and recommend the most appropriate person for hire.
• Monitor and assess output and the quality of work from team members and recommend need for formal training or development plans to management and identify possible performance and/or disciplinary issues.

SKILLS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Interactions require the ability to identify and respond effectively to non-straightforward and/or difficult needs or requests. Instructs or develops instructional materials, which require consideration of the needs or requests of those interacting with the materials. Develops and cultivates rapport to build and foster trust, credibility and/or strategic relationships.
• Identifies and analyzes complex problems and situations and/or information. Develops solutions using considerable interpretation and research.
• Provides advanced specialized functional guidance to others that involves leading change.

And/or

Responsibility for supervising 1-9 casual employees, work study students and/or external suppliers/contractors (at any one time)

And/or

On-going responsibility for scheduling and assigning work, and monitoring and ensuring the completion of tasks of continuing/term employees (e.g. team lead responsibility), but does not have responsibility for supervising.

• Planning and coordination of unit/department-wide tasks, activities and/or projects such as special events, conferences, complex travel arrangements, budgets, reports, programs, training programs, student placements/exchanges, and calendars of senior staff.
• Results of decisions and actions have significant impact beyond immediate work area, unit/department or function. Uncaught errors may carry a risk for the University.