Senior Communications Associate

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position has a term length of 2 years with the possibility of extension and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed on our Benefits Overview page .

Location

This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person with the in-person work taking place at North Campus Edmonton.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Working for Strategic Communications

The Strategic Communications portfolio enables the University of Alberta to deliver on the vision and goals outlined in the university’s strategic plan. We illustrate the value that the U of A provides to our community and to society as a whole.

In service of the One University strategy, we work with academic and operational leaders to tie their operational and strategic plans into the larger university strategy in a way that moves the dial on important measures of success. As a centre of expertise, we view our communications from end to end throughout the life cycles of our important communities. We integrate the seemingly disparate initiatives into a master narrative that showcases the unique aspects of the University of Alberta.

Whether we work directly with partners on their initiatives, or support their work through portfolio-initiated projects, we connect the dots from strategies across the institution – especially where they connect to the larger institutional goals – and draw them together into a compelling and consistent narrative of one of the Top 5 universities in Canada.

Position

Reporting to the Manager, Student Communications, the Senior Communications Associate plays a key role in advancing the University of Alberta’s brand and reputation through strategic communications associated with executive teams and high-profile projects across the university. They lead communications projects and initiatives relying on their experience in developing and executing complex communications and marketing strategies through the research, analysis, conceptualization, and writing of communications strategies..

The Senior Communications Associate manages quick deliverables and anticipates and addresses long-term strategic opportunities and issues. Coordination of resources, project management and execution is necessary across communications and marketing Centres of Expertise and vendor relationships. 

The Senior Communications Associate builds relationships with clients as they work to develop strategies through an understanding the needs and priorities of the area, to tell their stories effectively and meaningfully. Using mission-centric messaging they will develop consistent messaging playing a key role in developing and protecting the voice and narrative of the University. 

The Senior Communications Associate builds relationships with clients as they work to develop strategies through an understanding of the needs and priorities of the area, to tell their stories effectively and meaningfully. Using mission-centric messaging they will develop consistent messaging playing a key role in developing and protecting the voice and narrative of the University. This role works closely with First Peoples' House , supporting their mission of empowering First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) students at the University of Alberta. The role will foreground honouring, respecting, and supporting Indigenous worldviews and peoples.

Duties

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across academic and VP portfolios, External Relations, and the university to ensure consistency and coordination of messaging, planning, and process.
• Participate in senior-level discussions to formulate messaging and communications and marketing strategies and tactics.
• Develop and manage strong collaborator relationships through effective communication, client service, and negotiation to ensure deliverables are met including stewarding strategic partnerships and information-sharing.
• Advance the university’s brand and reputation through the planning and writing of audience-centric, research-based communications and marketing deliverables.
• Research, write, and edit content of the highest quality across multiple communications genres, including speeches, reports, emails, articles, brochures, social media, websites, and blogs.
• Play a key role in providing strategic advice to university and project leaders about communications approaches.
• Regularly assess process and workflow to ensure consistency and efficiency, recommending changes when appropriate.
• Review content and work with centres of expertise to ensure compliance with target outcomes, university strategic priorities, and integrated marketing and communications strategy.
• Collect, interpret, and report on communications and marketing analytics to deliver a thorough evaluation of outcomes.
• Ensure all publication and promotional materials enhance the reputation of the institution and the quality is consistent with the standards required to support the institutional brand.
• Coordinate publication and editorial schedules, monitoring the process in consultation with senior staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field
• 7+ years' progressive communications and marketing  experience within a complex, multi-collaborator organization, preferably post-secondary education.
• Demonstrated excellence developing and executing complex communications and marketing strategies.
• Expertise in management and oversight of publications, newswriting and other forms of storytelling preferred.
• Understanding of Decolonial Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and how it can be incorporated into communication strategies.
• Experience in creating strategic content for a wide-range of audiences across multiple formats.
• Excellent research skills with the ability to translate complex ideas and strategies into compelling speeches, reports, and other messaging and storytelling formats.
• Ability to translate strategic priorities into actionable communications and marketing plans.
• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to coordinate team efforts.
• Able to operate at strategic and tactical level.
• Ability to pull, consolidate, and interpret analytics for evaluation purposes.
• Able to balance completing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to identify target audience preferences and build content to meet them.
• Experience in project management, negotiations, and collaborator relations.
• High degree of professionalism, judgement, diplomacy, flexibility, and collaboration.

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.

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