Communications Officer

The Service Team within the Teaching Learning and Student Experience (TLSE) portfolio provides communications and marketing services (including graphic and web design) to units within the portfolio. Units within TLSE champion and promote the success of USask students and encourage and support USask academic instructors.

Primary Purpose: As a member of the Teaching, Learning and Student Experience (TLSE) Service Team, within the TLSE portfolio, this position supports the student experience at the University of Saskatchewan by ensuring that students have the information they need when they need it. This position creates effective, timely and relevant communications that are primarily targeted to current students and those supporting them. As part of the Service Team, they may develop other types of communications to meet the strategic needs of the TLSE.

Nature of Work: Reporting to the Manager of the Service Team within the Teaching Learning and Student Experience portfolio, the Communications Officer will create strategically aligned communications materials, primarily focused on current student audiences, via multiple communication platforms including web, PAWS, print and social media. This is a high-volume position requiring the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment with competing deadlines.

Typical Duties or Accountabilities:

•  Create targeted content to communicate with current students and those supporting them;
•  Work in a highly collaborative team environment that is responsive to changing needs, multiple demands and tight timelines;
•  Ensure that all communications materials align with strategic directions related to the TLSE;
•  Utilize data from surveys, user testing and analytics to develop and implement recommendations for best practices and best user experience;
•  Work with a variety of campus stakeholders within and beyond the TLSE portfolio, including representatives from University Relations;
•  Develop content for communications materials (including websites, newsletters, emails, videos, print and digital media), which are primarily targeted at current students;
•  Work within our PAWS system to post messages and deliver emails (including newsletters);
•  Develop communications plan and write content for news stories and other publications;
•  Proof-read and edit materials;
•  Organize photo shoots with the goal of ensuring up-to-date photography is available for use in a variety of print and online materials;
•  Cultivate professional relationships that develop capacity across the TLSE and beyond, and support effective partnerships and collaborations;
•  Ensure that internal standards, procedures, policies and best practices are utilized in all communications materials in support of the visual identity of the university;
•  Support event planning teams to ensure the successful communication of event-related details;
•  Support the identification of timely, value-added technologies and ideas to improve communications opportunities; and
•  Perform other duties in support of TLSE Service Team priorities, as required.

Education: An undergraduate university degree is required, preferably in communications, public relations, marketing or English. A combination of education and experience may be considered.

Licenses: N/A

Experience: A minimum of two years’ experience in communications, including writing for the web and social media.

Skills: Writing for the web, proof reading, communications plan development, project management, problem solving, and critical thinking.

Inquiries regarding this position can be directed to Meghan Sired at [email protected] .

Department: Service Team
Status: Term 1 year with the possibility of extension or becoming permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 0.5
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $49,301.00 - 77,033.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Specialist Professional
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 1
Posted Date: 2/1/2023
Closing Date: 2/14/2023 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: May be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask's Alternative Workspace Guidelines

The successful applicant will be required to provide the following current verification(s) where 'Yes' is indicated below. Further information is available at: https://careers.usask.ca/tips-for-applying.php

Criminal Record Check: Not Applicable
Driver's License and Abstract Check: Not Applicable
Education/Credential Verification: Not Applicable
Vulnerable Sector Check: Not Applicable

Please review the University of Saskatchewan's health and safety requirements for faculty, staff andstudents in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic.