Communications Officer

The University of Saskatchewan's (USask) main campus is located in the vibrant city of Saskatoon on Treaty 6 territory and the traditional homeland of the Métis. USask is one of the top research-intensive, medical doctoral universities in Canada, and is home to world-leading research  in areas of global importance, such as water and food security and infectious diseases.

Research Profile and Impact, one of four support units within the Office of the Vice President Research, leads strategic research storytelling across the university —through print, video, web, social media, advertisements, speeches, op-eds, and events—working with the university’s broader communications network to share the findings and impact of USask research and build profile for the university.

Primary Purpose: The Communications Officer plays a critical role in telling the university’s research story, supporting academic units in securing faculty and student awards, and advancing the university’s placement across several university rankings systems.

Nature of Work: Reporting to the Director, Research Profile and Impact, this position works with many campus stakeholders – including the VP Research, Deans, Associate Deans Research, Centre Directors, Research Facilitators, Manager of University Rankings, and communications professionals – to produce communications, engage media, create events, and foster partnerships that advance the university’s reputation and profile as a research-intensive university.

Work is self-directed and deadline driven. Occasionally, there may be a requirement to work outside of standard hours. The incumbent will be expected to manage their own workload and set priorities to achieve results and meet targets.

Typical Duties or Accountabilities:

The Communications Officer is responsible for:

• Prepare various communications and media that advance the university’s reputation and profile as a research-intensive university, including print, video, web, social media, advertisements, speeches, op-eds, and public and internal events.
• Supporting the Director of Research Profile and Impact and collaborating with other members of the Research Profile and Impact team, on communications-related projects and activities.
• Develop strategies to celebrate research funding, awards recipients of distinction and innovative research discoveries through new and existing channels of communications.
• Plan, design and execute Research Profile and Impact’s reputational-building initiatives, including supporting USask’s research centres and institutes.
• Plan, design and execute Research Profile and Impact’s digital strategy, including the maintenance of websites and social media channels.

• Monitor program outcomes, predict key factors for future successes and adjust program strategies as needed. This will include collecting, maintaining, and interpreting data regarding Research Profile and Impact communications.
• Prepare an annual report on the activities and accomplishments of the position.
• Organize all projects through RPI and USask project boards.

Accountabilities:

• Raises the University’s profile and advances its research reputation, locally, nationally and internationally by communicating research findings and impact.
• Ensures key USask messages and strategic goals for research, scholarly and artistic activity are effectively communicated to target audiences.
• Ensures that activities are carried out in accordance with best practices in strategic communications and news writing/editing.
• Ensures effective knowledge transfer by working to understand highly complex research results and translating these results to the public in clear, understandable language.
• Builds collaborative relationships and partnerships within the University and with external stakeholders.
• Other tasks and assigned duties responsibilities, as required by the unit and or staff.

Education: An undergraduate degree is required. Disciplines in journalism, communications, or marketing is preferred. Post-graduate training and/or graduate degrees are an asset. Degrees in other disciplines with demonstrated experience and skill in writing for public audiences will be seriously considered. 

Experience: Three to five years of communications-related experience. Previous experience developing, writing, and implementing system-wide strategic plans; knowledge of the post-secondary education sector and its norms; previous experience developing and implementing communications strategies.

Skills: Superior written, oral, and interpersonal skills; demonstrated collaborative leadership and decision-making skills; effective writing and editing skills; highly organized and able to work independently on multiple projects with competing demands.

Inquiries regarding this position can be directed to Leslie-Ann Schlosser at [email protected]

Department: Vice-President (Research)
Status: Permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $66,030.00 - 103,174.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Specialist Professional
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 2
Posted Date: 3/4/2024
Closing Date: 3/17/2024 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