Government & Community Relations Associate

This competition is open to all applicants however internal candidates and applicants who were former employees of the University of Alberta in the past 18 months will be given priority consideration before external candidates. Please indicate your internal status using the "Advertisement" drop down menu when applying.

This position is based in Edmonton, AB and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed at: Faculty & Staff Benefits .

The Government and Community Relations office is responsible for providing strategic guidance and counsel to the Vice-President, External Relations, the University of Alberta and its senior administrators on the university’s relations with municipal, provincial, federal and international governments and external community stakeholders.

Reporting to the Associate Vice-President of Government and Community Relations, the Associate contributes to the development and implementation of a coordinated community relations and engagement strategy for the University of Alberta. The Associate provides direct strategic advice, analysis and operational support to the Associate Vice-President in all areas included in the mandate of the Government and Community Relations office. The Associate is responsible for building and maintaining quality relationships with internal and external stakeholders through the development and fostering of communication networks and strategies. Playing a key role in ensuring the overall effectiveness of the Government and Community Relations office, the Associate provides critical analysis of, and recommendations on how to strategically respond to the ever-changing community engagement environment.

Duties

• Provides briefing materials, critical analysis and recommendations related to the university’s key strategic initiatives with community stakeholders
• Liaises with other portfolios to ensure a consistent community relations and engagement strategy
• Provides advice to faculty-based community relations and engagement contacts throughout the University of Alberta in order to ensure consistent messaging
• Develops and maintains relationships with key community leaders and senior staff members within the community, private/industry/service, not-for-profit, and public sectors on behalf of the University of Alberta
• Schedules and organizes meetings with community groups and stakeholders including strategic planning for special events and functions
• Performs specialized research and policy analysis in areas of community, private/industry/service, not-for-profit and public sectors
• Conducts regular environmental scans of media and websites to ensure relevant members of the university are aware of current community developments 
• Seeks opportunities to promote the University of Alberta's contribution to the public good through the development of key messages, correspondence, reports, stories and profiles of excellence and impact
• Develops and writes correspondence, background materials and communication tools for the Associate Vice-President 
• Manages the Community Relations' website content
• Provides strategic information for the senior administrative committees (e.g President's Executive Committee, Executive Planning Council, Strategic Initiatives Group, Board Reputation and Public Affairs Committee)
• Identifies key issues as they arise and recommends action to the Associate Vice-President

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelors degree in political science, economics, business, communications, or related field and a minimum of five years of experience; equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered
• Superior research skills and strong abilities to synthesize information from multiple sources quickly and effectively
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
• Understanding of strategic planning processes
• Ability to exercise a high level of discretion and diplomacy
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast paced environment with competing deadlines
• Experience with online and new media technologies and strategies for research
• Strong ability to work independently as well as within a team environment
• Political and community relationship astuteness and knowledge of protocol is considered an asset
• An understanding of the communications unique to the University of Alberta community is an asset 
• Knowledge of the University of Alberta’s key strategic planning documents, policies, procedures and operating requirements is an asset

COVID-19 Vaccination: Proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 in compliance with the University’s COVID-19 Vaccination Directive. Fully Vaccinated means a status an individual achieves 14 days after having received the recommended number of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization, and requires the individual to maintain the recommended number and type of vaccine doses as updated and required by Health Canada thereafter.

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.