Director of Communications and Marketing, School of Public Policy

Description

The SPP Communications within the School of Public Policy is currently seeking a Full-time Limited Term Director, Communications and Marketing for approximately 20 months with the possibility of extension.

In this leadership position, you'll collaborate closely with  the Director of the School of Public Policy (SPP), and with the University of Calgary's Office of Communications and Community Engagement, to enhance the local, national and international recognition, profile, reputation, influence and impact of the SPP and its work with respect to public policy.

As a member of the SPP senior leadership team, you will provide high-quality strategic advice, and perform - and lead your team to perform - the actions needed to ensure the overall success and effectiveness of the SPP’s communications andmarketing and efforts. You will work closely with the Director of Community and Strategic Engagement.

You will report to the Associate Director at the SPP, with a dotted line to the Director, and you will work closely with the senior leadership of both the SPP and the University’s Office of Communications and Community Engagement.

Your role will be (i) to drive a successful communications and marketing strategy, working with the Director of Community and Strategic Engagement on an engagement strategy, to build the SPP’s profile, reputation, influence and impact locally, nationally and globally, and (ii) to lead, with your team, the implementation of that strategy. 

You will ensure that the budget and expenses of the Communications department adhere to all SPP and University requirements and limits. You will work collaboratively with the Office of Communications and Community Engagement to ensure that communications, marketing, and engagement strategies developed at the SPP align with the University of Calgary brand and help to advance overall institutional direction.

Your background includes demonstrated leadership and strength in communications and marketing strategy development and implementation, project and people management and building stakeholder partnerships and consensus. You have and can build strong connections with media; you have exceptional writing skillsYou are a recognized leader and expert in translating complex, technical information into compelling stories, web content and publications. The position requires vision, leadership, creativity, exceptional communications and marketing expertise, fiscal accountability, and experience with evaluation metrics and reporting. 

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Develop, implement, and measure a communications, marketing and (with the Director Community and Strategic Engagement) engagement strategy for the SPP, focused on strengthening and aligning all aspects of communications, marketing and reputation management within the strategic direction of the SPP and the University, tailored for diverse targeted audiences, including publications, brand management, student recruitment, advertising and marketing, media relations, website content, social media, events, and internal communications.
• Lead initiatives connecting with a wide and diverse group of stakeholders internally and within the broader Calgary, Alberta, Canadian and global communities.
• Provide long-and short-term communications, marketing and engagement advice to senior leaders and faculty members within the SPP and across the University.
• Work with both internal and external authors to produce papers, communiques, op eds and policy trend documents, ensuring that our research and recommendations reach both influencers and decision makers in a timely and effective fashion.
• Support internal communications, in conjunction with other stakeholders, to foster a high-performance, collaborative and respectful culture within the SPP and the University.
• Advise and contribute to the communications, marketing and engagement strategies for the SPP fund development, alumni relations and recruitment initiatives.
• Manage contracts and relationships with external contractors, freelancers and design providers.
• Oversee the communications, marketing and engagement budget and finances, and foster a culture of cost-effectiveness. 
• Support the crisis communications team in the event of a University-wide emergency.
• Work professionally and collaboratively with other University communicators and marketing professionals, as well as members of the Office of Communications and Community Engagement and external funding agencies, in support  of the University’s entrepreneurial brand, its strategic direction, Academic Plan, Research Plan and other initiatives.
• Coach and mentor team members, encouraging professional development.
• Develop and maintain a list of faculty and other SPP-related experts to ensure that SPP representatives are available and trained to speak to media on topical public policy issues.
• Establish, track and maintain social media channels and content to share the news, research, recommendations and accomplishments of the SPP.
• Build and maintain relationships with peers in the post-secondary, industry, research, innovation and public policy sectors in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and internationally. 
• Performing other duties as required by program operations and assigned by the SPP Director or SPP Associate Director.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• A post-secondary degree in marketing, communications, public relations, business, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in the marketing and communications field.
• Demonstrated experience in planning and implementing strategic communications, marketing and engagement plans, which includes effective creation and execution of large-scale projects and campaigns aimed at target audiences.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, including the ability to write and edit copy, prepare speaking notes and presentations, and to develop and lead communications and social media training for faculty and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and cultivate relationships with media outlets and reporters, locally, nationally and internationally.
• Demonstrated ability to speak and write clearly and succinctly in a variety of settings and styles; ability to distill complex information into compelling stories, listen effectively and deliver messages that have the desired effect.
• Experience in events planning and community outreach, including media, event marketing and related communications.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a proven ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide and diverse stakeholder group.
• Experience producing a variety of marketing and communication channels aimed at various internal and external audiences, leveraging online, social media, print and face-to-face communications best practices.
• Strong understanding of social media and how to leverage social media to the advantage of the SPP.
• Demonstrated ability to work with staff at all levels, to work under pressure and deadlines, and to handle numerous priorities and competing deadlines.

Application Deadline:  July 6, 2024.

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is classified in the Management Career Band, Level M2 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework. 

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website. 

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada’s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada’s leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role. 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.