Manager, Communications and Programming, Community Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy

Description

The Community Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy (CMHWS) under the Office of the Provost & VP Academic is currently seeking a Full-time Limited Term Manager, Communications and Programming for approximately 12 months.

UCalgary's CMHWS is a systems-based holistic health promotion strategy. It is a call to action that requires the whole campus community's engagement with, collaboration on, and commitment to its guiding principles and core components. The strategy is positioned at the institutional or university level and is sponsored by the Provost. The strategy team partners with leaders, faculties, units and the broader community on various mental health and well-being initiatives on campus.

The Manager, Communications and Programming reports to the Director, Community Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy with accountability to the Director of the University of Calgary Recovery Community (UCRC) and Recovery on Campus (ROC). This position is responsible for developing and implementing the overall communications and marketing strategy for the CMHWS, including reputational management locally and nationally, aligning all aspects of communications, audience recruitment and retention, advertising and marketing, media relations, website content strategy, social media, special events, and internal communications for the diverse UCalgary community. The Manager also leads a small team of communicators (staff and student positions).

The Manager, Communications is expected to use their communications, public relations and/or media experience to apply broad knowledge and expertise to manage the internal and external communication, lead public outreach strategies, events, initiatives, and publications for the CMHWS. The Manager, Communications anticipates needs using initiative and leadership skills to provide information and resources to stakeholders, committees, partners and CMHWS staff in a timely and effective manner.

The Manager, Communications sets communications priorities, to manage a broad spectrum of ongoing and overlapping projects and tasks including coordinating events, liaising with internal and external officials at a high level, evaluating projects and initiatives, supporting committees, and managing the ongoing communication activities of the CMHWS.

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

• Leadership of communications, organization and implementation of the CMHWS and UCRC/ROC communications portfolios.
• Discretionary decision making within the communications portfolio
• Proactively seek out opportunities and achieve success in partnerships and collaborations, reputation management, brand strategies, marketing, social media, campaigns, publications, events and internal communications designed to promote awareness and a positive understanding of the CMHWS.
• Participation in long range planning and managing multiple projects simultaneously with competing priorities. Provides long- and short-term communications advice to senior leaders and project partners.
• Frequent interaction with stakeholders, partners, investigators, faculty, staff and community groups, regularly demonstrating strong communication skills. Resolves highly complex tasks and provides leadership to team members using independent judgment and fully responsible for delivery of service and initiating resolutions.
• Provide leadership and guidance in task prioritization for communications team members
• Lead the communications team to work collaboratively, initiating discussion to resolve issues or conflicts, and contributing to the efforts of others towards positive outcomes.
• Advises the CMHWS team on the development of communications policies, procedures and strategies.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Post-secondary degree in a relevant area such as communications, public relations, marketing, and/or journalism.
• Excellent communicator, capable of leading and managing a small team of professionals and students with in-depth knowledge of the CMHWS and University culture and operating procedures.
• Minimum 5-7 years of relevant, related experience, including management and leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience in planning and implementing strategic marketing and communications plans, which includes effective creation and execution of large-scale projects and campaigns aimed at target audiences.
• Significant communication and administrative experience with emphasis on strategic planning, decision-making, highly developed organizational skills and the ability to anticipate requirements, plan, organize, coordinate, and perform work with little or no direction.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills required. This includes 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.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a proven ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide and diverse stakeholder group and across campus, maintaining a courteous and professional approach.
• Experience working with the media both in a reactive and strategic planning capacity.
• 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.
• Demonstrated ability to work with staff at all levels, to work under pressure and deadlines, and to handle numerous priorities and competing deadlines. Must be flexible and able to perform multiple tasks simultaneously with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with constantly shifting priorities.
• Experience in leading and executing social media strategy for priority social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
• Experience with web design tools. Expertise with Drupal 8 desired.
• Must have demonstrated ability to provide a consistent high level of service.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint.
• Proficient with industry standard design and production software, such as Canva, Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Ability to lead production of shooting, editing and producing video segments.
• Strong understanding of the University's mission, values, and strategies.
• Highly developed organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills.

Application Deadline:  January 23, 2025

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 Professional Career Band, Level 3 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.