Communications Strategy Lead

This position is expected to have an end date of three years from date of hire and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed at: www.hrs.ualberta.ca.

Ever thought about the business of being a student - all those forms, all those deadlines? This senior communications position is your opportunity to make that student experience the best it can be. You can write; you can edit. You can plan; you can strategize. You understand the importance of stakeholder relationships. You can perform in a demanding, fast-paced environment to guide projects through planning, design, web development, revisions, and approvals.

Reporting to the Marketing and Communications Associate Director, the Communications Strategy Lead plays a key role in planning and executing the Office of the Registrar's (RO) various marketing and communications strategies. The successful candidate will develop and deliver marketing and communications plans and initiatives for a wide variety of internal and external audiences, as well as cooperative ventures with other departments and faculties. RO Communications provides communications support to enrolment management, identity management, prospective student recruitment, admissions, current student services, financial support, and convocation.

 

Duties

• Collaborates with the Marketing and Communications Associate Director to develop marketing and communications plans for the RO and other stakeholders
• Responsible for the administration, supervision, coordination, and management of consistent messaging across all media channels, audiences and strategic partners
• Advises RO Units on the best strategic use of communications budgets by providing communications recommendations and guidance
• Oversees day-to-day coordination and execution of ongoing projects, as well as development of long-term planning, goals, and strategic initiatives
• Assigns tasks and provides information and direction to various RO Communications staff
• Contracts and oversees the work done by writers, artists, graphic designers, and other contractors
• Works with stakeholders to determine key marketing themes, campaigns, and messages, especially pertaining to student services and recruitment
• Enhances social and web-based media presence with the use of web content, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr
• Researches, writes, edits and produces material for within and external to the University
• Develops media (print, digital, web, radio, TV) for the RO and other stakeholders and will work with these clients (administrative units, departments, faculties) to execute the deliver of all the elements within the communications plans
• Develops and manages tools for enhancing marketing, promotion and communications including: website content, social media, newsletters, publications (magazines, brochures, pamphlets, fact sheets, ads), displays and presentations
• Maintains current knowledge of issues and priorities across the office and to the extent possible, at the institutional level
• Ensures website design and usability are consistent, effective, and aligned with communications or project goals
• Develops messaging and changes based on site usage and web analytics, and recommends/implements changes as required 
• Monitors site usage and analytics, conducts ongoing research and testing, and recommends/implements changes as required
• Provides input to planning ongoing and future phases of RO website redevelopment
• Coordinates production of print publications (including writing, editing, and design) and online publishing schedules
• Leads planning and implementation of communications plans, projects and initiatives; executes project management tasks and milestones
• Responsible for supervisory duties, including coaching, workflow and evaluation for the Communications Coordinator
• Works with stakeholders and contributors to coordinate content and resources, and to ensure project needs and deliverables are met
• Keeps current with emerging trends and technologies and recommends/implements changes as required
• Develops a network of strategic partnerships and contacts within the RO and throughout the University
• Provides backup support to the Marketing & Communications Associate Director

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or Journalism preferred; equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered
• 5 years experience in marketing/communications; including experience in a project management environment; previous supervisory experience is an asset
• Excellent writing, editing and proofing skills and experience
• Excellent communication (verbal and written), interpersonal and organizational skills
• Experience with digital communications and social medias
• Proven ability to successfully manage various projects
• Experience working in a large organization; post-secondary institution experience is an asset