Job Description

WHAT WE STAND FOR The Mohawk Students\xe2\x80\x99 Association exists to ensure all Mohawk Students achieve personal success in their college experience and beyond. We empower Mohawk Students to create a community they can lean on for positive experiences, relevant supports, a listening ear, and a strong voice so they can achieve personal success in their college experience and beyond. Led by the Executive Director and an elected Student Board of Directors (BOD), we are a Non-Profit Organization that supports students through our Areas of Focus:

• Advocacy & Leadership

• Engagement & Support

• Sustainability & Operations

While we are a separate organization from Mohawk College, we work collaboratively with the college to reach our goals.
OUR VALUES
Student Driven: We are passionate about Mohawk Students and all our efforts are devoted to enhancing their experiences.
In This Together: Collaboration built on trust across the Mohawk community is essential to ensure every student interaction matters.
Believe it\xe2\x80\x99s Possible: Fueled by outcomes and insight, we strive to find solutions for how we can meet the evolving needs of students.
Foster Belonging: We connect the Mohawk Community to ensure everyone feels invited, welcomed, and included as their authentic self.
Storytelling: We strive to tell, share, and learn from stories in meaningful ways.
MSA VISION All Mohawk Students achieve personal success in their college experience and beyond. MSA MISSION We empower Mohawk Students to create a community they can lean on for positive experiences, relevant supports, a listening ear, and a strong voice.
MY MSA TEAM We live our values to ensure we achieve our Student Driven Vision and Mission. In This Together, we collaborate in transformative ways within and beyond our departments, helping wherever we are needed. We Believe it\xe2\x80\x99s Possible by focusing on outcomes rather than outputs. We prioritize Foster Belonging, where all staff members feel purposeful and supported as their authentic selves. And we share and learn through the power of Storytelling. MY COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT TEAM The MSA Communications & Engagement Team is a department within the Student Experience Team (Communications, Events and Communities, and Student Services) that handles the core communication and student engagement execution at the MSA. The team values creative diversity, and all members are encouraged to bring new ideas and their own creative passions to the table.
WHAT YOU DO The Communications & Engagement Manager leads the team in all communication and engagement strategies with our student membership and community partners. The Manager will plan and implement traditional, digital and in-person communication strategies to meet the ever-changing needs of our students at multiple campuses. You collaborate with all areas of the MSA and Mohawk College partners to develop a framework that Invites, Informs and Inspires, in order to meet the social, mental, physical, academic, and professional well-being of students. As a member of the MSA Senior Leadership Team, you provide a voice to help guide decision making and strategic direction. What Success Looks Like in This Role: As the Communications & Engagement Manager, you are the subject matter expert when it comes to communicating and engaging with our membership, so that they create memorable moments, with us, and understand that they \xe2\x80\x9care\xe2\x80\x9d the Mohawk Students\xe2\x80\x99 Association. Although there is significant collaboration with the Student Experience Team, you are able to prioritize the needs of multiple departments and effectively communicate messaging in a meaningful way, aligned to the student life-cycle. You continually hear from students about their needs and experiences and adjust what we do to successfully share our stories and information, with an equity, diversity and inclusion lens. You are a leader and a mentor, supporting a team of full-time and student staff to excel in their interactions with other staff and students. You act as a driver, collaborator and a connector, working together with the Student Experience Team, MSA staff, Board of Directors, and Mohawk College to enhance the student experience and create memorable moments. Primary Accountabilities:

• Drives the creative communication and membership engagement strategies, in order to influence student behaviors, in a way that:

o Informs \xe2\x80\x93 students are aware of the MSA, what we have to offer and how to get involved; o Invites \xe2\x80\x93 students are invited to participate in MSA opportunities in meaningful ways that leads them to attend our offerings; and o Inspires \xe2\x80\x93 students are co-creators of their own experience and become MSA ambassadors.

• Acts as an active leader in the Student Experience team, focusing on strong collaboration between departments and other areas within the MSA.

• Leads a team of full-time and student staff with a focus on mentoring, supporting and leadership development.

• Drives the organizational communication needs with a focus on a positive public image and the dissemination of information both internally and externally.

HOW YOU DO IT
Responsibilities Leadership

• Provides employees with ongoing mentoring, feedback and development to achieve personal and team successes.

• Fosters and promotes a collaborative and harmonious working environment which will be conducive to maximum employee morale, productivity and efficiency.

• As part of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) provides mentoring and guidance to the elected Board of Directors.

• Participates and actively engages in MSA committees.

• Ensures value-based communication and engagement opportunities that align to the student life-cycle.

• Effectively communicates with internal and external partners and stakeholders to establish and nurture strong relationships.

Communication & Engagement

• Leads the design, development and implementation of communication and engagement campaigns focussed on all MSA areas and multiple campuses, utilizing diverse channels including print, digital, social media, web, and digital signage.

• Drives the focus and development of Organizational Communication pieces (i.e., Annual Report, internal newsletters, Strategic Plan reports, etc.) including writing and design, in collaboration with other MSA departments.

• Prioritizes workload with an organizational-wide focus by pro-actively meeting with each area and understanding the SET and other calendars, to determine communications and engagement needs and desired outcomes.

• Develops and implements a social media strategy to engage students through the MSA\xe2\x80\x99s social media platforms as well as supporting social media accounts associated with other MSA areas.

• Utilizes strong writing skills, both formal and informal, as a tool to develop content and facilitate storytelling.

• Develops and maintains processes to provide accurate and timely information to students and other stakeholders by responding to online and social media inquiries and comments.

• Leads the content creation and planning for digital signage, website, e-blasts, and in-person engagement.

• Leads the MSA presence at College Open Houses and similar events.

• Uses analytics to evaluate the success of various communications tactics and improve engagement.

• Regularly monitors student levels of engagement and continually strives to evolve and adapt efforts to better serve the diverse needs of Mohawk College students.

Administration

• Develops and manages departmental staffing plans and annual budget, aligned to budget directives, organizational priorities and departmental needs.

• Manages full-time and student staffing, including hiring, development, and approval of time and attendance.

• Monthly monitoring of department expenses, including staffing, with a focus on staying within the budget plan.

• Ensures the maintenance of brand guidelines, graphic design and communication standards.

• Ensures adherence to parameters and timelines as outlined in policy, bylaw and legislative parameters and timelines.

What you Need in Education, Experience and Training for your Department:

• Completion of a post-secondary program related to Marketing, Public Relations, or Communications.

• Minimum of 5-7 years\xe2\x80\x99 experience in a role related to communications or membership engagement. Management or supervisory experience is required.

• Experience in leading full-time and student staff, preferably in a post-secondary environment, with a focus on mentorship and support.

• Exceptional knowledge and experience in graphic design principles website content management and social media platforms.

What Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes that you require:

• Passion for working for and with post-secondary students.

• Desire for lifelong learning.

• Ability to adapt to an ever-changing environment.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Proficiency in a digital and print environment.

• Strong collaboration and communication skills.

• Exceptional time-management, planning and organizational skills.

• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Experience working with institutional stakeholders and community/organizational partners.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• Standard work hours are 35 hours per week. This may include evenings and weekends, when required.

• Travel between campuses may be required.

• Ability to work in a variety of settings that may involve extended sitting and standing.

Reports To: Director, Student Experience Department: Communications & Engagement Classification: Full Time Permanent Pay Band: $75,000 - $90,000
HOW WE SUPPORT YOU This position is entitled to the following comprehensive compensation package:

• 
  Health and Dental Benefits.

• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).

• Enrollment in the CAAT Defined Benefit Pension Plan.

• 20 Paid Vacation Days and additional vacation for all college closures.

• 12 Paid Personal days.

• Staff Wellbeing Initiatives.

• Celebrate an Individual\'s Authentic Self.

• Personalized Success Plans and Professional Development.

• Work Culture that prioritizes that staff have a voice, feel a sense of belonging, and have fun together

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Equity and Diversity are core MSA values engrained in the work that we do to support Mohawk students. The MSA believes the commitment to our values of equity, diversity, and inclusion requires continuous care. It\xe2\x80\x99s about fostering a culture of open-mindedness, compassion, and inclusiveness among individuals and groups, where leadership is made up of different people with diverse perspectives. The MSA is actively building a community where everyone is encouraged and celebrated to be themselves and whose members have diverse cultures, backgrounds, and life experiences in order to challenge and dismantle systemic oppression.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit a cover letter and resume. Your cover letter should outline your experience and address the following:

• Why working for and with students is something that interests you

• Demonstrate how you have actioned equity, diversity, and inclusion in your communication and engagement strategies

• Demonstrate experience in balancing multiple area priorities with overall organizational need

The interview process will begin after Oct 31, noting the posting will remain open until a success candidate has been hired. Preferred start date would be early-mid November.
ACCESSIBILITY As part of our commitment to accessibility for all persons with disabilities. The MSA will, upon the request of the employee, provide accommodation. Should you require accommodation at any point during your employment with the MSA please contact People and Culture at msapeopleandculture@mohawkcollege.ca