Job Description

Staff - Non Union

Job Category M&P - AAPS

Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Information Services, Level A

Job Title Communications Specialist

Department Communication Support | Department of Psychology | Faculty of Arts

Compensation Range $5,063.67 - $7,294.50 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date September 21, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date Oct 15, 2024

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students, and is essential to fostering an outstanding work environment. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Summary

The UBC Language Sciences Institute is an interdisciplinary research network operating across multiple faculties at UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan, comprising faculty, graduate student, and postdoctoral fellow members from 47 departments, as well as 93 affiliate members. Recently named a Global Excellence Research Institute, one of only four at UBC, the Institute aims to:

catalyze new interdisciplinary research programs around five challenges engage community and industry partners,

engage with community and industry partners,

share research findings to enrich public knowledge,

promote equity, diversity and inclusion at and beyond UBC,

cement UBC\xe2\x80\x99s place as a global leader in language sciences research, and

cultivate the next generation of language sciences researchers.

The Communications Specialist is responsible for developing and executing strategic communications and knowledge mobilization plans, developing an editorial calendar and creating associated content, managing social media accounts, supporting member outreach and engagement, and providing media outreach for the Language Sciences Institute.

Organizational Status

The Communications Specialist will report to the Language Sciences Coordinator and receive input as well from the co-directors. This position requires collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, including faculty members, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and staff in other administrative and communications units, central UBC administration and communications, and external organizations. The LangSci Comms Specialist also liaises with the Arts Communications team to ensure adherence to Arts and UBC brand guidelines and communications best practices and to support a coordinated approach to the faculty-wide editorial strategy. The Comms Specialist may delegate clerical tasks (minor website updates, drafting social media posts, etc.) to the LangSci Program Assistant.

Work Performed

• Works within Arts Communications guidelines to develop and execute strategic communications plans to support the Institute\'s goals and vision, including an editorial calendar.
• Creates and curates content for Language Sciences. This includes:

• Researching and producing content including stories, press releases, Q&As, social media posts, photography, videos, etc.
• Managing the website including updates, event management, and making changes via Drupal backend.
• Identifies, supports, and executes media outreach opportunities including liaising with Media Relations, directly pitching to and working with media, and organizing member participation in such opportunities.
• Manages the Institute\xe2\x80\x99s social media channels including producing regular content, interacting with followers, and providing issues management.
• Provides strategic recommendations and advice on a variety of issues including privacy, knowledge exchange, marketing, etc.
• Plans and executes events under the direction of the coordinator, such as the LangSci Talks series, film screenings, member events, flash talks, research days, and other ad-hoc workshops. Responsibilities may include:

• Developing the annual guest speaker roster
• Coordinating jointly-hosted talks with partnering units
• Implementing direction from the coordinator regarding budget including honoraria
• Promotes events including developing and executing advertising.
• Contributes to Language Sciences\xe2\x80\x99 work on equity, diversity, and inclusion commitments; ensures equity, diversity, and inclusion commitments are reflected in Institute\xe2\x80\x99s communications, content, events and all other areas within the specialist\xe2\x80\x99s purview.
• Creates action plans for knowledge mobilization activities, to be approved by the Coordinator and Co-Directors, such as the distribution of the book \xe2\x80\x98The ABCs of Language Development. This includes:

• Liaising with partner organizations and stakeholders
• Managing existing products and development of new products, including issues management
• Planning and organizing and marketing public events
• Creating and promoting content to support the strategic plan, including organizing media outreach
• Liaises with Faculty of Arts Communications team, proactively following best practices and guidelines. Participates in an integrated and coordinated approach to developing communications strategies and policies and participates as an active member of the Arts Communications Network.
• Promotes the Living Language course including developing a marketing plan and designing advertising campaigns.
• Occasionally works with graduate student and postdoctoral fellow volunteers on relevant projects such as the After Grad series.
• Drafts, copy-edits, and type-sets interim and final reports to LangSci\xe2\x80\x99s donor(s), Dean\xe2\x80\x99s Council, International Academic Advisory Board, and other governing units and funding agencies at and beyond UBC, in collaboration with the Coordinator.
• Analyzes data from Google Analytics, and other tools related to search engine optimization, social media and website analytics.
• Monitors and tracks media mentions and coverage related to the Institute.
• Manages membership information, invitations, and requests including updating databases, website and email lists.
• Manages the privacy and consent of photo subjects, LangSci members, and other partners and contracts.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The successful candidate is expected to display a high level of initiative and judgement, and function with a high degree of independence. Errors made in this position, including incorrect information provided to the public, failure to act in a timely manner to issues, and failure to establish good working relationships with institutional, community, and industry partners, could reflect negatively upon the reputation and image of the Institute and the University, potentially damaging the brand, credibility, and integrity of both.

Supervision Received

Reports directly to the Language Sciences Coordinator. The Communications Specialist will also work with the Co-Directors or other faculty on implementing specific projects. Must be able to work independently and show a high level of initiative. Adheres to guidelines set out by Arts Communications and UBC Brand and Marketing.

Supervision Given

Manages graduate student and postdoctoral editorial volunteers when applicable.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of four years experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one\xe2\x80\x99s own.
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one\xe2\x80\x99s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

A bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s degree or higher in a related field (i.e. linguistics, English, journalism, psychology, marketing, writing, computer science, information sciences, digital media, and visual design); or an appropriate combination of relevant skills and experience will be considered. Experience with web design platforms including content management systems; experience with Drupal, WordPress, and an understanding of HTML are desirable. Experience in new media, information technology, communications, or library/information science an asset. Ability to effectively liaise with a central communications team to follow best practices and institutional standards. Experience working in a post-secondary institution environment an asset. Energy, enthusiasm and a passion for communicating research. Excellent writing skills and an understanding of advanced principles of writing. Well-developed planning and organizational skills; managing timelines and ability to multi-task and prioritize. Demonstrated ability to work independently and in teams on assigned project work. Ability to establish effective working relationships and provide excellent \xe2\x80\x98customer\xe2\x80\x99 service to faculty, students, and external stakeholders. Ability to exercise initiative, resourcefulness and sound judgment. Experience in video and audio production an asset. Graphic design experience an asset.

University of British Columbia