Job Description

Date Posted: 06/22/2023
Req ID: 32163
Faculty/Division: Office of Vice President, Communications
Department: Office of Vice President, Communications
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00049686

Description:

About us:

The University of Toronto is one of the leading research-intensive universities in the world. University of Toronto Communications (UTC) is focused on promoting, enhancing and protecting the U of T\xe2\x80\x99s reputation through broad stakeholder engagement with the University\xe2\x80\x99s mission, both internally and externally. Our award-winning team includes experts in communications strategy and planning, news and magazine writing, media relations, video production, social media, digital design and development, issues management and brand marketing. We bring a strategic, integrated and data-driven approach to show how the University community \xe2\x80\x94 across all three campuses \xe2\x80\x94 is working to Defy Gravity.

Your opportunity:

The Senior Research Communications Officer is a seasoned communications professional with a demonstrated track record of finding and telling compelling stories of research and innovation impact , and generating strategic results. You will be the bridge between UTC and the University\xe2\x80\x99s Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISIs). You bring a holistic understanding of communications planning and execution and are capable of overseeing a project from end to end \xe2\x80\x94 from developing the plan or brief, to writing compelling content, to presenting the impact report. You are adept at understanding the needs of a diverse range of stakeholders, comfortable providing evidence-based advice on the most effective communications approaches or tactics to achieve their goals, and then helping them follow through. You will be a first point of contact for a diverse group of colleagues working across the ISIs, advising them on best practices and effective approaches to achieve their own unique goals, and connecting them with other resources across the University as appropriate .

Your responsibilities will include:

• Advising leaders on communication strategies to support overarching goals and priorities.
• Planning and developing integrated multi-channel communications strategy, and overseeing its execution.
• Sourcing proof points, story ideas and supporting collateral that resonate with target audiences and advance specific objectives.
• Writing and editing targeted communications to support strategic initiatives, including researching, conducting interviews and writing news stories and impact reports for key audiences.
• Building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners across the Institutional Strategic Initiatives, and advising on the most effective methods of achieving desired communications goals.
• Liaising with contacts across the Institutional Strategic Initiatives to facilitate collaboration and consistency in communications, and connect colleagues with existing resources where appropriate.
• Keeping well-informed on theories and practices related to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Analyzing and recommending process changes for more efficient multi-channel communication practices.

Qualifications:

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor\'s Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
• Minimum five years of related experience.
• Excellent editing, researching, and writing skills. Demonstrated initiative, both in uncovering and developing research stories and in creating innovative vehicles for delivering those stories.
• High degree of comfort with research and innovation material and technical information, ability to discuss research with principal investigators in some detail, and translate that information for a broad audience while ensuring accuracy .
• Strong interpersonal, organizational and communication skills are essential, as is the ability to interact with all levels of academic and administrative staff.
• Demonstrated experience designing and executing multi-channel communications plans, including producing tactics and reporting outcomes, with a high degree of independence.
• Experience and familiarity with web production tools and social media, including emerging digital platforms or channels.
• Facility with basic image editing software (e.g., Photoshop)
• Facility with web publishing tools (e.g., general Content Management System experience)
• Proficiency with Microsoft suite, including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Teams
• Aptitude to learn and keep pace with new web publishing technologies, project management tools and tactics, and communications best practices.

Assets (Nonessential):

• Strong familiarity with academic culture \xe2\x80\x94 including the cultures of research, teaching and student experience \xe2\x80\x94 is an asset.
• Experience working with vendors such as graphic designer, photographers and videographers is an asset.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Communicator
• Diplomatic
• Detail-oriented
• Efficient
• Multi-tasker
• Organized
• Problem-solver

NOTE: This is a term position ending May 2024.

Closing Date: 07/07/2023, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Term
Schedule: Full-Time NOTE: This is a term position ending May 2024.
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 15 -- $86,011 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $109,993. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Communication/Media/Public Relations
Recruiter: Blythe Campbell

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

University of Toronto