Purpose:
The York University School of Continuing Studies is a diverse community of learning united by a shared sense of purpose: achieving personal and professional growth in a rapidly changing career and educational landscape. Our ability to offer accelerated, accessible, and innovative programs that prepare our students to adapt and lead in response to this change has made us the fastest-growing school in Canada. The School is home to the international-award-winning York University English Language Institute, one of the largest language institutes in North America. Our students come from around the world to pursue English-language proficiency and achieve their academic goals. Our professional programs also attract students from around the world. Codesigned and delivered by senior industry leaders, our professional programs feature experiential learning methods that help students develop career-specific technical skills and robust cross-functional expertise. The Director is responsible for the development, management, implementation, evaluation and financial planning and monitoring of the marketing and promotional strategy of public programs and corporate training programs of the School. The Director oversees both B2C (business to consumer) and supports B2B (business to business) strategy and execution. The Director plans and executes communication and public relations activities on behalf of the School to internal university and external audiences. The Director is responsible for all touch points that a prospective student, student or corporate client may have with the School related to continuing professional education (CPE) programs. The Director contributes to the market research for and planning of new education programs to meet market demand. The Director supervises marketing staff and vendors, as well as Continuing Studies Advisors. The Director provides direction to technical/IT staff and vendors who manage the technical aspects of marketing and customer relationship management systems. The Director, Marketing and Communications is responsible for developing local, national and international strategies to increase revenue year over year through marketing, communications, sales, customer relationship management, in order to drive new enrolment and repeat business for the School and its’ partners. The Director leads communications initiatives
including media relations to raise awareness and influence positive brand perception of the School with both internal University and public audiences.
Education:
Undergraduate degree in a related field such as business, marketing, or communications, or undergraduate degree plus professional certificate or diploma in a related field. Certificate or diploma in marketing, digital marketing or analytics is an asset.
Experience:
1. Management – 3-5 years’ experience managing staff and vendors. Preference is given to management experience in a unionized environment.
2. Marketing – experience planning complex marketing campaigns (including overall brand and product campaigns), consulting with internal “clients,” creating traditional and electronic collateral, copywriting for different media, managing events, and evaluating ROI of marketing initiatives.
3. Digital Marketing – experience in software required to create and manage a complex database-driven website, optimizing user-experience, search engine optimization, content marketing, managing paid online advertising campaigns, A-B testing, creating and managing micro-sites and landing pages, and a thorough understanding of web analytics.
4. Communications and Public Relations – experience designing and implementing internal and external communication and PR strategies including media relations, crisis management and change management communications.
5. Enrolment management – experience with strategies, standards and evaluation of strategies at each stage of the enrolment funnel.
6. Customer Relationship Management – experience creating and implementing customer service standards and processes and CRM software, inbound call center strategy, and marketing automation.
7. Technology – a demonstrated understanding or and/or experience implementing complex marketing and student service systems such as a CRM, CMS or SRS and integrations between systems.
8. Metrics – demonstrated experience with measurement, benchmarking, and ROI analysis.
Skills:
Copywriting, use of digital media for revenue generation and brand management, quality control within a communications team, enrolment cycle management, best practices and technology for marketing and enrolment management, sales strategy, and project management
Knowledge and understanding of Canadian and international government legislation, ethical standards and policy documents relating to marketing, data collection, privacy, and accessibility.
Best practices in qualitative and quantitative market research
Responsive website design and maintenance.
Financial/budget planning, forecasting and management.
Web and marketing analytics including identifying and making comparisons to industry benchmarks and measurement.
Knowledge of continuing education and working within a university environment is an asset.
Knowledge of the GTA market is an asset.
Additional Notes:
The Director works in a normal office environment, making extensive use of computer, phone and other technologies. The Director will travel occasionally to conferences and professional meetings in Canada and the USA.
This position requires the candidate to produce a verification of degree(s), credentials(s), or equivalencies from accredited institutions and/or international equivalents at the time of interview.
York's CPM Compensation Framework has a salary grid consisting of 6 or 8 steps (depending on job grade) which is reviewed annually with possible adjustments, and a lump sum Performance Based Recognition Award. Employees will receive the grid adjustment and depending on performance, eligible permanent employees may move to the next step of the grid and may receive a lump sum Performance Based Recognition Award.Visit the CPM Compensation page on the HR Website to find out more about York's CPM Compensation Program.
The University welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including, but not limited to women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities (racialized), Indigenous Peoples and persons of any gender identity and sexual orientation. York University is committed to a positive, supportive and inclusive environment.
York University offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment processes. If you are contacted by York University regarding a job opportunity or testing, please advise if you require accommodation.
We are committed to enhancing our environmentally and socially responsible practices for the benefit of all members of the York community. Our long term perspective recognizes our responsibility to be innovators and to continually work as a community to reduce our ecological impact.
York University employees must apply to jobs through the Employee Career Portal - YU Hire. If you are a current York University employee and/or are using your rights under a collective agreement to view and/or apply to jobs, you MUST log into YU Hire to access the York University Employee Career Portal.
PLEASE NOTE: Applications must be received by 11:55 pm EST on the posted deadline date, if applicable.