Overview:
The Manager, Integrated Communications is responsible and accountable for identifying and delivering the strategic institutional communications content, used across multiple channels to advance the University’s image, profile and reputation with local, national and global audiences. The position will develop and implement traditional and digital communication activities in support of strategic goals. The incumbent will be a storyteller and editor, providing leadership and guidance to senior leaders, administrators and staff on content creation and management. The incumbent will provide leadership to communication colleagues across campus, as well as a team of external vendors hired to create multimedia content for the University, who contribute to the University’s program of content marketing. This position is responsible for planning, evaluating and producing the highest quality content, which will further the reputation and strategic goals of the University. Creating, as well as directing and managing the creation of editorial content for central channels from a large group of internal and external sources, the Manager, Integrated Communications serves as a lead editor and provides leadership and guidance to communications professionals across campus on matters of research, style, story development and content creation. The incumbent must be a highly skilled writer, with superior understanding of both traditional and new communication technologies, and a strategic thinker with deep experience.
Responsibilities:
Implement communication plans
Under the direction of the Director, Integrated Communications and working with others across campus, support a pan-University communications plan that reflects and supports the central goals of the University
Represent Waterloo’s voice and position in communication material and facilitate conversations that enhance Waterloo’s reputation and are of value to key local, national and international audiences and stakeholders
Collaborate with faculty members, University leaders and communications teams across campus to identify and promote research and activities relevant to the University’s strategic goals
Make recommendations on innovative approaches to disseminate content using emerging technologies
Under the direction of the Director, Integrated Communications, oversee a comprehensive communications content program — from the generation of leads to the evaluation and critical assessment of content
Create multimedia content for the University’s websites, social media channels and a suite of central institutional print and digital collateral used to advance the University of Waterloo’s reputation
Ensure consistency, accuracy and excellence in quality and content of messaging in all materials
Develop multi-stakeholder communications plans to support significant content or events
Conduct research, interviews to write, edit and fact-check a variety of communication materials in support of the marketing and communication plan
Strategically review scholarly research to develop content of interest to the University’s stakeholders. Evaluate research discoveries to determine the most strategic and engaging approach to creating multimedia content that will be used across the University’s communication channels
Ensure that Waterloo’s visual identity, messaging and style guidelines are consistent in all institutional marketing and communication materials produced by University Relations
Support the Emergency Communication Team in delivering of the Emergency Response Plan as required
Provide backup to the writing and publishing of the online Daily Bulletin
Provides research and writing for strategic institutional documents; determine and coordinate cascading communication plan for stakeholders
Attend events to compose notes capturing key messages, take photographs and video and network with attendees to provide content for social media outlets/audiences, e.g., Twitter, Facebook, etc.
Perform other duties of a comparable level/type as assigned
Participate in the administration of specific department-wide responsibilities and other general and specific duties as may from time to time be determined
Insights and understanding
Evaluate data and metrics to optimize content creation and distribution across all channels. Use data and metrics to improve the effectiveness of online content
Conduct environmental scans to identify new approaches and assess new technologies to deliver content in new and innovative ways
Contributes to creating a strategy for the assignment and selection of photographs; negotiate permissions, prepare copy and photographs for use, write display copy and organize material for designers
Collaborate on the development of creative vision for photography to be used across print and digital channels in support of the University’s strategic goals
Ensures consistency, accuracy and excellence in quality and content of messaging for UWaterloo content and meets current best practices for University communication and accessibility
Influence and impact
Manage and coordinate University Relations, Communications relationships with contractors and external consultants who are providing support to University Relations, Communications programs
Support the development and delivery of professional development and training programs designed to raise proficiency in communications across campus
Create and maintain tools (e.g., copy decks/content templates; sample content; glossary of terms) to support content creators
Participate in the recruitment and development of University Relations, Communications co-op staff; provide leadership, guidance, support and coaching as required
Manage vendor services to support program needs; identify and manage the outsourcing demands of University Relations, Communications; ensure consistent top quality of vendor deliverables for the University
Work collaboratively across all units of University Communications and University Relations
Provide day-to-day leadership and guidance to colleagues across campus as required
Qualifications:
Degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related field
5+ years of extensive experience in a post-secondary, marketing or communications environment
Extensive experience using social media and new media tools, social networking sites, video sharing sites, blogs and Wiki
Extensive experience using web-based user interfaces to manage and maintain web content (e.g., web content management system, social media accounts)
Proven ability in managing multiple-source projects that require attention to accuracy, consistency, and the ability to work with many different people with competing priorities
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; excellent editing skills
Extensive interviewing and researching skills
Actively engaged in social media
Thorough command of the technology associated with social media and the digital world (from the evolving social web to mobile tools and trends), sophisticated client service and digital communications skills, and high level of energy and passion with respect to this area of rapid change and innovation
Proven ability, extensive experience, and strong working knowledge and understanding of integrated communications strategies within a highly complex institution and competitive marketplace
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to translate technical concepts into simple language or visual schematics in order to facilitate understanding among campus colleagues and leaders
Ability to build consensus, foster teamwork among a variety of stakeholders, and lead integrated project teams
The incumbent must be a highly skilled writer and a strategic thinker with superior understanding of digital communication technologies
The role covers a broad set of responsibilities requiring expertise in strategic storytelling, communications, marketing and working knowledge of website best practices, digital and content marketing, as well as communications design, development and execution
Strong organizational skills coupled with proven ability to effectively document work, handle multiple tasks, and excel in a fast-paced environment characterized by changing priorities and short deadlines
Demonstrated ability to thrive in and contribute to an integrated and collaborative team environment and to apply a positive team approach to working with colleagues
Flexibility to adapt to unexpected and time sensitive demands
Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint and other graphics and/or presentation software, CMS (Drupal) and CSS
Expert knowledge of social media trends, analytics, technology
Strong photography and videography skills
Intermittent work outside the normal operating hours of UWaterloo can be expected
Vaccination Requirement Statement:
Effective May 1, 2022, the University suspended its Vaccination Requirement. Prior to May 1, pursuant to this Requirement, all University employees were required to submit proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 (subject to the University’s obligations under the Human Rights Code to accommodate employees who were unable to receive a vaccination). The University’s Vaccination Requirement website can be found here: https://uwaterloo.ca/coronavirus/return/vaccination-requirement.
The pandemic is ongoing and public health advice continues to evolve. Accordingly, the University reserves the absolute right to reinstate the Vaccination Requirement on short notice, and upon such reinstatement you will be required to comply. You shall also be required to comply with any new health and safety policies/requirements implemented by the University from time to time, including new policies/requirements related to mandatory employee vaccination. As the University may need to reinstate the Requirement on short notice, it will continue to collect and maintain up-to-date information on employee vaccination status. Please submit your Covid-19 vaccine status (QR code) to: https://checkin.uwaterloo.ca/
Failure to comply with the Vaccination Requirement if it is reinstated, including failure to comply with any future amendments to the Vaccination Requirement, or failure to comply with new health and safety policies/requirements implemented by the University, including those related to new mandatory employee vaccination, shall result in discipline up to and including termination of employment.
The requirement to be vaccinated, if reinstated, will be subject to the duty to accommodate pursuant to the Human Rights Code. If you are unable to be vaccinated for reasons related to a ground protected under the Human Rights Code, you may submit a written request for accommodation with an explanation of the reasons and/or any supporting documentation. If you request accommodation, the University may follow up with you for further information if necessary.
Equity Statement:
The University of Waterloo is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.
The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.