Mandate:
Reporting to the Director, Communications and Public Affairs, this position is responsible for a wide variety of communications, media relations, emergency/crisis communications and issues communications designed to enhance and protect the university’s reputation with key interest-holders, including campus constituents, government and funders.
This position frequently works with highly confidential or sensitive information and related decisions/policy to make a well-informed assessment, provide advice on issues and develop communications and responses. As part of the Public Affairs team, they contribute to the university’s response to issues, crises and emergencies.
Consequences of reputational harm can include decline in enrolment, difficulty recruiting and retaining quality staff and faculty members, loss of revenue from government and private funders, decline in alumni engagement and support, loss of researchers to other institutions, labour action or protests, and less influence overall, including on matters important to the post-secondary sector.
Objectives:
- To identify potential issues that may impact the university, its people or operations
- To support the university in addressing urgent, emergent issues as they arise, and participate in emergency operations as and when required
- To develop communications strategies and provide communications advice for issues, crises and emergencies at the university
- To support the team by supporting media relations, social media and other key tactics involved in managing issues, crises and emergencies.
Unusual working conditions:
This work may occur outside of regular business hours (i.e. evenings, weekends or extended weekday hours) during peak periods or when Public Affairs is involved in high-profile, complex issues communications.
