Communications Strategist ASC Student

Staff - Non Union

Job Category
M&P - AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Information Services, Level B

Job Title
Communications Strategist ASC Student

Department
Arts Communications | Faculty Operations | Faculty of Arts

Compensation Range
$6,747.50 - $9,701.42 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
May 3, 2025

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

Job End Date
This position is a 50% FTE, ongoing position. This position is hybrid, with some work on campus required.

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. 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.

Job Summary
The Communications Strategist develops, leads and implements communication plans and strategies for the Arts Service Centre - Student in the Faculty of Arts including internal communications, storytelling, issues management, and event planning. This person will be a member of two teams within the Faculty of Arts. The role primarily serves the Arts Service Centre – Student team, which supports Faculty of Arts faculty, staff, and undergraduate and graduate student populations with technical and training support for student systems. As a member of the Arts Communications team, the position supports a centralized, integrated and coordinated approach to developing communications strategies and policies for student systems, and develops effective relationships with key stakeholders both internal and external to Faculty of Arts.

Organizational Status
Reports to the Director of Communications, Arts Communications, with functional supervision from the Director, Arts Service Centre - Student at the Faculty of Arts. Works closely with Communications Managers and the other members of the Arts Communications team. The position liaises with UBC faculty, staff, and students, as required.

Work Performed

• Works with the Arts Communications leadership team to sustain processes and set standards for ASC Student communications across the Faculty. Creates and enforces internal communications processes between Arts Comms and Arts Service Centre – Student.
• Responsible for researching, writing, editing, and curating content and preparing communication plans, advertising copy, reports, articles, announcements, and news releases. Consults with content providers and relevant stakeholders within the Faculty on messages, audience, delivery and best practices for internal communications. Determines the appropriate communication channel and distribution of messages.
• Functions as a communications resource for faculty and staff who work within student systems, providing front-line tactical communications expertise and production, as required, and providing key stakeholders with recommendations and best practices.
• Plans and implements well-coordinated, effective communication plans and vehicles for Arts Service Centre – Student in the Faculty of Arts. Drafts strategies and policies to ensure alignment on internal communications guidelines, shares best practices, and maintains UBC brand standards.
• Coordinates and supports programming and events in support of ASC Student’s strategic vision, purpose and goals.
• Provides oversight and direction of ongoing measurement and analytics for ASC Student communications and identifies recommendations for improvements.
• Maintains familiarity with major communications trends, issues, and technologies.
• Represents the Arts Communications team and/or the ASC Student team on various committees and via opportunities that require/request Arts representation.
• Cultivates strong relationships within Faculty of Arts and other groups such as UBC’s Student Completion program and helps maintain the reputation of the Arts Communications team through professionalism and positive contributions in meetings, both within the Faculty and on campus.
• Participates in team workshops with Arts Communications and ASC Student; these include team-building activities, annual team vision review, quarterly status updates on projects, and often take place on campus.
• Performs other related duties.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This role exercises initiative and judgment in establishing priorities and carrying tasks through to completion, and must demonstrate tact and discretion. Works independently and as a team member within established guidelines and standards. Work is reviewed in terms of achievement of defined goals. Makes decisions regarding writing and editing communication materials, and communications projects and service contracts. The Communications Strategist works with all groups across the Faculty to serve the communication needs of the Arts community. Error in the performance of duties or inappropriate disclosure of confidential information may adversely affect the image and reputation of the Faculty and the university. The performance of this position can have a major impact on how the Faculty of Arts is perceived by its internal and, by extension, the external community.

Supervision Received
Reports and takes direction for day-to-day operations from the Director of Communications. This position receives functional supervision from the Director, Arts Service Centre - Student. May receive functional supervision from Communications Managers in Arts Communications, if applicable.

Supervision Given
May manage and coordinate the work of staff where needed. Explains work procedures to new or less experienced staff, including student staff, if applicable. May direct the work of internal and external service providers.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum five years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior internal communications and stakeholder engagement experience. Demonstrated ability to work in a dynamic, deadline-driven, innovative environment.
• Ability to conduct needs analysis, plan, organize, manage, monitor, complete, and evaluate projects within allocated time and resources. Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities. Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines. Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations. Ability to adapt writing styles for various purposes, for different media requirements and for different audiences. Ability to summarize and translate technical and business jargon into accessible, action-oriented language. Ability to effectively use email, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation software at an advanced level.
• Demonstrated experience using content management systems such as WordPress as well as platforms for communicating with internal audiences. Experience in creating and delivering messages in various platforms using tools such as presentations and webcasts. Experience with assessing and analyzing data to make informed decisions.
• Experience creating newsletter content that is informative, visually appealing, and concise using mass mailing tools. Knowledge of Envoke an asset. Demonstrated working knowledge of graphic and web design principles required. Ability to use desktop publishing software at an intermediate level (Adobe Creative Suite – Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign required) to develop effective marketing and communication materials.
• Experience supporting workshops, events, and community engagements to gather and record feedback from stakeholders.
• Commitment to anti-racism and inclusive excellence, and ability to apply an intersectional anti-racist lens to communications projects. Ability to recognize, respect and work effectively with individuals and groups with diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Takes initiative in learning about language and issues relating to equity and diversity.
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships and engage in workplace culture. Ability to recognize and appreciate the contributions of colleagues. Committed to demonstrating respect to colleagues at every level by trusting in their abilities and knowledge to perform their roles and earning respect through meeting commitments. Models and demonstrates good interpersonal communication through active listening and appreciative inquiry and is open to providing and receiving timely, constructive feedback. Listens to, encourages and expresses creative and innovative ideas. Open to experiment and improvise with new ways of approaching processes, tasks or problems. Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment. Ability to exercise tact and discretion.