Communications and Marketing Specialist

Job Category
M&P – AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried – Information Services, Level B

Job Title
Communications and Marketing Specialist

Department
Communications I Marketing and Communications Student Housing and Community Services

Compensation Range
$6,551.00 – $9,418.83 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
January 30, 2024

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

Job End Date

Oct 3, 2025

This is a leave replacement position.

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 Description Summary
The Communications & Marketing Specialist works with Student Community Services (SHCS) to develop and implement strategies for communications with students, staff and other key audiences.
The Strategist leads the development of annual and long-term communications plans that align with unit goals and support key areas identified in the UBC Strategic Plan. The Strategist is responsible for managing implementation of the communications plan, contributes to the development of communications best
practices for SHCS, and ensures all communications activities and materials comply with UBC standards.
The Specialist oversees all SHCS communication channels, works with the SHCS Communications and Marketing Director to generate appropriate marketing and communication ideas, and executes a wide-range of marketing and communications campaigns and materials by liaising with staff, students, and departments. The Specialist will be able to move seamlessly between communications strategy, high impact marketing projects, and integrated communications all while building a strong community through UBC s communication channels. The selection of innovative channels that can effectively deliver key messages and meet the needs of primary target audiences is a crucial responsibility of this position.
Organizational Status
This position reports to the Director, Communications and Marketing, Student Housing and Community Services (SHCS), and works closely with peers from both Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.
The Communications & Marketing Specialist will collaborate regularly with colleagues in the VP Communications and Student Communications Portfolio and others across campus as required.
Work Performed
– Working with SHCS units, leads the development of strategic communication plans that reflect and support achievement of unit goals.
– Coordinates implementation of communications plans; executes strategies and tactics.
– Coordinates workflow between members of project teams, communication channels, content contributors, user experience specialists, and external consultants.
– Actively seeks out partnerships and develops relationships with other campus units and student groups in order to identify and leverage opportunities for collaboration.
– Assesses the effectiveness of established communications plans and makes recommendations for future improvements.
– Creates, maintains and communicates project timelines, schedules and cost estimates that support the progress of initiatives, including post-mortem reports, analysis and recommendations for future improvements.
– Ensures that initiatives effectively promote the objectives and key messages of SHCS, and are aligned with the VP Students communications strategy and the branding and reputation of UBC.
– Manages SHCS social media and blog communications by crafting plans and editorial schedules, sourcing emerging channels beyond Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and producing and actively participating in and monitoring communications. Engages in dialogues across community platforms in the SHHS voice. Monitors, listens, responds, refers and provides analysis and engagement metrics for all social media channels. Assists in Social Media planning and develops and implements a social media content calendar.
– Solicits, compiles and edits content for blogs and e-newsletters. Coordinates and prepares content for targeted email communication campaigns.
– Monitors and coordinates all SHCS campus communicators. Elevates communications through the development of central marketing communications resources, regular meetings and communications, professional development opportunities and collaboration on special projects.
– Updates, optimizes and maintains SHCS web content, and works closely with SHCS Okanagan Housing website coordinator. Ensures content is of a high quality and consistent with the UBC brand. Works with UX / UI coordinators to define project objectives, articulate user needs and identify deliverables. Writes and manages web content. Works with web designer on selection of and coordinates production for website elements including graphics, photos, and video. Develops and maintains web content style guides, standards and templates.
– Develops format concepts in consultation with internal and external design and production staff.
– Prepares text for transfer to designers in final and approved state. Coordinates client and manager approvals at all stages of the project, and incorporates client/manager/editor changes to produce final copy. Provides input to the overall digital marketing budget.
– Maintains familiarity with major communications trends, issues, and technologies.
– Functions as a communications resource for all SHCS units, on both campuses, sharing expertise and developing intuitive and easy to use materials that allow unit staff to handle some communications tasks independently.
– Makes independent decisions and recommendations in areas of prioritizing, planning, and executing communications plans.
– Exercises judgment and tact in dealing with staff, faculty members, students, and alumni both across the university and externally.
– Performs other related duties as required.
Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position represents the University as well as Student Housing and Community Services (SHCS). Incorrect decisions or judgment will directly affect UBC s reputation with students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. Incorrect decisions will affect the University s ability to effectively communicate with its audiences, with a direct negative impact on the student experience.
Supervision Received
Works independently under general guidance from the Director, Communications and Marketing, SHCS. Works closely with the Director and other staff in SHCS, keeping the Director informed.
Supervision Given
Actively participates in the recruitment, hiring and training of new employees. Provides training and supervision for support staff; and, trains new management and professional staff in Student Communications Services. Supervises staff involved in specific communications projects as needed.
May give direction to external service providers.
Minimum Qualifications
– 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
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.Minimum of five years experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.Communications and marketing experience, preferably in large, complex organizations, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
Proven experience in strategic communications planning and project coordination.
Computer experience required using content management systems, email marketing systems, SEO, various social media platforms and analytics programs (such as Google Analytics). CSS and HTML considered an asset.
Experience using established and emerging social media channels for communication and audience engagement. Ability to plan and implement a broad range of digital and non-digital communications projects.
Demonstrated understanding of web design and usability best practices.
Adept in researching, selecting, testing and measuring traditional and innovative communications channels. Effective oral and written communication and interpersonal, presentation, and public relations skills.
Background in English, technical writing, or other editing experience with English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Ability to work effectively and collaboratively within a team environment.
Exceptional service orientation and interpersonal skills. Able to work in an environment that is decentralized, complex, and with a diverse range of stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to work in a project based environment and handle multiple and concurrent priorities.
Lives our team values by being a good listener and collaborator, consistently striving for excellence, being a creative problem solver and storyteller, innovative thought leader, entrepreneurial and resourceful, authentic and transparent.
Strong leadership and motivational skills.
Ability to exercise diplomacy, tact and discretion when working with confidential and/or sensitive information and in dealing with various levels of administration and external agencies.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to assess own performance and regularly report on project status.
Must have a deep understanding of branding.
Exemplifies the attributes of UBC s brand, including being bold, open to new ideas, adventurous, and fun, with a global perspective.