Senior Director, News and University Affairs

Staff
- Non UnionJob CategoryM&P
- Excluded M&PJob ProfileXMP Salaried – Information Services, Level FJob TitleSenior Director, News and University AffairsDepartmentCommunications | VP External RelationsCompensation Range$13,531.92
- $20,284.50 CAD MonthlyThe 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 DateOctober 16, 2026Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
This position is subject to the satisfactory completion of required background checksJob End DateOngoingAt 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 SummaryThe University of British Columbia is seeking an experienced and strategic communications leader to serve as the Senior Director, News and University Affairs.
This position provides critical strategic leadership and tactical advice on the University’s media relations, internal communications, issues management, and crisis and emergency communications. It is key for handling critical issues, acting as spokesperson for the University, and leading the university's communications efforts during crises or emergencies.
Reporting directly to the Associate Vice-President, Communications, the Senior Director provides essential central strategic leadership, counsel, and expertise for UBC's news
- both internally and externally, media relations, issues management.
You will be a key advisor and counsellor to the President, VP External Relations, AVP Communications, and other senior University officials in handling critical issues. This position is responsible for convening senior administrators to develop high-level draft issues management plans for approval by the UBC Executive. The role works in collaboration with other Communications portfolio leadership to support strategic university priorities and integrate them into daily editorial workflows.
This high-profile role requires working weekends, out-of-business hours, and on-call duties in case of media issues, emergencies, or crises.
Organizational StatusReports to the Associate Vice-President, Communications. Works closely with enterprise-wide executive members, senior communications and marketing professionals. Works directly with all members of the News and University Affairs management team, Senior Director, Strategic Communications and Senior Director, Brand and Marketing Communications. Senior Director, News and University Affairs will shape, and build stronger internal relationships to consult on a wider scale beyond the immediate team.
Work PerformedThe Senior Director, News and University Affairs provides strategic leadership for the university's news, media relations, internal communications, and issues management.

Key responsibilities
include:
· Strategic Counsel and Guidance: Strategically advising, counselling, and providing communications guidance to the President, Executive, senior administration, Deans, faculty, Board, and others as appropriate. Engaging directly with the President to ensure their perspective on crucial issues management is reflected in strategy and approach.
· Issues Management and Crisis/Emergency Response: Convening relevant AVP/Senior Directors in a Strategy Group when a substantive issue arises that has the potential to negatively impact UBC’s reputation. Developing and directing the implementation of media strategies to address crisis, emergency communications policies, and all aspects of issues management that threaten the reputation of the University. Leading the University's communications efforts and directing the development of crisis and emergency plans and protocols.
· Media Relations and Internal Announcements: Overseeing the flow of day-to-day faculty and institutional media relations and institutional announcements through internal channels. Ensure UBC leaders and faculty are prepared to deal with media when appropriate. Acting as the official spokesperson for the University on a wide range of topics and issues. Developing strategies to enhance relationships with media and other key communicators, both internal and external to the University.
· Content and Strategy Alignment: Developing and implementing a coordinated plan to integrate UBC’s strategic directions where appropriate into editorial strategies for external and internal channels, including key messaging, in collabora