Community Engagement Specialist

The University of Toronto is a pioneering institution in research, innovation and entrepreneurship. The Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus (SRIC) is a hub for innovation, collaboration, and discovery at the University of Toronto. Focused on advancing cutting-edge research and partnerships across artificial intelligence, life sciences, and other transformative fields, the Campus brings together startups, researchers, industry leaders, and community partners.

The SRIC Ecosystem team is responsible for fostering collaboration, driving engagement, and optimizing the development and growth of its community of innovators and mission-aligned partners. The overarching goal is to create an environment that supports the advancement of scientific research, product development, entrepreneurship and technology commercialization.

As part of the SRIC Ecosystem team, the Community Engagement Specialist plays a vital role in cultivating a dynamic and connected ecosystem, fostering collaboration through effective marketing and communications activities, curating community engagement programs, and delivering events that engage our growing community of innovators and mission-aligned partners.

Your opportunity:

Reporting to the SRIC Ecosystem Director, the Community Engagement Specialist will bring energy, creativity, and organizational excellence to support the mission-aligned programs and events that make the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus thrive. The Specialist will plan and execute high-impact events; develop and implement outreach and marketing assets and activities; work closely with tenants, partners, researchers, and industry to foster engagement and collaboration; and collaborate effectively with Campus Events as well as Marketing & Communications colleagues to enable these initiatives. The Specialist will be at the center of activity, helping to build a strong sense of community within the Campus and across the University’s innovation ecosystem.

Your responsibilities will include:

- Coordinating the schedule for program and event calendars

- Overseeing space and resource requirements for events and related programming

- Analyzing and making recommendations for changes to venue, event fees and surcharges

- Developing marketing/communications strategies that support fundraising campaigns and programs

- Monitoring accounts for a project and/or program

- Act as the first point of contact for event-related inquiries and logistics

- Manage event calendars and bookings, verifying details and resolving scheduling conflicts

- Develop and implement marketing and communications initiatives and activities to support events, outreach campaigns, and fundraising initiatives

- Produce digital and print promotional and outreach materials

- Create and maintain content for digital platforms and social media channels

- Coordinate with vendors and partners, managing contracts, catering, audio-visual needs, and accommodations

- Collect feedback and conduct post-event evaluations, analyzing outcomes and recommending improvements

- Provide direction and guidance to casual and event staff as needed

Essential Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.

- Minimum five years of experience in event coordination, community engagement, marketing and communications

- Experience in developing marketing and outreach strategies for diverse audiences

- Ability to deal with extensive contacts throughout divisions of the University, SRIC partners and community members

- Proficiency with social media platform LinkedIn, and with social media strategy design

- Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), and online graphic design platform Canva, for content production

- Proficiency with Microsoft suite, including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Teams

- Familiarity with accessibility standards and inclusive design for web and digital communications (e.g., AODA compliance)

- Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment

- Strong attention to detail and accuracy in all work

- Demonstrated planning, organizational, and time management skills

- Excellent decision making and creative problem-solving skills

- Outstanding communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills

- Ability to multi-task to manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines

- Avalibilty to work occasional evenings and weekends to support events.

Assets (Nonessential):

- Familiarity with event management systems, digital marketing platforms, and CRM tools

- Experience editing HD and UHD videos (ability to create simple animations for intros/outros and adding these to the video, editing/adding soundtracks, reducing noise, cropping/combining video clips)

- Understanding of website content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal) and web integration best practices

To be successful in this role you will be:

- Adaptable

- Articulate

- Organized

- Proactive

- Responsible

Please note:

- This is a 2 year term position

Closing Date: 11/20/2025, 11:59PM ET

Employee Group: USW

Appointment Type: Ancillary Operations

Schedule: Full-Time

USW Pay Band 12 — $81,312. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $103,986. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.

Job Category:

Facilities/Ancilliary Services

Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.

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