Communications Officer

Overview:
The Communications Officer is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating communications, professional events, and engagement strategies that advance the goals and reputation of the University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA) in representing staff members across all campuses. The Communications Officer is also accountable for information management of UWSA records and ensuring the smooth internal communication of information critical to the Association’s day-to-day operations. The Communications Officer reports to the UWSA President but may also provide support to UWSA Directors, committee chairs, and the Operations Team. Director roles are elected or appointed approximately every three years and the President role is elected every year.

**Responsibilities**:
Communications Strategy
- Leads the ongoing development of the UWSA’s brand positioning, voice, and key messaging
- Develops and implements a comprehensive communications strategy that raises awareness and advances the goals of the UWSA
- Develops and manages a multi-channel, integrated communications plan and communications guidelines to implement the communications strategy
- Identifies and advises on strategic and sensitive communications decisions
- Prepares and manages the UWSA’s communications budget
- Monitors and reports on metrics for digital communications; applies research-based decision making to improve content to meet user and organizational needs
- Investigates and learns new technologies as required; remains current on technical and design trends and best practices in communications
- Routinely assesses the UWSA’s communications strategies, tools, and infrastructure and recommends improvements

Content creation and management
- Develops and manages an integrated editorial calendar for the UWSA, including print, web, and other digital media platforms
- Creates and reviews UWSA communications including communications attributed to the UWSA President, Board of Directors, the Association, etc.
- Develops and maintains UWSA website, assesses website for usability, redundancy and overall functionality and makes recommendations for improvements
- Monitors website analytics and makes revisions as needed to optimize site for user needs
- Leads the production of the UWSA’s communications to staff members and the public
- Safeguards the UWSA’s reputation and relationships (and the University, in the case of joint initiatives) by ensuring the consistency, clarity, accuracy, and accessibility of communications, and compliance with University guidelines when required
- Provides writing and editing support across the UWSA to ensure high quality and consistent messaging
- Exercises high degree of confidentiality regarding UWSA information, documentation, and records
- Exercises high level of autonomy and independent judgement relating to highly sensitive situations, social media content, and member communication to safeguard the reputation and relationships of the UWSA
- Maintains thorough knowledge of the UWSA’s activities and priorities, post-secondary sector news and trends, and University policies and procedures, and translates these into compelling content
- Supports and educates Board, committee members and Operations staff to produce content for UWSA channels; reviews all such communications and bears overall responsibility for all such communications
- Develops visual marketing materials such as posters, slideshows, and social media images, complying with University guidelines when required

Information Management
- Advises on information technology issues and opportunities and serves as IST liaison for the
association, escalating technical issues to IST when required
- Develops and implements, in consultation with the Operations Team information management
tools and systems to maintain UWSA records and facilitate internal communications
- Manages and maintains all UWSA records and information
- Develops and maintains processes to create and manage member data and fulfill statistical and benchmark report requests
- Maintains and controls the circulation of confidential documents and files
- Advises on requirements to improve the technical and service matters for the physical office and its members
- Leads special projects as assigned by the President
- Liaises with other staff associations and unions to identify and recommend member engagement best practices

Event Planning and Management
- Coordinates Annual and Special Meetings and Board and Presidential elections
- Collaborates with UWSA President, UWSA staff, Board and committee members to develop a program of meetings, trainings, workshops, and other workplace events that meet the needs of staff and build engagement with the UWSA
- Ensures that events and meetings are planned, managed, and delivered effectively and efficiently, including hosting or co-hosting
- Ensures President is informed of all pertinent (or possible) event issues
- Promotes UWS