Manager, Pension Communications

OUR COMPANY BACKGROUND & CULTURE
UPP is the first pension plan of its kind in Ontario’s university sector, proudly serving over 41,000 members across five universities and fourteen sector organizations. Our purpose is to bring greater retirement peace of mind to the university sector by investing with integrity and serving members with care. As a sector-wide plan designed for growth, our doors are open to all Ontario universities.
Together, we’re a team of progressive thinkers and agile doers operating within a fast-paced culture of collaboration and respect. We believe in bringing smart and capable people together to create, solve, and grow with a clear shared vision and values of integrity, inclusivity, ingenuity, and impact. Our culture is intentionally welcoming and purposefully rooted in equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation (EDI&R). We believe diverse teams, perspectives, and lived experiences contribute to better decisions and a better workplace.
As a pension plan, UPP approaches investing through a long-term lens to generate and safeguard value. Our commitment to investing responsibly accounts for material risks that impact our investment portfolio to generate sufficient risk-adjusted returns to meet the pension needs of our members.
Join us in building a bright future for our members, our organization, and each other.
THE ROLE
Key responsibilities include collaborating with internal and external partners to develop high-quality, brand-aligned content; driving innovation and consistency in member communications; and crafting clear, accessible messaging tailored for various platforms. You will distilling complex pension-related information into content suitable for our diverse member base, including university professors, employees, faculty associations, staff unions, and sector associations.
This role is based in downtown Toronto under a hybrid work policy, allowing employees the flexibility to work remotely and in-office (approximately two days per week in-office).
SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES
Strategic Communication Development
- Develop and execute comprehensive communication plans, providing strategic advice and guidance to various groups within Pension Services.
- Adopt an audience-focused approach using innovative strategies and tactics to support business objectives and meet audience needs.
- Collaborate closely with other member and stakeholder-facing UPP business units to maintain a consistent organizational voice across all platforms.
- Manage timelines and priorities to ensure effective delivery of communications.

Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and nurture strong relationships with key business partners and stakeholders, including members, employer administrators, faculty associations, unions, and external partners.
- Serve as a trusted liaison, ensuring consistent and effective communication between UPP and its stakeholders.
- Proactively identify opportunities for stakeholder engagement and communication improvements.

Content Development
- Create engaging content for various platforms, including presentations, newsletters, booklets and other pension communications.
- Use plain, member-friendly language to simplify complex pension-related information.
- Review and edit content for accuracy, style, readability, and adherence to UPP’s brand guidelines.
- Identify and manage opportunities for proactive member and employer communications, ensuring member needs are addressed.

Project Planning and Coordination
- Demonstrate strong project planning and management skills, managing resources and timelines effectively.
- Coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with strategic goals.
- Oversee end-to-end project cycle, from developing comprehensive communication plans to content creation, collaborating with creative and digital teams to ensure high-quality and successful delivery.
- Operate independently and collaboratively, maintaining high productivity and accountability.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Minimum 5+ years of experience in a large, multi-stakeholder organization such as a university, membership association, union, pension plan, or financial institution
- Post-secondary education in communications, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent experience
- Strong expertise in strategic communication planning and execution
- Experience managing stakeholder relationships in a professional setting
- Proven ability to distill nuanced and complex topics into accessible materials that strengthen relationships with audiences.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously.
- Ability to work with strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent proofreading capabilities.
- Written and verbal fluency in French is considered an asset.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to bui