Marketing and Communications Specialist

Overview:
**Term: 1 year contract.**

The Marketing and Communications Specialist develops, supports, and executes communications and marketing initiatives for incoming and current domestic undergraduate and graduate students (including international student populations), parents, staff, and faculty on behalf of all units within the Student Success Office and our partners. They must demonstrate a strong aptitude for traditional and emerging digital technologies, stakeholder engagement and collaboration. The Specialist must demonstrate and champion an equity and anti-racist informed approach to their work - particularly as it relates to marketing and communication initiatives for a diverse audience.

The Marketing and Communications Specialist has three primary areas of focus:
1) Develop effective marketing and communications plans to meet the goals of the Student Success Office, which includes but is not limited to driving student satisfaction; building community and stakeholder engagement; engaging a diverse student population including international, undergraduate, graduate students; and promoting student retention at the University of Waterloo.

3) Responds to current trends and best practices for communicating with target audiences. Leverage SSO, university, and industry data to inform and improve marketing and communications strategies and tactics.

**Responsibilities**:
Develop effective marketing and communications plans to meet the goals of the Student Success Office, which includes but is not limited to driving student satisfaction; building community and stakeholder engagement; engaging a diverse student population including international, undergraduate, graduate students; and promoting student retention at the University of Waterloo
- Support the development of the SSO digital presence, working collaboratively to develop crisp, compelling copy to meet various stakeholder/audience requirements current and emerging digital platforms and ensuring digital tactics are part of all integrated marketing and communications plans
- Develop, research, and write stories, scripts, and key messages for all marketing and communication materials in all media formats - print, web, social media, videos, digital screens, etc.
- Utilize campus-wide tools to make informed content creation decisions
- Develop and execute termly marketing and communications plans to support units within the SSO portfolio
- Works closely with peers to ensure an integrated approach to content delivery, in alignment with SSO and Waterloo brand standards
- Contributes to the development of innovative ways of working with stakeholders, colleagues, and peers to ensure constructive and collaborative work dynamic
- Represents the SSO during meetings with Faculty and department stakeholders, as appropriate
- Utilizing University of Waterloo and industry resources to ensure all SSO marketing and communications plans are inclusive, accessible, and incorporate anti-racist values
- Manage direct reports (co-op students) and ensure the delivery of results in support of SSO priorities
- Monitor unofficial online UWaterloo communities (i.e., Reddit, Discord) for emerging trends
- Participate in maintaining an accurate and up-to-date content calendar for social media and other digital marketing initiatives
- Web
- Create and edit content for SSO web presence (SSO, Student Success Office Resources, Advisor Resources, Welcome Warriors, International Student Guide etc.) in conjunction with colleagues, providing leadership and guiding SSO web maintenance and updates
- Collaborate with stakeholders to determine when emerging projects and services within the SSO portfolio require a digital presence. Develop information architecture and SEO rich web copy used to promote and support the goals of the project
- Maintain and evolve the SSO web presence through content planning and audits to ensure content and information architecture supports achievement of SSO’s strategic goals
- Utilize campus-wide tools, including Google’s Universal Analytics to make informed content creation decisions
- Work with the Communications Design Specialist to develop compelling, accessible, and branded graphics when needed
- Work with the Communications Design Specialist to develop compelling, accessible, and branded graphics when needed.
- Social media
- Craft promotional organic and paid social media content that integrates into marketing and communications plans
- Maintain an understanding of current and emerging platforms and content best practices
- Review and track content performance to inform future planning
- Work closely with campus partners to schedule content and maintain an accurate and up-to-date content calendar for social media and other digital marketing initiatives
- Work with the Communications Design Specialist to develop compelling, accessible, and branded graphics when needed
- Print
- Write and adapt copy that is concise and impactful
- Project manage prin