Specialist (Video), Integrated Communications

Overview:
The Specialist, Integrated Communications will be part of a fast-paced team of integrated communications professionals. They will play a key role in the development of multimedia content for the University’s websites and a suite of central institutional print and digital collateral used to advance the University of Waterloo’s reputation.

The Specialist develops communications to advance the University’s image, profile and reputation with local, national and global audiences. The Specialist is responsible for the implementation of day-to-day editorial plans and content strategy for the Integrated Communications team to advance Waterloo’s image, profile, and reputation.

This Specialist will shoot and edit a variety of video materials in support of the whole University Relations team while maintaining high standards in line with the University’s brand.

The Specialist supports the Integrated Communications leadership in story development and content planning. The incumbent must be a highly skilled writer, with superior understanding of both traditional and new communication technologies, and a strategic thinker with deep experience. The Specialist will execute activities associated with a strategic and integrated communications plan and provide communications support to various team members within University Relations (UR).

**Responsibilities**:
Implement communications plans
- Create multimedia content for the University’s websites, social media channels and a suite of central institutional print and digital collateral used to advance the University of Waterloo’s reputation
- Lead, shoot and edit a variety of video projects in support of University Communications working with multiple stakeholders and at the direction of the Senior Manager, Integrated Communications
- Conducts research and interviews to write, edit and fact-check compelling stories that support strategic initiatives
- Collaborates with colleagues in University Relations to ensure communication plans are known and tactics are activated on time
- Make recommendations on innovative approaches to disseminate content using emerging technologies
- Ensure consistency, accuracy and excellence in quality and content of messaging in all materials
- Ensure that Waterloo’s visual identity, messaging and style guidelines are consistent in all institutional marketing and communication materials produced by University Relations
- Maintain website content on a variety of web properties
- Maintain an editorial calendar by ensuring dates, creative and story assets are populated
- Attend events to compose notes capturing key messages, take photographs and video and network with attendees to provide content for University communications channels
- Ensure video compliance under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
- Create and manage visual assets to support posts for stories, campaigns and events

Insights and understanding
- Evaluate data and metrics to optimize content creation and distribution across all channels. Use data and metrics to improve the effectiveness of online content. Ensures that appropriate metrics are defined, monitored, reported, analyzed, refined, and examined for communication activities as a basis for strategy development
- Advises the Senior Manager, Integrated Communications, and other University Relations team members on new or evolving communication trends to achieve University Relations’ objectives
- Stays current with video editing software and video equipment to make recommendations on innovative approaches for video production
- Compiles weekly digital story key performance indicators (KPIs) to inform Integrated Communications leadership team planning
- Reviews University newsletters, research and programs to identify possible story ideas
- Conduct environmental scans to identify new approaches and assess new technologies to deliver video and content in new and innovative ways

Influence and impact
- Support University Communications intake process and manage stakeholder relationships
- Review and report on effectiveness and impact of content
- Provide weekly updates to Integrated Communications team on stories in research and development
- Create and maintain tools (e.g., copy decks/content templates; sample content; glossary of terms)
to support content creators
- Engage campus stakeholders to ensure the editorial calendar includes significant events
- Provide day-to-day communication support, resources and guidance to colleagues across campus, as required
- Provides the Senior Manager, Integrated Communications with information and data related to status and progress of projects

Other
- Perform other duties of a comparable level/type as assigned. Participate in the administration of specific department-wide responsibilities and other general and specific duties as may from time to time be determined.

Qualifications:

- Degree in communications, journalism, public relations or re