Director, Communications

**Job Description**:
**About MRU**:
Founded in 1910 and located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Mount Royal University grew into a vibrant college in the 1930s and became a mid-sized university in 2009. A student-focused undergraduate university built on teaching excellence, Mount Royal University is known for our top-caliber programs, high-quality teaching and learning experience, robust delivery of liberal education, scholarly teaching, experiential learning and undergraduate research. Currently, more than 15,000 credit students choose from 14 bachelor degrees and 38 majors. Learn more at mru.ca/AcademicPlan.

Mount Royal University is situated on an ancient and storied land that is steeped in ceremony and history that, until recently, was occupied exclusively by people indigenous to this place. With gratitude and reciprocity, Mount Royal acknowledges the relationships to the land and all beings, and the songs, stories and teachings of the Siksika Nation, the Piikani Nation, the Kainai Nation, the Îethka Stoney Nakoda Nation (consisting of the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Goodstoney Nations), the people of the Tsuut’ina Nation, and the Métis. Learn more about MRU's Land Acknowledgement.

**About the Division of University Advancement**:
As part of University Advancement, Marketing and Communications integrates expertise, efforts and experience to help Mount Royal University meet its institutional goals. Marketing and Communications also collaborates with resources on and off campus to provide the best possible support to foster Mount
Royal’s reputation and image as a premier Canadian undergraduate institution. This is accomplished by developing and implementing strategies to support the advancement of Mount Royal’s institutional priorities, assisting with increasing the institution's profile and reputation, and acting as an integral
resource within the campus community. This team of creative professionals provides service excellence by focusing on partnership, mutual goals, adapting to evolving needs and telling Mount Royal’s story.

**About the Role**:
Marketing and Communications at Mount Royal University is looking for an experienced and confident professional to lead the Communications portfolio. If you are an exceptional collaborator with senior level leadership expertise, we want to meet you. Reporting to the Vice-President, University Advancement, the Director of Communications leads and empowers a talented team of highly skilled communicators. The team manages all of Mount Royal’s communications vehicles, including media, social media, website, publications, community relations, events, and all centralized internal and external communications initiatives and platforms.

The Director of Communications oversees both long-term projects and urgent priorities, developing sophisticated communications strategies to address future communications needs for the University while also providing a daily and immediate communications response to a wide range of projects, challenges and opportunities. This role leads crisis communications, and supports issues management by employing exceptional judgment and problem solving skills.

Together with the VP and the Director of Marketing, the Director of Communications seeks ways to help foster a fully integrated Marketing and Communications team. Recognizing the value of diverse talents and specialties, the Director of Communications works closely with the Director of Marketing to make good projects even better.

**Responsibilities**:

- Provide formal leadership to the Communications team as they manage communications across their respective vehicles and channels, and informal leadership to the Marketing team on shared projects
- Provide institutional perspective, priorities and context to the team, enabling them to understand the big picture and represent institutional direction in their work
- Empower the team to learn and develop their own communications skills, and to embrace innovative and technology-driven strategies
- Responding to the University Strategic Plan Framework, collaborate with the VP and Director of Marketing to build a multi-year, measurable marketing and communications strategy, along with annual business plans in support
- Manage and enhance the Crisis Communications Plan, updating and improving annually
- Train staff from both within and outside of Marketing and Communications on crisis communications to ensure familiarity with roles, capacity among team members and responsiveness when necessary
- Seek out and remain aware of all major campus issues, recommending messaging and approach and supporting University leaders in appropriate and timely responses
- Write and proof numerous communications pieces intended for a wide range of internal and external audiences
- Collaborate with leaders across campus to solve communications challenges and to take advantage of communications opportunities

**Qualifications**:

- Bachelor’s degree in a rela