Communication Specialist

Overview:
The Communications Specialist is responsible for the coordination and execution of GSA’s media efforts and support with other organizational communications. They are responsible for the communication of GSA information to the graduate student population through social media, our website, newsletters and physical signage. They will manage and create content for both social media and website.

**This position is contingent on funding.**

**Responsibilities**:
Manages marketing and communications projects
- Creates and implements marketing strategies on a termly basis that includes goals to increase engagement and various sites, content ideas and tools for measurements. These goals relate to how communication efforts can help achieve organizational outcomes such as increased awareness, event attendance, voter turnout. etc.
- Coordinates various marketing plans for the organization to ensure they are efficiently delivered to the audience
- Gathers, analyzes and reports on data and analytics for communication initiatives. Utilizes findings to drive future evidence-based approaches
- Maintains an accurate and up-to-date calendar outlining marketing campaigns for the organization
- Assists in other written communication for the organization as needed including, but limited too, online articles, newsletter content, staff communication etc.
- Create and update training documents for staff and students to use that outline proper procedures and practices for all communication tools used within the organization (social media, website, newsletter, etc.)

Oversees social media content creation and management
- Primary creator of social media content for the GSA
- Collaborate with staff and students to create graphics and media that will help increase awareness regarding services and events
- Maintains an accurate and up-to-date social media calendar outlining the planned posts for the upcoming months
- Manage social media platforms (Ex. Instagram, Facebook) including posting, interacting with other accounts and responding to inquiries

Manages website and newsletter processes and upkeep
- Manage newsletter process for the GSA including staff training, content curation and effectively delivery of the service
- Analyze newsletter interactions and put together a strategy to adjust processes to ensure engagement is up to standard
- Perform routine maintenance of GSA website both for design and content of the website
- Analyze traffic on GSA website and make improvements to increase engagement

Collaborates with key campus partners, students and other key stakeholders
- Works collaboratively with key University of Waterloo stakeholders including the GSA Council, GSA Board, Student Success Office, Graduate Studies and Post Doctoral Affairs and other student facing services on campus.
- Works collaboratively with key internal and external stakeholders and partners

Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree in communication, marketing, graphic design, business or a related degree
- Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered
- Relevant and recent experience working with a student audience and/or participating in student groups and initiatives is preferred
- Minimum 2 years of experience in a marketing and/or communications role
- Minimum 2 years of experience in social media, digital content creation, digital/social advertising role
- Project management experience
- Advanced: MS Office suite of products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Advanced: Social media platforms and analysis tools
- Advanced: Strategic marketing and communications planning
- Intermediate: Adobe Creative Suit (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, InCopy)
- Intermediate: Wordpress, Elementor or other similar website management tools
- Strong communication skills - oral and written
- Strong organizational skills
- Effective time management skills
- Effective relationship-builder/collaborator
- This role would be a hybrid role with the majority of the work being able to be completed remotely but on site work will be required 1-2 times a week for physical signage

Equity Statement:
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the

Office of Indigenous Relations.