Communications and Membership Services Officer

Overview:
**Term: 6 months.**

The Communications & Membership Services Officer is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluatingcommunications, events, and engagement strategies that advance the goals and reputation of the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo (the Association) in representing faculty members across all Faculties and campuses. The Communications & Membership Services Officer is also accountable for maintaining Association records and ensuring the smooth internal communication of information critical to the Association’s day-to-day operations. The incumbent will also provide clerical support to the Executive Manager and AF & T Officer as required. The Communications & Membership Services Officer will also answer inquiries and act as a first point of contact for membership questions and concerns. The Communications Officer reports to the Executive Manager but is also accountable to the Association president and other executive officers, Board members, and committee chairs. These roles are elected or appointed approximately every two years; this role provides necessary consistency, long
- term planning, and institutional memory to mitigate the risks associated with frequent turnover.

**Responsibilities**:
Communications strategy
- Leads the ongoing refinement of the Association’s brand positioning, voice, and key messaging
- Develops and implements a comprehensive communications strategy that raises awarenessand advances the goals of the Association
- Develops and manages a multi-channel, integrated communications plan andcommunications guidelines to implement the communications strategy
- Advises on strategic and sensitive communications decisions
- Prepares and manages the Association’s communications budget
- Monitors and reports on metrics for digital communications; applies research-based decisionmaking to improve content to meet user and organizational needs
- Investigates and learns new technologies as required; remains current on technical anddesign trends and best practices in communications
- Routinely assesses the Association’s communications strategies, tools, and infrastructureand recommends improvements

Content creation and management
- Develops and manages an integrated editorial calendar for the Association, including print, web,and other digital media platforms
- Safeguards the Association’s reputation and relationships (and the University, in the case of joint initiatives) by ensuring the consistency, clarity, accuracy, and accessibility of communications,and compliance with University guidelines when required
- Provides writing and editing support across the Association to ensure high quality andconsistent messaging
- Maintains thorough knowledge of the Association’s activities and priorities, post-secondarysector news and trends, and University policies and procedures
- Supports and educates Board and committee members to produce content for Association channels
- Develops visual marketing materials such as posters, slideshows, and social media images, complying with University guidelines when required; provides creative direction to University of Waterloo Creative Services on Hagey Lecture and other joint marketing materials as needed

Event planning and management
- Collaborates with Association staff, Board, and committee members to develop and deliver a program of meetings, trainings, workshops, lectures, and other events that meet thespecialized needs of faculty and build engagement with the Association
- Prepares and manages the Association’s events budget
- Ensures that events and meetings are planned, managed, and delivered effectively and efficiently
- Coordinates the annual Hagey Lecture, the University’s premier invitational lecture series, with support from the University’s Community Relations and Events department; provides strategicand operational support to the Hagey Lecture Committee, jointly appointed by Association and the University President
- Promotes Association events to faculty and other audiences as appropriate, working with staffin University Communications and Community Relations and Events as required
- Researches and uses appropriate tools to manage events and event registration
- Evaluates and reports on event success

Information management
- Advises on information technology issues and opportunities and serves as IST liaison forthe association, escalating technical issues to IST when required
- Develops and implements, in consultation with the Executive Manager, informationmanagement tools and systems to maintain Association records and facilitate internal communications
- Maintains the Association’s membership database by understanding and continuouslytracking faculty appointments through liaison with academic and administrative departments
- Maintains accurate records of Board and committee membership and faculty appointmentsto University committees
- Liaises with other faculty associations, CAUT