Associate Vice President

Executive

Job Category

Senior Executive

Job Profile

Associate Vice President

Job Title

Associate Vice President

Department

VP | Executive Leadership | External Relations

Compensation Range

See details below.

Posting End Date

July 9, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

The expected pay range for this position is $240,000 - $260,000 annually.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary
The AVP will be a collaborative and collegial leader and will work with talented team members in helping to shape an integrated marketing communications approach to advance UBC s place on the world stage. The position oversees the development of comprehensive strategic and operational plans that involve a diverse group of key stakeholders inside and outside the campuses and creates a new and innovative style of engagement with the University. A cross-functional emphasis that embraces digital, social media, social marketing, media partnerships, overall strategic communications and related public affairs activities to inspire and rally colleagues and diverse stakeholders.

Organizational Status
Reports to the Vice President, External Relations. Works closely with the entire Executive Team, senior University Administration and key communications professionals across the University.

Work Performed

Essential Duties- Directs development of UBC’s key messaging with authority to ensure consistency across the University, including all material published across multiple platforms;- Provide strategic leadership and direction for the unit’s work, ensuring high-quality outputs that align with institutional priorities, while effectively managing the team and staff within the unit.- Builds partnerships and collaborative working relationships with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders, particularly the various faculties and departments;- Cultivates and maintains productive relationships with key media throughout the province and Canada as a whole. Takes a proactive, strategic approach to media relations;-
- Serves as the University spokesperson as appropriate and anticipates and responds to all media inquiries;- Develops and oversees departmental operating plans and budgets;- Monitors best practices and recent developments in industry practices and standards.

Additional duties relating to Strategic and Program Planning:
- With the Vice-President, develops the over-arching long-term communications strategy and plan for UBC, ensuring alignment to the mission, vision and values. Collaborates with leadership to ensure the strategy accounts for University priorities, reputation management, internal engagement, student focus and stakeholder needs;- Directs the translation of the long-term communications strategy into strategies and plans for students, faculty, staff, media, public, community, and other stakeholder communication programs in support of University objectives and high profile projects and initiatives;- Leads traditional and social media programs and the development of proactive communications strategies, programs and key message platforms;- Proactively recommends program concepts, tactics and budgets that are balanced against the University s objectives and strategies;- Oversees UBC s internal communications strategy to promote awareness of UBC s vision and values amongst staff;- Works closely with human resources on any major change initiatives and how they are communicated to the UBC team.- Undertakes other executive responsibilities and special assignments as determined by the Vice-President, reflecting the scope and strategic impact of the role.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Every action and decision made could have significant impact on the reputation of the university. Failure to gain the attention and trust of the internal community could have negative reputational implications within the wider community. Makes decisions regarding the highest levels of communications policy development and major communications initiatives for the University. Will be instrumental in establishing the public perception of the University.

Supervision Received
Works with guidance under broad guidelines established through the Vice President’s Office with input from the Executive. Collaborates with senior university leaders.

Supervision Given

Direct reports: Executive Director, Issues Management and Media Relations, Senior Director, Brand & Marketing and Senior Director, Internal Communications.

Minimum Qualifications

University degree in business, communications or a related discipline. Minimum of ten years of leadershi