Communications Specialist

Overview:
**Term: 18 months**

At the University of Waterloo (Waterloo) and within the Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) unit’s Communications, Engagement and Digital Experience (CEDE) team, the Communications Specialist plays a key role in the development and implementation of all activities associated with a strategic and integrated CEE communications plan. The incumbent produces communications in a wide array of formats to meet various stakeholder requirements to a number of audiences such as students, employers, faculty, staff, prospective students, prospective employers, industry association professionals and campus visitors.

The Communications Specialist will play a key role in providing communications support to units within the CEE portfolio (Brand and Strategic Initiatives, Co-operative Education, Centre for Career Action, Work-Learn Institute, and International).

**Responsibilities**:

- Develop and execute annual communications plan in alignment with the strategic marketing and communications plan and priorities and assess success with key metrics
- Develop, research and write stories, scripts, and key messages for all communication materials in all media formats - print, web, social media, videos and presentations
- Interview employers, industry experts and students to research, develop, write, edits and publish engaging stories for web, print, video, social and other formats
- Develop creative direction within overall Waterloo branding guidelines to create communication materials consistent with CEE and Waterloo overall branding for both employers and students, as well as Waterloo and the general public
- Co-ordinate and liaise with external vendors, media and other university departments such as University Relations when required
- Develop, manage and distribute core employment process-based communications to employers and students
- Develop, write and distribute internal communications to CEE staff and university departments
- Organize, write and manage CEE website content targeted to employers, students and general public
- Lead and manage direct reports (co-op students) and ensure the delivery of results in support of CEE mission, vision and guiding principles
- Represent CEE at internal and external events

Qualifications:

- University undergraduate degree, preferably with a specialization in communications, digital communications, journalism or a related discipline
- 5-10 years of experience as a communications professional with examples of a solid and diverse writing portfolio.
- Experience working with senior executives and diverse stakeholders is critical
- Strong knowledge of co-operative education, work-integrated learning, post-secondary education, or a similar organization and its mandate
- Excellent writing, editing, research and oral communications skills
- Advanced knowledge of social media communications
- Full functional ability to use the features of Microsoft Word with no training
- The ability to create and coach others on the preparation of branded presentations utilizing the full functionality and features of PowerPoint such as animation and embedded media files
- Strong web content management system knowledge (i.e., HTML, Drupal,)

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 our Office of Indigenous Relations.