Advisor, Issues Management and Strategic Initiatives

**VER Strategic Communications**:

- Competition No.

**A114949144**
- Closing Date

**Will remain open until filled.**

This position is excluded from the bargaining unit.

In accordance with the Handbook of Employment for Management and Professional Staff (Excluded), this full-time continuing position offers a comprehensive benefits package that can be viewed on our Benefits Overview page and an annual salary range of $65,348 to $108,916 which will be commensurate with qualifications.

**Location - **Work primarily takes place in person at North Campus Edmonton.

**Working for the University of Alberta**

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

**Department/Faculty Summary**

The mandate of the University of Alberta’s Strategic Communications unit is focused on enhancing and protecting the institutional reputation of the University of Alberta as one of the leading public universities in Canada and the world. We build awareness and understanding of the U of A's transformative impact on students and society. We showcase the initiatives and stories that demonstrate the U of A's commitment to research and teaching excellence that leads to positive enduring change both close to home and around the world.

Positioned within the Strategic Communication unit, the Issues Management and Strategic Initiatives team is an agile action and support group that works closely with university leaders and internal and external partners on behalf of the Office of the Vice-President (External Relations). We are a U of A Centre of Expertise.

**Position Summary**

Reporting to the Director, Issues Management & Strategic Initiatives in External Relations, the Advisor, Issues Management & Strategic Initiatives, is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of issues management strategies and initiative-based stakeholder relations plans to preserve and enhance the University of Alberta's reputation among the university's many audiences and stakeholders, both internal and external. This position forms part of the Issues Management & Strategic Initiatives team and works closely with all portfolios within External Relations as well as the university's executive team, units, and faculties across five campuses.

**Duties**
- Seamlessly guide and assist the institution through often complex, challenging and sensitive situations involving a range of significant internal and external University stakeholders.
- Develop and manage strategies, projects and plans to address issues and institutional initiatives, identifying appropriate methods, and coordinating design and implementation.
- Provide identification, analysis and response services to manage emerging, ongoing and contentious issues affecting university programs, policies and services.
- Provide environmental scanning, public information and media analysis and monitoring of university and external stakeholder activities.
- Provide expert stakeholder relations advice to internal clients, External Relations leadership and university executives to support University stakeholder relations.
- Understand the University’s formal structures, informal structures, cultures, practices, current organizational strategy, and objectives.
- Proactively support and make recommendations on institutional improvement efforts towards operational efficiencies, service effectiveness and service excellence.
- Meet obstacles with perseverance. Show resilience when responding to changing priorities or situations that present uncertainty/ambiguity.
- Collaborate and maintains strong linkages to internal and external stakeholder colleagues and counterparts to keep abreast of issues, share best practices and collaborate on mutual efforts.
- Coordinate, prepare and edit a range of formal reports, briefing materials, briefing notes and ad hoc materials to ensure timely and strategic positioning.
- Participate in emergency and crisis communications management, response, and training.
- As needed, manages media requests on behalf of the university, including sensitive and/or contentious issues and as a public