Communications Officer

**Classification & Regular Hours**: Hours per Week: 35 Salary Grade 13: $61,250 - $72,020; commensurate with experience Please note, this is a 2-year grant-funded contract position. **About Western**: Since 1878, Western University has been committed to serving our communities through the pursuit of academic excellence and by providing students, faculty, and community members with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth. We seek excellent students, faculty, and staff to join us in what has become known as the "Western Experience" - an opportunity to contribute to a better world through the development of new knowledge, new abilities, new connections, and new ways to make a difference. **About Us**: The Western Centre for Research on Migration and Ethnic Relations facilitates research that draws on academic knowledge to inform public policy and practice on migration and ethnic relations in Canada and internationally. The goals of the Centre are to foster interdisciplinary research among faculty and students on questions of direct relevance to migration and ethnic relations, provide training opportunities for students beyond the borders of their own discipline and Western, and forge links with policy makers, the academic community in Canada and internationally, and the community at large. The Centre is home to the Pathways to Prosperity (P2P), a national partnership focused on immigration which includes all key federal and provincial migration ministries; municipalities; national, regional, and local organizations involved in newcomer settlement; and researchers from over fifty universities. The main activities of the Partnership are primary and secondary research, knowledge transfer, education, and mutual learning. **Responsibilities**: The Communications Officer will coordinate the communications and marketing strategies for the Pathways to Prosperity (P2P) Partnership in the Faculty of Social Science. The Communications Officer will manage the development, implementation, monitoring and assessment of a broad range of communications and marketing initiatives, with a goal of building and promoting the P2P's brand and reputation locally and nationally. The Communications Officer will determine the most effective communications and marketing initiatives to implement, in order to achieve strategic outcomes, and will provide advice on related matters. The Communications Officer will protect, promote, and enhance the reputation of the partnership and its people through communications, generating positive news and media coverage, and ensuring adherence with University policies and guidelines. **Qualifications**: **Education**: - Undergraduate Degree with a major in business, communications, public relations or related field **Experience**: - 3 years in a communications role coordinating and implementing communications functions, processes and projects Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: - In-depth knowledge of e-communications tools including website and graphic design principles - In-depth knowledge of social media platforms and their use - In-depth knowledge of project management tools and resources preferred - Familiarity with University policies and procedures preferred - Effective communications skills, with the ability to develop and write strategic communications plans - Ability to collaborate across internal and external boundaries to meet common objectives, improve outcomes, and support work beyond one’s own unit - Compelling and persuasive communication skills to engage individuals and teams inside and outside the University - Project management skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously from conception to completion within tightly prescribed timelines - Ability to use a non-prescriptive approach in marketing and communications initiatives - Critical thinking and analytical skills to assess complex higher education issues of concern to stakeholders, including the media, the public, and prospective donors - Ability to use market research information to improve and enhance communications to target audiences in support of the brand - Attention to detail and proofreading abilities with an excellent command of the English language - Computer skills with the ability to learn and use relevant software that achieves required outcomes and is in line with best practices, intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite - Results-oriented with an ability to handle numerous tasks - Ability to develop strategies that are in line with the Faculty’s and the University’s mission and which balance competing priorities - Team player with the ability to work collaboratively and actively contribute in meetings and in team settings **Western Values Diversity**: Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources or phone 519-661-2194.