Communications Strategist to The President and CEO

**Please Note: This is a temporary position ending on or before Dec 31, 2026 with the possibility of extension.**

The Communications Strategist is a trusted advisor responsible for the development and implementation of strategic communications supporting NAIT’s President and CEO, the Board Chair, and the Office of the President. This role directly contributes to NAIT’s institutional priorities by amplifying executive leadership, aligning messaging with The NAIT Effect and annual OKRs, and managing high-profile communications projects that influence internal culture and public perception.

Building on the core functions of the Communication Strategist role—such as project management, brand stewardship, and stakeholder-focused messaging—this position extends into enterprise-level influence and oversight. It integrates all core responsibilities of client-centered strategy and execution, while also offering leadership in presidential social media, governance reporting, executive speechwriting, and institution-wide strategic campaigns.

The strategist works closely with M&C colleagues, the External Relations team, and the Chief of Staff, serving as a central figure in NAIT’s internal and external storytelling and brand expression.

This position operates in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, requiring frequent attention to urgent and evolving priorities. The strategist must be prepared to respond quickly to executive needs, reputational risks, and institutional developments—sometimes outside regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, to meet deadlines and support high-stakes communications.

**Estimated allocation of time**:

- Executive and presidential communications: 30%
- Board communications and strategic governance support: 20%
- Strategic planning and enterprise-wide campaign leadership: 25%
- Project management and oversight of execution: 15%
- Cross-unit collaboration and counsel to peers: 10%

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Develop and deliver strategic communications for NAIT’s President, Board Chair, and Office of the President, including speeches, executive briefings, governance reports, and social media content.
- Lead the planning, writing, and execution of presidential and board-facing communications, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities such as The NAIT Effect and annual OKRs.
- Manage the production of high-profile messaging for internal and external audiences, including employees, learners, donors, government, and media.
- Coordinate governance communications, including the Consolidated Executive Management Committee Report to the Board and other board-related materials.
- Provide editorial oversight and strategic counsel on executive messaging developed by other teams, ensuring consistency, tone, and readiness for senior audiences.
- Collaborate with Marketing & Communications, External Relations, and Strategy & Governance to ensure message integration across platforms and departments.
- Lead cross-functional communications projects, including institutional campaigns, executive visibility initiatives, and reputational risk responses.
- Monitor and respond to emerging issues, providing rapid communications support during high-stakes or time-sensitive scenarios—including evenings and weekends as needed.
- Maintain and evolve the President’s communications strategy and voice across all channels, including digital platforms and public-facing engagements.

**Skills & Abilities**:

- Outstanding writing and content development skills across speeches, social media, video, and digital platforms.
- Versatile in multiple media formats; able to produce executive and board communications in written, spoken, and visual forms.
- Serves as the owner of the President’s “voice,” building a close, practical working relationship with executive leadership and the Board Chair.
- Strategic, adaptable, and responsive—able to manage urgent, high-stakes communications, including outside regular hours.
- Politically astute, discreet, and emotionally intelligent; skilled at synthesizing complex information for diverse audiences.
- Familiarity with the use of AI tools and large language models (LLMs) to enhance efficiency, accelerate content development, and support strategic decision-making in communications.

**Qualifications**:

- **Education**:
- A bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field is required.
- A master’s degree or equivalencies are considered an asset
- **Experience**:
- Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in communications, public relations, or a related field, with a demonstrated track record of developing and delivering executive-level communications.
- Experience supporting senior leaders or boards, ideally in a public sector, post-secondary, or complex organizational environment.
- Proven ability to manage high-profile, high-stakes communications projects and campaigns.
- Experience with issues management, governance commun