Manager, Strategic Communications

Job Summary
The Manager, Strategic Communications will be a key contributor to all aspects of establishing, evaluating and growing the Housing Research Collaborative (HRC) brands, including HRC, Balanced Supply of Housing (BSH), the Housing Assessment Resource Tools (HART) and all future projects secured under any of the above initiatives. The Manager, Strategic Communications develops, leads and implements communication plans and strategies for the HRC and its units including storytelling, media relations, issues management, and the promotion of programs and services. Working with the Associate Director, this role provides strategic leadership and advice as well as direct support for initiatives within the entire research group.

Organizational Status
Reports to the Associate Director, works with initiative and considerable autonomy under general supervision, but also collaboratively with the managers in the unit. Maintains strong working relationships with Allard staff, UBC Brand and Marketing, UBC Media Relations, UBC Government relations, other campus communicators, external partner organizations and government bodies. This role is highly visible to the external community, working with government agencies, community partners and the public.

Work Performed

• Leads the development process for the overall strategic direction, vision, mission and values for the HRC, BSH, and HART which will guide future decisions, plans, and goals to impact housing outcomes for Canadians nationwide.

• Oversees the development of the visual identity and brand for the HRC, BSH, and HART.

• As part of the core leadership team, contributes directly to the development of strategy, policy, and priorities of the unit.

• Promotes the programming and events of the units in support of both the overall vision of the HRC and the individual unit’s strategic vision and objectives.

• Provides oversight and direction of ongoing measurement and analytics and identifies recommendations for improvements.

• Oversees the implementation of technical processes. Recommends areas of improvement, possibility and growth.

• Provides or facilitates training for communicators, student trainees, and research assistants. This includes workshops and training sessions, participating in hiring and onboarding, mentoring and providing constructive feedback.

• Manages the Communications Coordinator, providing daily task supervision, as well as overall mentorship and leadership.

• Develops and implements well-coordinated, effective communication and marketing plans and vehicles for the HRC, BSH and HART. Formulates strategies and policies to ensure alignment on internal and external communication and marketing goals and guidelines, and shares best practices.

• Maintains familiarity with major communications trends, issues, and technologies.

• Responsible for researching, writing, editing, and curating content and preparing communication plans, advertising copy, event invitations, reports, articles, announcements, scripts and remarks and news releases. Determines the appropriate communication channel and distribution of messages.

• Generates campaigns, public relations, and marketing activities designed to raise the profiles of the HRC, BSH, and HART to a local and national audience. Identifies and coordinates opportunities with other campus communicators to cross-promote the units effectively across campus.

• Plays a central role in housing advocacy at HRC as a liaison in building networks and broad engagement across the Canadian housing sector, UBC, and other academic and research partners.

• Enhances the process of identifying and developing responses to relevant grants and funding, including federal, tri-council, and private funding vehicles.

• Plays a key role in government and community engagement by liaising and collaborating on behalf of HRC leadership with key Canadian and international partners.

• Represents the HRC at public functions. Speaks and participates in relevant conferences or events that facilitate the goals of the group.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Actions and decisions are critical in ensuring the reputation and success of the HRC. Errors in judgement may cause financial hardship or serious reputational damage. Incorrect decisions/judgments will directly affect the HRC’s reputation.

This role exercises initiative and judgement in establishing priorities and carrying tasks through to completion, and must demonstrate tact and discretion. Works independently with considerable autonomy over the HRC’s communications strategy and implementation. Work is reviewed in terms of achievement of defined metrics and overall regard of the HRC within the Housing Sector. Makes decisions regarding writing and editing communication materials, and communications projects and service contracts. The Manager, Strategic Communications works with all groups within the HRC to serve the communication needs of the research group. Error in the performance of duties or inappropriate disclosure of confidential information may adversely affect the image and reputation of the HRC, the Peter A. Allard School of Law and the University. The performance of this position can have a major impact on how the HRC is perceived by government bodies, community partners, and the wider housing sector.

Supervision Received
Reports to the Associate Director, HRC.

Supervision Given

Manages a Communications Coordinator position, and provides functional leadership to a number of other staff members on a project basis.

Works closely with Work Learn students, Graduate Research Assistants, and other trainees coming to the HRC.

May direct the work of internal and external service providers.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum five years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.

Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior communications and marketing experience in developing and coordinating print and digital projects. Demonstrated ability to work in a dynamic, deadline-driven, innovative environment with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. Internal communications experience desired.

• Ability to conduct needs analysis, plan, organize, manage, monitor, complete, and evaluate projects within allocated time and resources. Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities. Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines. Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.

• Demonstrated experience working with social media tools in an organizational and/or corporate environment to engage audiences. Demonstrated experience using content management systems such as WordPress. Experience in creating and delivering messages in various platforms using tools such as video, podcasts, presentations and webcasts. Experience with assessing and analyzing data to make informed decisions. Familiarity with analytics programs for social media platforms is an asset.

• Demonstrated working knowledge of graphic and web design principles required. Ability to use desktop publishing software at an intermediate level (Adobe Creative Suite – Adobe Photoshop and InDesign required) to develop effective marketing and communication materials.

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations. Ability to adapt writing styles for various purposes, for different media requirements and for different audiences. Ability to effectively use email, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation software at an advanced level.

• Commitment to anti-racism and inclusive excellence, and ability to apply an intersectional anti-racist lens to communications projects. Ability to recognize, respect and work effectively with individuals and groups with diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Takes initiative in learning about language and issues relating to equity and diversity.

• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships and engage in workplace culture. Ability to recognize and appreciate the contributions of colleagues. Committed to demonstrating respect to colleagues at every level by trusting in their abilities and knowledge to perform their roles and earning respect through meeting commitments.

• Models and demonstrates good interpersonal communication through active listening and appreciative inquiry and open to providing and receiving timely, constructive feedback. Listens to, encourages and expresses creative and innovative ideas. Open to experiment and improvise with new ways of approaching processes, tasks or problems. Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment. Ability to exercise tact and discretion.

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