Date:	July, 2015
Reports to (Job Title):	Director, Integrated Marketing and Communications
Jobs Reporting (Job Titles):	Co-op Student
Location:	Main Campus
Grade:	USG 11 35 hr/wk

Primary Purpose

The Communications Manager is responsible and accountable for identifying and delivering strategic institutional communications content, used across multiple channels to advance the University’s image, profile and reputation with local, national and global audiences.

The incumbent will provide leadership to communications colleagues across campus, as well as a team of external vendors hired to create multimedia content for the University, who contribute to the University’s program of content marketing. This position is responsible for planning, evaluating content, and producing the highest quality content, which will further the reputation and strategic goals of the University.

Creating, as well as directing and managing the creation of editorial content for central channels from a large group of internal and external sources, the Communications Manager serves as a lead editor and provides leadership and guidance to communications professionals across campus on matters of research, style, story development and content creation. The incumbent must be a highly skilled writer, with superior understanding of both traditional and new communications technologies, and a strategic thinker with deep experience.

Key Accountabilities:

Strategic Planning

Works with the Director, Integrated Marketing and Communications and other Marketing and Strategic Communications and Communications Working Group members to develop an editorial calendar that reflects the central goals of the University
Represent Waterloo’s voice and position in print, online and social media, and facilitate conversations that enhance Waterloo’s reputation and are of value to key local, national and international audiences and stakeholders
Collaborate with faculty members, University leaders and communications teams across campus to identify and promote research and activities relevant to the University’s strategic goals
Make recommendations on innovative approaches to disseminating information using emerging technologies

Program Development and Execution:

The incumbent will oversee a comprehensive communications content program — from the generation of leads to the evaluation and critical assessment of content.

Acts as the primary institutional content provider for the University’s online, print and digital channels (institutional communications materials; website homepage and highest level pages; social media; award nominations, Waterloo Magazine, etc.)
Create multimedia content for the University’s websites, social media channels and a suite of central institutional print and digital collateral used to advance the University of Waterloo’s reputation
Ensure consistency, accuracy and excellence in quality and content of messaging in all materials
Develop multi-stakeholder communications plans to support significant content or events
Conducts research, interviews, writes, edits and fact-checks a variety of communications materials in support of the marketing and communications plan
Strategically review scholarly research to develop content of interest to the University’s stakeholders. Evaluate research discoveries to determine the most strategic and engaging approach to creating multimedia content that will be used across the University’s marketing and communications channels
Evaluate data and metrics to optimize content creation and distribution across all channels. Use data and metrics to improve the effectiveness of online content
Conduct environmental scans to identify new approaches and assess new technologies to deliver content in new and innovative ways
Provide backup to the writing and publishing of the online Daily Bulletin
Act as the ‘editor’s editor’ — the university’s expert on grammar and usage
Provides research and writing for strategic institutional documents; determine and coordinate cascading communication plan for stakeholders
Contributes to creating a strategy for the assignment and selection of photographs; negotiate permissions, prepare copy and photographs for use, write display copy and organize material for designers
Collaborate on the development of creative vision for photography to be used across print and digital channels in support of the University’s strategic goals

Assistant Editor:

Acts as Assistant Editor of the University of Waterloo Magazine, a primary vehicle for building the University’s profile
With the Editor, evaluates topics of interest to the University that can be developed into lead feature articles
Collaborates with the design team in Creative Services to provide creative concept for the magazine’s main art, with a view to using photography and video across print, digital and social channels
Lead writer for the magazine
Provides mentorship and ongoing advice and editorial support to external vendors hired to write for the magazine
Copyediting and proofreading

Managing the University’s Profile & Reputation:

Ensures that the communications produced by MSC are of the highest quality
Ensure that Waterloo’s visual identity, messaging and style guidelines are consistent in all institutional marketing and communications materials produced by MSC

Managing & Motivating People:

Manage and coordinate MSC’s relationship with contractors and external consultants who are providing support to MSC’s communications programsSupport the development and delivery of professional development and training programs designed to raise proficiency in communications across campusCreate and maintain tools (e.g., copy decks/content templates; sample content; glossary of terms) to support content creators Recruit, manage and develop MSC co-op staff; provide leadership, guidance, support and coachingIdentify and secure external vendors and ensure compliance with all university policiesManage vendor services to support program needs; identify and manage the outsourcing demands of MSC; ensure consistent top quality of vendor deliverables for the university
Create and maintain a work environment that fosters, encourages, recognizes and rewards

Training and Support:

Provide training and lead communities of practice in interview skills, story development, alternate story-telling forms and writing skills
Provide day-to-day leadership and guidance to colleagues across campus

Collaboration:

Collaborate with faculty members, University leaders and communications teams across campus to identify and promote research and activities relevant to the University’s strategic goals
Collaborates with key MSC colleagues and communications staff campus-wide to develop the university’s editorial calendar
Act as a key member of the MSC issues management and crisis communications team creating content as needed

Provide excellent service to academic and staff colleagues across campus

Position Requirements

Education:

Degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related field

Experience:

Extensive experience in a post-secondary, marketing or communications environment
Proven ability in managing multiple-source projects that require attention to accuracy, consistency, and the ability to work with many different people with competing priorities
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; excellent editing skills
Extensive interviewing and researching skills
Actively engaged in social media

Technical:

MS Word	Excel	PowerPoint	Other
word	excel	powerpoint	other

Nature and Scope

Interpersonal Skills:

Interacts with colleagues at all levels across the university to develop trust, rapport and promote collaboration
Demonstrates leadership and integrity when dealing with all internal and external stakeholders, with the goal of advancing the overall Marketing and Strategic Communications agenda

Level of Responsibility:

Requires a deep understanding of the issues facing the post-secondary education sector and the ability to interpret these factors into insightful communications in support of senior leaders and the university
Engage in communications of highest quality, which reflect and directly impact the reputation of the university in local, national and international spheres
The incumbent must be a communications professional with experience in producing diverse publications and other communication deliverables (print, web, digital) with simultaneous or overlapping deadlines, in a fast-paced environment
The incumbent must have considerable grasp of current communication best practices and is expected to identify new opportunities for effectively reaching Waterloo’s many target audiences through new communication vehicles and channels

Decision-Making Authority:

Responsible for meeting critical project milestones and deadlines
This position will independently make decisions on the selection and management of vendors
This position will be accountable for the deliverables of selected vendors

Physical and Sensory Demands:

Minimal demands typical of a position operating within an office environment as a member of the central communications team work outside of normal hours can be expected

Working Environment:

Minimal exposure to disagreeable conditions