Communications Manager

Job Summary

UBC Sauder School of Business is one of the world’s leading business faculties. The school consistently ranks among the top 100 in the world and is recognized internationally for excellence in research and learning, an outstanding faculty and unmatched global partnerships.

A collaborative and respectful culture within which all members of our community can thrive is a key principle in our strategic plan, and one that underpins our educational mission.

We acknowledge that UBC Sauder at the Vancouver Campus is situated within the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam.

We acknowledge that UBC Sauder at the UBC Robson Square is situated on the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh.

The Communications Manager is a part of the Marketing and Communications team at the UBC Sauder School of Business. The Communications Manager develops, manages and executes communications strategy and tactics for the UBC Sauder portfolio with a goal of enhancing the image and reputation of the school at the local, provincial and international level, and supporting UBC Sauder’s strategic plan and organizational priorities.

Organizational Status

Reports to the Associate Director, Communications and Media Relations. Works closely and collaborates with other members of the Marketing and Communications team;

engages with a variety of stakeholders and UBC Sauder; liaises with UBC Public Affairs and other departments within UBC.

Work Performed

Communications Strategy

• Develops and manages strategic communications plans for the UBC Sauder portfolio, incorporating owned, earned, paid and social media tactics.
• Develops and executes a yearly editorial calendar for various channels of content, including written, video and audio. This includes evergreen content, media relations, campaign profiles in support of marketing priorities, academic research and content related to news of the day.
• Adjusts editorial calendar to accommodate news of the day or other unexpected content.

Media Relations

• Develops media relations plans for the UBC Sauder portfolio to elevate and enhance the reputation of the school, its faculty, students, alumni, and donors on a local, national and international level.
• Engages with a wide breadth of stakeholders, including senior associate deans, faculty and UBC Sauder senior leadership team to build and maintain strong relationships internally, to stay current and to learn the priorities of different groups.
• Proactively identifies opportunities to profile the expertise and unique aspects of the university to enhance brand reputation in local, national and international media.

Develops strategic approach to take advantage of these opportunities and to execute to completion.

• Ensures all media outreach ladders up to the UBC Sauder strategic plan and organizational priorities, helping to provide profile to the plan, and UBC Sauder’s core values and principles.
• Develops and / or oversees the development of media materials, including media releases, pitches, Q&As, media advisories, photography and videos.
• Uses editorial judgement to triage incoming media requests and to advance story development in line with institutional priorities.
• Responds to and redirects, as appropriate, enquiries from the media and the public.
• Works with faculty, the executive team, students, alumni and donors to secure media interviews. Provides coaching to prepare spokespeople to speak with the media, and to help develop key messages, as needed.
• Edits submitted content, ensuring it aligns with organizational strategic priorities and the UBC Sauder strategic plan.
• Identifies key media relevant to portfolio. Initiates, develops, and maintains positive relationships with identified media.
• Keeps apprised of current events, policy, business news and competitor’s media coverage to inform media strategy and identify opportunities.
• Works with the Associate Director of Communications and Media relations to source vendors for media training, develop the training program, and identify key faculty and staff who would benefit from formal training to best maximize media opportunities to the benefit of the school.
• Manages, reports and analyzes key KPIs for media relations.
• Liaises with UBC Public Affairs to coordinate media activity as required.

Editorial Content

• Editor of the School News section of the UBC Sauder website.
• Responsible for developing editorial strategy, and creating editorial content and / or assigning members of the Communications team / freelancers to develop content with the Editor’s oversight.
• Works with a wide breadth of stakeholders at UBC Sauder to identify and source editorial content ideas.
• Ensures all editorial content ladders up to the UBC Sauder strategic plan and organizational priorities, helping to provide profile to the plan and UBC Sauder’s core values and principles.
• Collaborates with the marketing team on the integration of content-driven strategies to support marketing campaigns.
• Develops strategies to fully integrate content across digital and social channels to ensure maximum reach and consumer engagement in support of Marketing and Communications’ strategic priorities.
• Co-chairs the Content Planning Committee, an internal Marketing and Communications group that meets monthly as part of the execution of the yearly content calendar.
• Edits submitted content, ensuring it aligns with organizational strategic priorities.
• Optimizes content based on search engine optimization.
• Ensures editorial web content in the School News section of the UBC Sauder website remains fresh, informative and on-brand.
• Oversees the overall online publishing process for the School News section of the UBC Sauder website.
• Manages content distribution to social or paid media platforms to increase web traffic.
• Works closely with the UBC Sauder marketing team and relevant agencies on graphic design, paid media and content marketing initiatives related to editorial and brand storytelling content.
• Reports on web metrics, including traffic flow and readership numbers for editorial content.
• Manages, reports and analyzes key KPIs for content marketing and owned media.
• Provides content for UBC Central Marketing and Communications digital, social media and internal communications teams, and other units as requested.

General Communications

• Creates, implements and manages communication projects, ensures completeness, accuracy and consistency of messaging and content.
• Provides strategic recommendations and develops communications plans to support UBC Sauder Marketing campaigns.
• Acts as liaison with UBC Public Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Internal Communications and other departments as required.
• Remains current with major trends and issues in higher education and business school communications and marketing.
• Writes / oversees speaking notes, letters and other communications materials as needed to support portfolio of Associate Director, Communications and Media Relations.
• Selects and hires internal and external service providers (e.g., photographers, writers, printers, consultants) and manages workload.
• Oversees budget for consultants, paid media and photography, as required.
• Provides crisis and issues communications support to the Associate Director, Communications and Media Relations.
• Participates in various UBC committees as required, including Joint Occupational Health and Safety committee, Internal Communications Working Group, UBC Central Digital Editorial Meetings, Communications Networking meeting, etc.
• Participates in various communications activities to support the broader Communications and Media Relations team objectives.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Consequence of Error / Judgement

Decision making is based on a thorough knowledge of the policies and procedures of the Marketing and Communications department and the UBC Sauder School of Business.

This position exercises strong judgement in establishing priorities, and must demonstrate tact and discretion.

This role engages with the dean s office, faculty, executive team, students, alumni, donors, UBC central public affairs, as well as external media.

Error in the performance of duties or inappropriate disclosure of confidential information may adversely affect the image and reputation of the school.

Sound judgement is critical.

Supervision Received

Reports to the Associate Director, Communications and Media Relations. Works with a high degree of autonomy, making decisions about communications strategies.

Supervision Given

Supervises student workers. Provides guidance and works closely and collaboratively with the Digital Marketing and UX team.

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

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with an ability to impart complex information to audiences with mixed levels of understanding.
• Demonstrated ability to write media relations and editorial content strategically designed to support institutional goals.
• Experience working with the media, and developing and executing media relations campaigns.
• Demonstrated editorial judgement with a keen sense for newsworthiness.
• Ability to digest complex information, including research studies and data, and translate them into engaging content for public consumption.
• Ability to manage brand strategy and bring a brand to life (internally and externally).
• Ability to embrace and embody UBC Sauder brand attributes.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic plans.
• Ability to lead by creating strategies and taking appropriate action to ensure acceptance and support.
• Ability to think conceptually, identify issues, and create appropriate responses.
• Understanding of web communications, online marketing, and usage of social media platforms.
• Ability to lead through influence and engender trust from a wide variety of people.
• Ability to gain cooperation in a large, multi-disciplinary Faculty.
• Ability to mobilize teams and resources to ensure goals are met.
3 days ago