Communications Officer

Application Deadline: June 10, 2024

Requisition ID: 7403 

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenizationand commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 21,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policyand employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Our locations are situated on the traditional territories of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. We recognize the unique heritages of Indigenous peoples and support their intentions to preserve and express their distinctive Indigenous cultures, histories, and knowledge through academic programming and co-curricular activities. Laurier’s Centre for Indigegogy is one example of how Laurier honours Indigenous knowledge.

Position Summary 

The communications officer serves as a versatile contributor to the communications needs of the university, with a particular focus on the Brantford campus. The communications officer is involved in a variety of communications activities, including: writing news releases, web stories, internal communications and marketing materials; assisting with news inquiries and media relations; creating written and multi-media content for social media channels and the university websites, taking photographs that support and chronicle university-wide and Brantford campus-specific initiatives; event-support tasks and a variety of general communications activities.

Accountabilities

Writing, Communications and Media Relations

• Identifies newsworthy university stories aligned with institutional (and Brantford campus) strategic priorities to propose to the news media
• Ensures consistency, accuracy and excellence in quality and content of messaging and meeting current best practices for university communication and accessibility
• Works with campus partners to help identify and meet their communications goals, provide communications counsel, develop communications strategies and develop content to meet their objectives
• Researches, writes, edits and distributes news releases, expert alerts and media pitches
• Researches, interviews, and writes news articles, spotlight articles, feature articles and notices aligned with university (and Brantford campus) strategic priorities
• Proofreads news releases, features, stories and web copy for spelling and grammar using Canadian Press Style and Laurier web style guides
• Posts stories to the university’s news hub, student-facing website and Connect intranet site
• Along with External Relations team members, looks for lateral opportunities to share stories with networks (for example through executive leaders, community relations colleagues, encouraging story subjects to share on social media, etc.)
• Solicits and conducts interviews with the full range of people associated with the university, which could include the chancellor, president, the board of governors, donors, faculty, staff, students, alumni and external campus partners
• Proposes story ideas for internal and external publication and for web and social media channels aligned with university (and Brantford campus) strategy
• Attends university events as required for information gathering purposes
• Develops strategic communications plans as required to support initiatives or events.
• Connects with issues management team for any issues-related requests or to flag any potentials issues
• Liaises with members of the news media as required
• Assists with ongoing social media issues monitoring on weekends

Social and digital media

• Develops content strategies for the Brantford campus including web properties and institutional-level social media
• Brainstorms, creates and posts on-brand content on the university’s social media channels related to the Brantford campus
• Assumes control over the university’s social media accounts during Brantford events, such as Convocation, O-Week and other events.
• Coordinates, takes and edits photographs to accompany news or feature articles
• Attends university events and meetings to take and edit photographs and for social media as necessary
• Creates branded graphic content using design software

Strategic initiative support

• Plans, coordinates and manages marketing projects with a Brantford focus. I.e. project managed a recruitment-style marketing video for the Brantford campus English Program

• Attends university events as required for communications and photography support
• Writes and posts content for the Senior Executive Officer pages on wlu.ca
• Plans and executes Brantford strategic communications content for SEO or campus-wide initiatives such as SEO video greetings, special communications to promote and support strategic initiatives such as facility openings, etc.
• Supports the work of the Director of Strategic Communications and Community Engagement role and the overall goals of the Senior Executive Office and Brantford campus
• Collaborates with the Campus Experience Coordinator to assist with communications efforts to improve Brantford campus experiences
• Collaborates with Waterloo-based External Relations colleagues and sit on the Pan-University Communications Committee to provide Brantford lens and input on university-wide communications initiatives
• Takes a pro-active role in leading projects to enhance processes and productivity for both the External Relations and Senior Executive Officer teams

Qualifications

• University degree in communications, journalism, public relations, digital media or a related field, with a minimum of 3 – 5 years in a communications role.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills acquired through demonstrated work experience.
• Professional experience writing news releases, news stories, and web content that builds and supports an overarching brand voice.
• Good digital photography and video skills; able to perform photo, video and graphic editing tasks using tools such as Canva and PhotoShop
• Demonstrated understanding of social media platforms, effective content generation and strategic engagement, including managing live coverage of events on social media.
• Exceptional verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Critical thinking and strategic planning.
• Displays a high degree of judgement, discretion, and confidentiality.
• A service mindset and team approach to working with colleagues, campus partners and external stakeholders.
• Results-orientated, detail-orientated, organized and a proven team player.
• Ability to work well independently and handle multiple projects and priorities with competing deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills with a proven ability to effectively document work, meet deadlines and excel in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexibility to adapt to unexpected and time-sensitive demands
• Able to perform with an integrated, multi-campus, team environment
• Commitment to reflecting equity, diversity and inclusion in their approach to their work and their engagement with others.

Hours of Work 

This position is a full-time continuing position. Regular hours of work are 8:30 - 4:30pm Monday - Friday. Flexibility in hours may be required due to periods of high volume. When possible the manager will adjust hours so that no more than 35 hours are worked in a week.

Compensation

Hiring salary range posted: $39.89 to $42.17 with an annual step progression on anniversary date up to $45.59. Considerations for new hire step placements include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careersfor additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.