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The Opportunity

Halifax, NS
Communications
Experienced
Contract

Position: Communications Officer, Student Communications (2 Year Contract)

Department: Vice-President, Academic & Research and Vice-President, Advancement

Annual Salary: $60,000 - $67,000 + 4% in lieu of vacation

Reporting to the Vice President, Academic & Research and the Vice-President, Advancement, the Communications Officer, Student Communications is a key member of the University team. The Communications Officer, Student Communications is critical in ensuring that student the University are informed and engaged. 

What you'll do

Responsibilities

Duties as the Communications Officer, Student Communications include, but are not limited to:

  • Reviewing and providing feedback all existing communications to students, primarily from recruitment through first-year on campus, but also ongoing communications through to graduation.
  • Working closely with External Affairs, particularly the Communications Officer, Internal Communications, to ensure alignment of strategy, integration of messaging, leveraging of content and current groups and creation of sustainable tools.
  • Engaging student focus groups on communications, content, medium, and frequency
  • Working with operational units to create a student communications strategy that outlines the needs of the audience, identifies the institutional message and tone, includes channel identification and criteria for use along with means of measurement of impact.
  • Working with operational units to rewrite/reorganize student communications. This may involve working with the operational units to develop a capacity for communication and marketing approaches through various mediums such as print, website and social media.
  • Working to ensure all student communications are housed in a common shared archive accessible to all relevant operating units to ensure ongoing consistency and clarity.
  • Supporting areas (e.g. Student Services) needing to develop better student communications strategies and capacity.
  • Develop and maintain ongoing training in student communications to operational areas.
  • Developing recommendations for long-term sustainability of the strategy (both in practice and in resourcing).
  • Creating a central contact point for student communications questions and support.
  • Developing a Student Communications Plan that outlines the needs of the audience(s) and identifying the institutional message and tone, including channel identification and criteria for use and means of measurement.
  • Planning, editing and writing content for a variety of student communications media, such as intranet, social media, e-newsletters, email announcements and updates.
  • Working with the University's Communications Group to re-purpose material the communications officers are developing for an internal audience.
  • Liaising with staff and student leaders (SMUSA) responsible for communications to prospective students and current students to ensure consistency in the use of the University's key messages.
  • Keeping up to date with the latest developments in the field of student communications, in particular ensuring that the university remains current with its social media engagement.
  • Monitoring and evaluating the impact of student communications activities and recommending future improvements.
  • Developing messages for student audiences that support the university's strategic direction and align with the university's key messages.
  • Producing and executing project specific communications plans for student audiences for special initiatives and campaigns of the university.

What you'll need

Qualifications

To be the successful Communications Officer, Student Communications you will possess an undergraduate degree in English, Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, or a related field required and a minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of experience producing professional communications or other relevant and related work experiences. A Master's degree and/or experience in a higher education will be considered assets. You demonstrate experience developing content and communications for internal audiences in large organizations such as universities, government, or health care, have experience writing for multiple platforms, including print, email, web, and social media, and excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with an aptitude for collaborating with others. An understanding of higher education communications strategies; experience working within digital platforms; the ability to balance multiple deadlines in a fast-paced work environment; and demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint will round out your qualifications.

A little bit about us

Saint Mary’s University

Saint Mary's University is one of Canada's top primary undergraduate universities--known for its international collaborations, leadership in entrepreneurship, and research that benefits local and global communities. Our programs in Arts, Science, Graduate Studies and the Sobey School of Business are among Canada's best and feature professors who are committed to the success of their students. Saint Mary's provides our 7,000 students with a place that fosters possibility, excellent research opportunities, and distinguished graduate and professional programs combined with a caring community. Nestled in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Canada's east coast, Saint Mary's University is marked by iconic buildings, green spaces and fresh ocean air. The Saint Mary's University community is committed to a prosperous future for the world-a world without limits.

Learn more about working at Saint Mary's University here and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Are you interested?

Work With Us

Apply for this opportunity online by visiting www.smu.ca/employment and use our online application system through CareerBeacon. Select the position you are interested in and apply by clicking the "Apply Online Now" button. Please include the names of three professional references. No telephone calls please.

The search committee will begin to consider applications on September 28, 2018 and continue until the position is filled.

Saint Mary's University hires on the basis of merit and is committed to the principles of employment equity. Saint Mary's University encourages applications from qualified women, visible minorities, Aboriginal people, and people with disabilities. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

Saint Mary's University thanks all applicants for applying. Only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Saint Mary's University promotes a Healthy Campus including a Scent-Free environment and a Smoke-Free Campus