Communications Manager

University of British Columbia•Vancouver, BC

11d•CA$6,748 - CA$9,701•Onsite

About The Position

UBC Sauder School of Business is a globally recognized business faculty, consistently ranking among the top 100 worldwide and known for excellence in research, learning, faculty, and global partnerships. A collaborative and respectful culture is central to their strategic plan and educational mission. This Communications Manager position is part of the Marketing and Communications team, responsible for developing, managing, and executing communication strategies and tactics to enhance the school's image and reputation locally, provincially, and internationally, while supporting its strategic plan and priorities. The role is a term leave coverage for 18 months, starting August 2026, with an end date of February 4, 2028.

Requirements

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.

Nice To Haves

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 judgment 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.

Responsibilities

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 content channels (written, video, audio), including evergreen content, media relations, campaign profiles, academic research, and timely news.
Adjusts the editorial calendar to accommodate breaking news or unexpected content.
Develops media relations plans to enhance the reputation of the school, its faculty, students, alumni, and donors globally.
Engages with stakeholders (senior associate deans, faculty, leadership team) to build relationships and stay informed of priorities.
Proactively identifies opportunities to showcase university expertise and unique aspects to enhance brand reputation in local, national, and international media.
Ensures media outreach aligns with the UBC Sauder strategic plan and organizational priorities.
Develops and/or oversees the creation of media materials (press releases, pitches, Q&As, advisories, photography, videos).
Triage incoming media requests and advance story development in line with institutional priorities.
Responds to and redirects media and public inquiries.
Works with faculty, executive team, students, alumni, and donors to secure media interviews.
Provides coaching to spokespeople for media interviews, developing key messages.
Edits submitted content for alignment with organizational strategic priorities and the UBC Sauder strategic plan.
Identifies key media relevant to the portfolio and builds positive relationships.
Stays informed of current events, policy, business news, and competitor coverage to inform media strategy.
Works with the Associate Director to source vendors for media training, develop programs, and identify participants.
Manages, reports on, and analyzes key performance indicators (KPIs) for media relations.
Liaises with UBC Public Affairs to coordinate media activity.
Serves as Editor of the School News section of the UBC Sauder website.
Responsible for developing editorial strategy, creating content, or assigning content creation with oversight.
Works with stakeholders to identify and source editorial content ideas.
Ensures editorial content aligns with the UBC Sauder strategic plan and organizational priorities.
Collaborates with the marketing team on content-driven strategies for marketing campaigns.
Develops strategies to integrate content across digital and social channels for maximum reach and engagement.
Co-chairs the Content Planning Committee.
Edits submitted content for alignment with organizational strategic priorities.
Optimizes content for search engine optimization (SEO).
Ensures editorial web content is fresh, informative, and on-brand.
Oversees the online publishing process for the School News section.
Manages content distribution to social or paid media platforms.
Works with the marketing team and agencies on graphic design, paid media, and content marketing initiatives.
Reports on web metrics (traffic flow, readership numbers).
Manages, reports on, and analyzes KPIs for content marketing and owned media.
Provides content for UBC Central Marketing and Communications teams and other units.
Creates, implements, and manages communication projects, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and consistency.
Provides strategic recommendations and develops communications plans for marketing campaigns.
Acts as a liaison with UBC Public Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Internal Communications, and other departments.
Stays current with trends and issues in higher education and business school communications and marketing.
Writes/oversees speaking notes, letters, and other communications materials.
Selects and hires internal and external service providers (photographers, writers, printers, consultants) and manages their workload.
Oversees budget for consultants, paid media, and photography.
Provides crisis and issues communications support.
Participates in various UBC committees (e.g., Joint Occupational Health and Safety, Internal Communications Working Group, UBC Central Digital Editorial Meetings).
Performs other duties as assigned.