Lead Communications Specialist, Issues Management

University of Waterloo•Waterloo, ON

1d•CA$87,620 - CA$109,525

About The Position

The University of Waterloo is a leading global innovation hub focused on driving economic and social prosperity. The Marketing and Communications function enhances and protects the university's reputation by ensuring clear, credible, and purposeful communication. The Media Relations and Issues Management team specifically addresses situations where public understanding, stakeholder trust, and institutional reputation are at stake. This team monitors the environment, advises leaders, and coordinates responses for sensitive and high-profile matters. The Lead Communications Specialist role is an advanced position responsible for leading complex, high-profile, or strategically significant communications initiatives within a specialized area. This role requires deep communications knowledge, professional judgment, and subject-matter expertise to develop strategies, guide decision-making, and support institutional priorities. The Lead Communications Specialist in Issues Management will handle some of the university's most complex files, assessing situations, synthesizing information, advising senior leaders, and developing strategies, key messages, and response frameworks. This role involves coordinating stakeholders, identifying reputational considerations, and supporting readiness for emerging issues and crises, offering substantial autonomy without formal people-management responsibilities.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in communications, public relations, journalism, English, marketing, political science or a related field.
6 or more years of progressively responsible communications experience.
Experience leading highly complex, high-profile or strategically significant communications initiatives.
Experience developing strategic messaging and producing high-quality communications content for sensitive or high-visibility matters.
Experience providing communications advice and recommendations to senior leaders, stakeholders or project teams.
Experience managing reputationally sensitive, complex or emerging communications issues.
Advanced communications planning, strategic messaging, writing, editing and content-development skills.
Ability to independently lead highly complex or strategically significant communications initiatives within established frameworks.
Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize information from multiple sources to inform recommendations and decisions.
Ability to assess communications risks, stakeholder implications and reputational considerations and determine appropriate courses of action.
Ability to interpret audience, stakeholder and performance information and apply insights to improve communications outcomes.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex information effectively.
Strong stakeholder relationship-management, consultation and advisory skills.
Ability to provide guidance, coaching and informal leadership within area of expertise.
Strong project leadership, coordination and organizational skills.
Sound judgment, problem-solving capability and decision-making skills in complex, sensitive or ambiguous situations.
Proficiency with communications, digital, reporting and collaboration tools.

Nice To Haves

Continued post-degree coursework is an asset.
Experience working in higher education, the broader public sector or another complex multi-stakeholder environment is an asset.

Responsibilities

Leads highly complex, high-profile or strategically significant communications initiatives aligned with institutional priorities.
Develops communications strategies, approaches and implementation plans that address institutional priorities, stakeholder needs and reputational considerations.
Independently leads communications work requiring advanced judgment, analysis and coordination across multiple stakeholders, functions and areas of expertise.
Oversees communications activities that involve significant institutional visibility, sensitivity or complexity.
Evaluates communications effectiveness and identifies opportunities to strengthen outcomes, engagement and reputation.
Leads development of strategic messaging, narratives and communications materials supporting institutional priorities and complex communications objectives.
Researches, analyzes and synthesizes complex, sensitive or ambiguous information into clear, compelling and audience-appropriate communications.
Produces and reviews high-profile communications products across print, digital, executive and stakeholder-facing formats.
Ensures communications are accurate, accessible, inclusive and aligned with institutional voice, tone and strategic direction.
Provides subject-matter expertise on messaging, positioning and communications approaches within area of specialization.
Provides advanced communications advice and recommendations to senior leaders, stakeholders and project teams.
Advises on communications risks, stakeholder considerations, reputational implications and implementation approaches.
Builds trusted relationships with leaders, service partners and stakeholders across the institution.
Influences communications approaches and decision-making through expertise, credibility and professional judgment.
Supports complex stakeholder engagement, consultation and alignment activities.
Identifies communications risks, stakeholder concerns and reputational considerations associated with institutional initiatives and decisions.
Leads communications planning and implementation for sensitive, high-risk or emerging issues within area of expertise.
Monitors internal and external environments to identify issues, trends and developments that may affect institutional communications.
Advises stakeholders on communications implications, mitigation approaches and response considerations.
Supports institutional preparedness, response planning and emergency communications activities as required.
Evaluates communications effectiveness, audience insight, stakeholder feedback and performance information to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
Uses qualitative and quantitative information to inform recommendations, improve communications outcomes and strengthen institutional effectiveness.
Contributes to the development and enhancement of communications frameworks, standards, tools and practices.
Identifies opportunities to strengthen communications consistency, capability and service delivery across the institution.
Provides leadership, coaching and guidance to communications colleagues and stakeholders on complex communications matters.
Shares knowledge, lessons learned and emerging practices to support capability development across the communications function.