Senior Director, Strategic Communications

University of Ottawa•Ottawa, ON

2d•CA$161,546 - CA$201,932•Onsite

About The Position

Provides strategic leadership on communications governance and integrated communications planning at the University, namely in areas of strategy, corporate and executive communications, internal communications and messaging alignment across the central administration, working under the chief communications and marketing officer. Ensures consistency in communications so that all University messaging, whether strategic, operational, reputational or executive, conveys a unified narrative to advance the University’s long-term priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communication, public relations, journalism or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience
Ten (10) years’ experience in strategic communications within complex organizations
Seven (7) years’ experience in managing teams of professionals, including supporting managers in handling operating budgets and optimizing costs
High standard of strategic and policy judgment, and ability to advise senior leadership on sensitive issues within a vast, complex, fast-moving environment
Proven experience in communications governance, integrated planning and executive communications
Significant experience in collaboration on issues management and communications in light of organizational change
Excellent writing skills in French and very strong English writing proficiency
Inspiring leadership and proven experience in change management

Nice To Haves

In-depth understanding of the higher education sector, governance of the sector and relevant stakeholders (an asset)

Responsibilities

Develops, implements and assesses communications strategies throughout the University in support of its strategic priorities, working closely with the chief communications and marketing officer and with senior University leadership.
Establishes governance for University communications through shared processes, workflows and standards for teams on campus to ensure that internal and external communications are consistent and effective.
Leads the development and implementation of integrated communications plans that set out objectives, audiences, channels, indicators and timelines, balancing University priorities and operational needs of decentralized administrative units.
Offers expert advice to senior leadership on University communications, and supervises executive communications, major University announcements and governance-related messaging to bolster the University’s storytelling and priorities while adhering to policy and regulatory requirements.
Leads the development and implementation of overall internal communications strategies, partnering with the administrative sectors on this development work, to strengthen staff engagement, transparency and support for institutional change initiatives. Establishes governance, standards and planning frameworks related to these strategies to ensure timely, accessible, unified communications.
Works closely with the public affairs, media relations and issues management team to provide input on communications strategies for sensitive, high-risk or crisis situations and build partnerships with the faculties and services, ensuring a unified, consistent, well-prepared response to emerging issues.
Plans, organizes, directs and monitors the human, financial and material resources under own responsibility (guidance, employee development and engagement, budgeting, service providers) to ensure effective service delivery and accountability to the chief communications and marketing officer.
Establishes performance indicators for communications, evaluates their effectiveness and identifies opportunities to improve impact, efficiency and integration, thereby supporting strategic decision-making and proving the value of this function.
Monitors emerging trends and best practices in communications, maintains strong relationships with communications leads throughout the University and makes recommendations to the chief communications and marketing officer to ensure University communications are high quality, relevant and scalable.