Communications Coordinator
Department: Student and Enrolment Services Division
FTE: 1.0 FTE
Status: Term, due to a parental leave, with tentative start date of April 1, 2013 and planned end date of April 30, 2014.
Competition No.: 13070-M
Salary Information: The salary range is $58,350 to $91,173 per annum (Specialist/Professional, Phase 2). The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Primary Purpose: To direct and advance innovative, effective and coordinated marketing and communications strategies in support of the University’s undergraduate student recruitment activities in alignment with institutional goals, priorities and strategic directions. This position exists to ensure we are using effective, meaningful and coordinated marketing and communication strategies and targeted, appropriate content when communicating with prospective students and their influencing audiences. This position aspires to ensure marketing and communication strategies are thoughtfully developed over a medium-term planning horizon to maximize impact and relevancy for target audiences.
Nature of Work: Reporting to Associate Director, Student and Enrolment Services Division (SESD), this position is a member of a highly collaborative, integrated team which exists to support SESD’s mission and operational units. More specifically, this position provides expert guidance and advice to Managers of Undergraduate Recruitment, Admissions & Transfer Credit and Financial Aid & Awards in order to assist in the creation of a strategic direction and vision for all communication and marketing materials related to prospective undergraduate student recruitment. Additionally, this position has a dotted line reporting relationship to the Director of Marketing in University Advancement in order to foster an institutional view of communications and marketing and ensure a high level of coordination across the University.
This position will lead the implementation of the strategic direction and vision by planning, evaluating and creating content delivered via multiple media such as print, web, email, etc. This position is highly collaborative, seeking input and expertise from University Marketing and other SESD and campus communicators and stakeholders. The Communications Coordinator must be aware of and continuously balance the needs of prospective students, new admits and key influencers with the business needs of the institution, demonstrating sound and consistent judgment. The work reaches a local, national and international audience and influences the reputation of the university. This is a high-volume position requiring the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment. Dealing with competing deadlines and multi-tasking is the norm. The environment is subject to continuous change, shifting priorities and frequent interruptions.
Accountabilities:
- Developing innovative, effective, reliable content for communication materials (including websites, print and other media) which are targeted at prospective undergraduate students, newly admitted students and their key influencers. This includes writing content for numerous print publications, such as brochures, viewbooks, newsletters and a magazine, as well as proofreading and editing content;
- Organizing and supervising numerous photo shoots throughout the year, with the goal of ensuring up-to-date photography is readily available for use in a variety of print and online materials;
- Cultivation of professional relationships that support effective partnerships in a highly collaborative and engaged environment – particularly with staff and faculty across the direct and non-direct entry Colleges, University Marketing and throughout SESD;
- Developing, in collaboration with others, integrated communication and marketing plans focusing on a prospective student audience to ensure communication activities are timely, appropriate and routinely evaluated; these plans should be evidence based and regularly monitored and measured.
- Working closely with technical members of the student information team to ensure data management systems are effectively supporting communication needs and allowing for a high-level of service to all prospective client inquiries;
- Developing and maintaining a framework for capturing, storing and accessing relevant ideas, stories, and student/faculty feedback to ensure communication materials align with the institutional position and provide information that is relevant to prospective student audiences;
- Acting as a steward of the university’s reputation and visual identity by ensuring internal standards, procedures, policies and best practices are aligned with institutional priorities and practices for effective recruitment communication;
- Conducting ongoing reviews of recruitment communication strategies and environment scanning to ensure alignment with market trends and national best practices in recruitment and enrolment management;
- Supporting event planning teams to ensure the successful communication of all recruitment and transition events;
- Identifying and recommending timely, value-added technologies to improve communication opportunities.
Qualifications
Education: A university degree in communications, publishing,
journalism, marketing, English or related field. An equivalent combination of
education and directly related experience may be considered.
Experience: Minimum three years of communications-related experience with a demonstrated progression in level of responsibility.
Skills: Outstanding ability to write messages for a variety of prospective student audiences; exceptional interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated ability to motivate, collaborate and support colleagues; demonstrated ability to develop and nurture a team-oriented working environment; exceptional strategic communications and communications planning skills; strong problem solving and creative thinking skills; demonstrated customer service orientation; demonstrated responsiveness and innovation in addressing user needs and delivering services in a timely and cost-effective manner; demonstrated ability to work independently and meet deadlines on multiple projects with competing demands; project management skills. Assets include: experience in U of S or other post-secondary communications, marketing, student services, and/or administration; experience in writing and editing for print publications; strategic communications experience with a technology focus such as portals, websites, social media; experience editing websites, portals or in graphic design.
This position is in scope of the Administrative and Supervisory Personnel Association.
Please apply no later than February 19, 2013.
Inquiries regarding this position can be directed to Janelle Hutchinson at 306-966-4750.
Be sure to apply online as emailed applications will not be accepted.
The University of Saskatchewan is strongly committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that empowers all employees to reach their full potential. All members of the university community share a responsibility for developing and maintaining an environment in which differences are valued and inclusiveness is practiced. The university welcomes applications from those who will contribute to the diversity of our community. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.
