Communications Manager

Staff – Non Union

Job Category
M&P – AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried – Information Services, Level B

Job Title
Communications Manager

Department
Administrative and Education Support UBC Health

Compensation Range
$6,551.00 – $9,418.83 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date
April 5, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

Apr 30, 2027

This is a full-time, term position for 3 years, with possibility of extension.

Candidates must upload a cover letter and resume for their application to be considered.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Description Summary

The Communications Manager develops and implements strategic communication plans for the Office of the Vice-President, Health with a focus on UBC Health’s three foundational pillars: Collaborative Health Education, Research, and Systems. The incumbent leads the development of short-term and long-term communications projects that align with the portfolio’s goals and key areas, and elevate the reach and reputation of the VP Health portfolio and UBC Health.

This position is responsible for developing and managing the implementation of communication plans, develops communications best practices for the portfolio, provides tactical expertise to UBC Health team members, and ensures all communications activities and materials comply with UBC standards. The incumbent develops and implements an integrated strategy for communications that can engage diverse audiences within and outside of UBC, including faculty, staff, students, patient and community partners, government agencies, health authorities, other partners, and the general public. The incumbent is also responsible for the management of the UBC Health website, related sites, and social media channels. The incumbent employs various communication platforms, tools, and techniques to meet the communication priorities of the unit.

Organizational Status
Through the leadership of the Associate Vice-President (AVP) Health, the Office of UBC Health is responsible for driving the vision for the UBC Health portfolio, which promotes an integrated approach to collaboration amongst all health programs at UBC and with external partners in the health sector. The Office of UBC Health reports to the Vice-President Health portfolio, and serves as a resource to all health disciplines at UBC.
By facilitating closer linkages and collaborations across disciplines and sectors, UBC Health aims to strengthen the university’s impact and capacity for excellence in health education and research. Additionally, UBC Health aims to create the opportunity for improved wellbeing and patient outcomes, accelerated knowledge development and innovation, and greater training effectiveness.
Specifically, UBC Health will work to enhance collaboration and integration in research and education across faculties and schools. This will include: cross-sectoral collaborations fundamental to translational research and the application of knowledge; collaborative health education program development (building on strengths in interprofessional education); coordinated approaches to addressing overlapping issues (e.g. program delivery focus and costs, clinical placement capacity, data systems, faculty recruitment); and help to build capacity to coordinate and manage external relations with appropriate governmental ministries, provincial health authorities, and collaborative frameworks such as the developing Academic Health Sciences Network.
The Communications Manager reports to the Administrator and works under the general direction of the Operational Leadership Team. The incumbent works closely with other members of UBC Health to develop and implement communication strategies to promote and showcase the unit’s priorities, initiatives, and events.
Work Performed

• Leads the development and implementation of strategic communication plans that reflect and support the unit’s goals and priorities.
• Works with members of the UBC Health team to generate relevant communication ideas and ensure alignment on messaging, audience, delivery, and best practices for internal and external communications.
• Creates, edits, and maintains a wide range of communications and materials by liaising with content contributors, staff, faculty, students, and other stakeholders.
• Manages all aspects of communications projects, including developing project timelines and budgets, monitoring projects to completion, preparing progress and final reports, and making recommendations.
• Ensures that communication plans and their execution align with UBC-wide brand and communication guides and protocols.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of current communication plans and initiatives, and makes recommendations for future improvements.
• Provides consultation, advice, and expertise to members of the UBC Health team, including best practices in communications.
• Provides tactical communications expertise to staff members as required, including writing and editing (e.g. speaking notes, web content, annual report content, proposals, etc.), preparing digital presentations, supporting external communications, etc.
• Develops easy-to-use materials that enable staff to handle some communications tasks independently.
• Coordinates internal communications within UBC Health and across health program partners to ensure the portfolio and partners are aware of key priorities and initiatives.
• Translates complex information into clear, concise, and engaging communication materials for a variety of audiences and different communication channels, including websites, newsletters,
  printed format, social media, etc.
• Determines methods for collection and maintenance of digital assets, such as photos and videos, to support communication of the portfolio’s identified priorities.
• Develops and manages content for the UBC Health website, related sites, and social media channels, including selection and coordination of production of digital assets (e.g. graphics, photos, videos) and adherence to accessibility guidelines.
• Coordinates with UBC IT Web Services to determine modifications of website design and functionality to ensure optimal level of performance.
• Collects analytics on web and social media sites and assesses performance metrics for communication initiatives.
• Actively seeks out partnerships and develops relationships with other campus communicators and student groups to identify and leverage opportunities for collaboration.
• Keeps current with major communication trends, issues, and technologies.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position represents the Office of the Vice-President, Health as well as the University, and is required to exercise professional judgment, maturity, collegiality and initiative while undertaking all responsibilities and developing relationships and partnerships. The work involves building and maintaining equitable relationships with external partners, including Indigenous partners and patient and community organizations. It requires attention to real and perceived barriers to meaningful participation, including tokenism, power dynamics, stereotyping, systemic racism, exploitation, and other inequities. The incumbent must understand and exercise the principles of confidentiality and best practices for Indigenous, patient and community engagement, including continuous learning and adapting these practices to ensure they are respectful, inclusive, and equitable. Incorrect decisions or judgment will directly affect UBC’s reputation with students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. Inappropriate actions, errors in performance or indiscretions in judgment can negatively impact UBC Health’s working relationships and credibility with a range of critical internal and external partners, may result in legal action or negative public relations, incur inappropriate costs, and/or jeopardize the unit’s reputation in the areas of collaborative health education, research, and health systems.
Supervision Received
Works independently under general guidance from the Administrator and the Operational Leadership Team. Works with members of the Office of UBC Health to achieve the communication goals of the unit. Works with considerable latitude and minimal supervision. Must be self-directed, able to manage project priorities and work independently. The incumbent is expected to show initiative and creativity in reaching set goals. Work is reviewed periodically to assess performance and ensure completion of project milestones.
Supervision Given

May participate in the recruitment, hiring and training of Work Learn students to support the communications portfolio of the unit. Provides training to staff involved in specific communication projects as needed. May give direction to external service providers.

Minimum Qualifications
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
Preferred Qualifications

• University degree in Communications, Marketing or Journalism an asset.
• Communications and marketing experience in post-secondary education or in complex organizations in a health-related setting preferred.
• Proven experience in strategic communications planning, project management, and implementation of a broad range of digital and non-digital communication projects for a variety of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a project-based environment, manage multiple and concurrent projects, set priorities, and meet project deadlines.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of the principles and practices of communications, new media, public relations, and branding.
• Demonstrated ability to write quickly and fluently for a variety of audiences and communication platforms (e.g. websites, print, social media, etc.).
• Ability to accurately proofread for English language usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Effective oral and written communication, interpersonal, presentation, and public relations skills.
• High level of initiative, creativity, attention to detail, and judgment in all communications work.
• Critical thinker who can make well-informed, thoughtful, and thorough decisions.
• Ability to use tact and discretion when working with information of a confidential or sensitive nature. Ability to work effectively and diplomatically with various levels of administration, campus audiences, external agencies, and the public.
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships with a diverse community. Previous experience liaising with a variety of patient groups or non-profit community organizations an asset.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team environment that is collaborative, complex, and with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Experience working with web content management systems, including Drupal and WordPress.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement digital performance metrics using Google Analytics and other relevant tools.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of graphic and web design principles.
• Ability to use desktop publishing software at an intermediate to advanced level, such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere), Canva, Camtasia, etc.
• Familiarity with learning management systems, such as Canvas or similar enterprise systems, an asset.
• Knowledge and experience in website development, CSS and HTML an asset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel.
• Ability to effectively use survey applications (e.g. Qualtrics) and virtual meeting platforms (e.g. Zoom, MS Teams) at an intermediate/advanced level.