Senior Director, Strategic Communications

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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.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• 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.

What you will bring:

• 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

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

• Inspiring leadership and proven experience in change management

The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. Accordingly, we strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples in Canada, visible minorities members (racialized persons), persons with disabilities, women, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with equitable, diverse, and inclusive communities. Candidates who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups are asked to complete the confidential Self-Identification Questionnaire, to be completed at the time of application.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadians and permanent residents. When submitting your application, please indicate if you are legally entitled to work in Canada

The University of Ottawa provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you are invited to proceed in the selection process, please notify us of any accommodations that you require by contacting the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations by email at [email protected]. Any information you send us will be handled respectfully and in complete confidence.

The University of Ottawa is proud of its 160-year tradition of bilingualism. Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides training to staff members and to their spouses in their second official language.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.