Senior Director, Strategic Communications

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Posting End Date

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

Job End Date

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement (in office twice a week) however may be subject to changes due to operation requirements.

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 Summary
The University of British Columbia is seeking an experienced and strategic communications leader to serve as theSenior Director Strategic Communications. This position is critical for advancing the universitys reputation achieving long-term strategic marketing and communications goals and building alignment across all major institutional campaigns and among UBCs communicators network.

Reporting directly to theAssociate Vice-President Communications the Senior Director plays a critical role in leading central essential strategic leadership counsel and expertise for UBCs major communications campaigns working collaboratively with other teams and leaders across the will be a trusted advisor to the Presidents Office VP External Relations AVP Communications and other senior leadership across the university. The role provides strategic communications and marketing expertise and leadership for significant initiatives grounded in the universitys strategic plan refresh - UBCs Strategic Directions 2025-2030 while also providing strategic advice counsel and support through your team to the VP External and UBC Presidents Office on proactive reputation building communications initiatives and opportunities

Organizational Status
Reports to the Associate Vice-President Communications. Works closely with enterprise-wide executive members senior communications and strategic professionals. Works directly with all members of the Strategic Communications management team Senior Director News and University Affairs and Senior Director Brand and Marketing Communications. Senior Director Strategic Communications will shape and build stronger internal relationships to consult on a wider scale beyond the immediate Communications team.

Work Performed
The Senior Director Strategic Communications provides strategic leadership for the universitys major communications campaigns and projects. Key responsibilities include:

• Strategic Campaign Leadership:Overseeing major comms and campaign strategy and providing strategic direction for institutional campaigns and projects grounded inUBCs Strategic Directions 2025-2030.

• Reputation Management:Providing strategic advice on proactive reputation-building initiatives and opportunities and identifying and collaboratively addressing reputational risks and correspondence requiring an institutional response from the Presidents Office in collaboration with the News and University Affairs team.

• Content and Digital Strategy:Driving the overall strategic direction ofdigital marketing institutional prioritycontent strategy anddigital engagement strategy for the includes developing core messaging and foundational narratives for UBCs new strategic directions in collaboration with relevant Vice Presidents Deans and their senior communications staff and executing integrated campaigns.

• Cross-Functional Alignment:Ensuring the strategic alignment of institutional campaigns between the Presidents Office UBC Senior Leadership External Relations and other academic and administrative will lead the development and alignment of internal and external communications activities in collaboration with other unit senior directors and managers.

• Performance Measurement:Driving performance measurement across all communications initiatives using advanced analytics to assess impact define outcomes and optimize effectiveness.

• Team Leadership: Directing a team of communication professionals in best practices managing subordinate staff and external service providers and playing a leadership role in building a strong community of practice among broader university communicators.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This role is highly visible and critical to UBCs in judgment could result infar-reaching long-term and serious negative reputational financial and public relations impactsfor the university and its leadership or lack of sound judgment could alienate stakeholders jeopardize key relationships and negatively impact the reputation of the university and its senior administrators.

Supervision Received
Works with minimal guidance under broad guidelines established by the Associate Vice-President Communications.

Supervision Given
Manages staff consultants and external service providers directly and indirectly through subordinate managers.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. A minimum ten years of related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives including perspectives in conflict with ones own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing ones own awareness knowledge and skills related to equity diversity and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• At leastten years experiencein a strategic leadership position leading integrated communications and/or marketing strategies and content management with over 10 years of broader communications and marketing experience

• Extensive experience overseeing the management oflarge and complex communications and marketing projectswith a high level of accountability.

• Solid understanding of owned channels with advanced working knowledge of using communications strategies to deliver results toward major goals that can move reputation.

• Proven strategic and creative thinker innovator and problem-solver with high attention to detail and skills in conflict resolution.

• High degree and proven competency in managing complex relationships with differing objectives.

• Must be a self-starter with initiative able to adapt easily to changing priorities manage multiple initiatives and demonstrate strong leadership collaboration and relationship-building skills.