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Job Type:

Employee

Duration in Months (for fixed-term jobs):

N/A

Job Family:

Marketing and Public Relations

# of Open Positions:

1

Faculty/Service - Department:

Research Promotion & Development

Campus:

Main Campus

Union Affiliation:

N/A

Date Posted:

août 22, 2024

Closing Date:

septembre 13, 2024

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

Hours per week:

35

Salary Grade:

Non-Union Grade NM3

Salary Range:

Position Purpose

Promotes and enhances the public profile of the university’s research excellence by providing strategic direction and leadership for both internal and external communications.

As a communication leader, provides vision, leadership, expertise, strategic operation and tactical advice to the research community. Responsible for the development and implementation of innovative communications and marketing strategies and major events with the objective of raising the profile of uOttawa research internally and externally on a local, national and international scale.

Manages the communications and marketing team to promote uOttawa research in a wide range of communications channels, including Web and print, video, social media, media releases, advertising and events and marketing materials. Ensures that all communications materials and strategies support the research sector’s reputation and its main objectives.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Leads the development and implementation of vision, communications and marketing plans and strategies for the OVPRI, providing expert advice on best practices and resources that improve reach and engagement with internal and external audiences.

• Creates and articulates short and long-term project-specific communication plans targeted for internal dissemination and buy-in, in cooperation with the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.

• Directs the communications efforts of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Associate Vice-Presidents, Research and, occasionally, the President by developing compelling key corporate messaging about the University’s research priorities to key target audiences, influencing stakeholder engagement. This includes providing speaking notes and writing speeches.

• Provides strategic communications planning and editorial expertise to researchers, faculty communications teams and services within the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation with the aim of improving their communications and marketing activities.

• Leads the development of strategic direction for communications and marketing related to research by setting priorities, processes, defining audiences, adopting various methods and establishing key performance indicators.

• Elaborates, manages and controls the communications and marketing budget to ensure the optimal use of resources in order to meet the OVPRI’s priorities and goals efficiently.

• Leads the planning and management of all research events, such as ministerial announcements, research symposia, VIP conferences, etc., in order to enhance the visibility of the University of Ottawa.

• Maintains direct ties with external clients, including academic and community leaders, elected officials, media, granting agencies and research organizations in order to promote the University of Ottawa’s research activities within the broader community and to identify potential outreach and collaboration opportunities.

• Responsible for ensuring that the most up-to-date editorial practices are applied to research material, staying abreast of developments in the fields of research and communication, and facilitating the sector’s adaptation to changing patterns in media consumption.

• Designs, establishes and maintains an organizational structure and staffing level to effectively accomplish the University's goals and objectives.  Oversees recruitment, training, supervision and evaluation of Communications and Marketing Research staff.

• Hires, manages and oversees the work of external suppliers, such as freelance writers, translators, photographers, videographers and designers, for the production of printed and audiovisual material, among other communications tools.

What you will bring:

• A minimum of a graduate degree in the fields of communications, journalism, marketing or a related area
• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience of providing strategic communications advice to senior executives.
• A minimum of 10 years of leadership and management experience in communications and marketing, writing and editing in French and English for print and the Web
• Extensive experience in the development and implementation of strategic communications and marketing plans, including digital and print strategies, media relations, advertising and events management
• Minimum of 5 years of human, financial, resource and project management as well as  demonstrated ability to diplomatically and successfully resolve conflict
• Proven abilities in building partnerships and/or collaborative working relationships with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent ability to co-ordinate a variety of tasks under pressure, managing priorities, meeting strict deadlines and following up on deliverables
• Demonstrated initiative, autonomy and excellent leadership skills to foster commitment and cooperation within the communications team
• Sound judgment, initiative, tact and diplomacy, as well as a high level of discretion in handling confidential information
• Ability to quickly assimilate complex information and to translate this information into plain language for a variety of audiences
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills in English and French (written and verbal).
• Strong skills in leading, motivating and coaching professional communications teams

Key Competencies at uOttawa:
Here are the required competencies for all or our employees at uOttawa: 

Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.
Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.
Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.
Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.

The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact [email protected] to communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Note: if this is a union position: The hiring process will be governed by the current collective agreement related to the union affiliation noted above; you can click here to find out more.

If this is a front-line position with responsibilities to interact with students, selected candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.

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.