Director, Strategic Communications

at  University of Ottawa

POSITION PURPOSE:

The director, strategic communications works closely with the chief communications and public affairs officer (CCPAO) and the University’s senior leadership team to identify clear institutional priorities in order to develop comprehensive strategies and plans that advance uOttawa’s strategic vision across the University and support key executives, faculties and services in fulfilling their mandates. The incumbent will also provide operational leadership to the Strategic Communications and Ceremonies and Events teams to ensure that planning is proactive and aligns with the institution’s goals and objectives. Alongside the CCPAO, the director will act as an expert advisor to key University executives and provide leadership to communications units within faculties and services in a decentralized environment to elevate the whole and ensure that their communications activities align with uOttawa’s reputational goals.
The incumbent will lead discussions and work with partners within the Office of Communications and Public Affairs, and across the institution, to build content strategies that improve the University’s profile across all media channels. These strategies will also help the University’s executive leaders and research experts build reputation, credibility, authority, and trust, thereby improving the institution’s position as a leading global university among both internal and external audiences. The incumbent will need to understand external audiences, including their preferences, attitudes, and behaviours, in order to work seamlessly with the Media Relations, Communications, Content and the Brand and Marketing Strategy teams on insights, analytics, and effective content and channel strategies.

IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL:

• Strategic Communications Planning: Oversees the development, implementation and evaluation of uOttawa’s communications strategies to support the institution’s strategic priorities. Develops and implements communication frameworks, processes and workflows to ensure consistent and effective internal and external communications, and the effective and efficient development of work products. Ensures the execution of integrated communication plans that outline the goals, key audiences, stakeholders, objectives, recommended channels, expected results, metrics for success, and timelines. These plans will need to balance the institution’s priorities and the business needs of faculties and decentralized units.
• Corporate Communications Expert: Ensures that all corporate communications align with the strategic goals of the institution by working closely with other departments to ensure that communication efforts are consistent with each other. Provides expert advice to leaders and managers on communication issues that needs escalation and that could affect the institution as whole. Ensures that communications comply with legal and regulatory standards as well as University policies.
• Ceremonies and Events Planning: Oversees the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies for uOttawa ceremonies and events, in support of the institution’s priorities. Develops and implements frameworks, processes, and workflows to ensure consistent and effective internal and external communications, and effectively and efficiently hosts high visibility events with dignitaries and other high-profile stakeholders.
• Relationship Management: Provides sound leadership and builds strong partnerships across campus to facilitate communication efforts and identify opportunities to enhance the University’s reputation. Works with executives across the University to ensure institutional goals are clearly articulated; develops and scopes communications and marketing strategies that can effectively help the institution achieve those goals; proposes budgets to partners and mobilizes the required resources.
• Team Development/Management: Directs, oversees and aligns the activities of the teams under their leadership, namely the ceremonies and events team and the strategic communications team. Provides strategic leadership to a diverse team of experienced communication professionals who communicate the University’s brand across a variety of platforms.
• Trends and Needs Analysis: Keeps abreast of emerging trends in communications, reviews best practices, and provides recommendations to the CCPAO to ensure that the University maintains its competitive edge.