Department VER Strategic Communications
Salary range $68,101 to $113,509
Posted date July 10, 2025
Closing date July 17, 2025
Position Type Full Time - Operating Funded

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director, Content Generation and Media Relations in the External Relations portfolio, the Media Relations Strategist is responsible for telling the university’s story to the world, as per the university’s strategic plan. The Media Relations Strategist accomplishes this goal primarily by implementing thoughtful and strategic media relations strategies across a plethora of platforms, from traditional media releases and content marketing to managing online reputation and brand identity.
In all facets of this role, the Media Relations Strategist endeavors to integrate, communicate and advance the University’s commitments to equity, diversity and inclusivity.
This position understands, fulfills, and promotes the health, safety and environment responsibilities identified in university policy.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor’s degree in a related area, with preference for a Master’s degree
• Minimum 7 years of communications and/or media experience, including writing different types of materials for different audiences, issues management and crisis communication, proactive pitches, social media management, storytelling.
• Minimum 3 years independently managing proven relationships with media representatives on behalf of a complex organization and media relations, including proactive pitching/positioning, responsive subject matter, expert commentary support, and acting as a public representative and spokesperson.
• Exceptional track record of developing and implementing social media strategies that have consistently met or exceeded planned objectives.
• Keen eye for detail, particularly in tactical implementation and audience analytics
• Solid understanding of the purpose and use of social media for strategic stakeholder engagement
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and multiple demands, and effectively prioritize
• The individual will be current on social media best practices and be able to fully integrate multimedia and various digital tools as appropriate.
• High degree of professionalism and judgement
• Excellent knowledge of applicable laws, legislation, and best practices guiding public information management in Canada and Alberta.
• Solid understanding of Alberta and Canada’s political and media landscape, and in particular, the key stakeholders for post-secondary education.
• Strong comprehension of the University of Alberta, its various stakeholders, partners, and governance structure.
• French language skills are an asset.
  At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.
  We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.
  All University employees have a responsibility to foster a workplace that prioritizes safety in all its forms—physical, cultural, and psychological. This is achieved by promoting a safe environment, adhering to all safety laws, policies and procedures, completing all required safety training, identifying hazards and implementing controls, reporting incidents, and contributing to a culture of inclusivity and respect, while endeavoring to ensure that all colleagues feel valued and safe to express their thoughts, perspectives and concerns.
  The University of Alberta is committed to creating a university community where everyone feels valued, barriers to success are removed, and thriving connections are fostered. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women, First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons, members of visible minority groups, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.
  L’Université de l’Alberta s’engage à créer une communauté universitaire où chaque personne se sent valorisée, où les obstacles à la réussite sont éliminés et où des connexions enrichissantes peuvent se développer. Nous accueillons les demandes de toutes les personnes qualifiées. Nous encourageons les femmes; Premières nations, Métis et Inuits; membres des groupes minoritaires visibles; personnes handicapées; personnes ayant une orientation sexuelle ou une identité et une expression sexospécifique; et tous ceux qui peuvent contribuer à la diversification des idées et à l’université à postuler.
  Note: This opportunity will be available until midnight July 17, 2025, Edmonton, Alberta local time

• Through proactive media relations, augmenting the university’s local, national and international reputation and visibility by pitching stories about the research and other activities happening at the U of A to external media around the world.
• Measuring and evaluating the success of media relations strategies to achieve the goal of having the university’s key messages well reflected in all external media stories.
• Updating and revising the media relations strategies as appropriate to reflect changing priorities, based on evidence, such as sentiment or metrics analysis of external news stories and research of best practices, such as appropriate tactics to use in reputation management, and issues management.
• Ensuring effective packaging and delivery of communications - proactively promoting planned and opportunistic stories and messages that advance the university’s reputation and strategic plan, and helping to manage issues.
• Producing news stories that reflect the wide scope and breadth of research and other activities at the University of Alberta. Is responsible for distributing those stories as widely as possible through associated social media channels, the university’s social media channels and by pitching the stories to traditional media.
• Developing and overseeing media relations training programs across the university to be able to provide relations training and coaching for university leadership, subject matter experts, researchers, and students as needed.
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with media professionals and working collaboratively with the University of Alberta Marketing and Communications’ Partners and Centres of Expertise to ensure consistent strategy and aligning priorities and promoting traditional media coverage.
• Responding to ad-hoc media queries expediently and preparing briefing notes, writing media releases and pitches, fact sheets, backgrounders, for the Senior leadership team as required.
• Assisting in the development and maintenance of subject matter expert databases and media contact databases.