Job Posting: Senior Communications Officer

Click here to view this posting and apply via the U of T Careers Website

Date Posted: 06/03/2024
Req ID: 37696
Faculty/Division: Asst VP – Operations & Services
Department: Committee on Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability (CECCS)
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00056417

Description

About us:
This position will be based within the Secretariat team of the President’s Advisory Committee on Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability (CECCS) in downtown Toronto. The work of the CECCS is guided by a committee of executive, staff, student and faculty members appointed by the President. The CECCS’ mandate is to advance the university’s priorities relating to sustainability and to make sustainability part of the identity of U of T and it does this work in close collaboration with an extensive and inspiring group of sustainability champions, colleagues, and partners across and beyond the university. The Secretariat also supports the CECCS Co-Chairs and standing Subcommittees in Research, Teaching &Learning, Operations, and Student Leadership.

Your opportunity:
Ranked #1 in the world for Sustainability by the QS World University Rankings – this is your chance to help shape the University of Toronto’s future sustainability and climate communications and outreach.

Reporting to the Director of the CECCS Secretariat and working alongside a committed and collaborative team of colleagues, this position will drive the definition and delivery of a new multi-channel sustainability communications strategy and lead promotion and outreach activities for the CECCS. In the first year, this will involve articulating a new strategy, overseeing a website renewal project and extensive interaction with internal and external stakeholders towards improved integration, inspiration and impact. On an ongoing basis, this position is tasked with advising and offering support to communications and outreach on broader CECCS initiatives, activities and programming and coordinating communications via social media pages, newsletters and our annual report with the team.

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Planning and developing an integrated multi-channel communications strategy independently and with colleagues across the university.
  • Developing and implementing targeted outreach initiatives that support communication strategies
  • Building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance
  • Promoting programs and service offerings to internal and/or external contacts
  • Producing clear, concise, persuasive and accurate outreach and communication products
  • Working with service providers/vendors to deliver website renewal project

Essential Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience. Graduate experience and training in communications and marketing, public relations or similar an asset.
  • Minimum five years experience in similar senior level roles in similar or comparable environment
  • A proven track record of strong communications experience and outcomes in a similar or related role
  • Excellent written and verbal communications
  • Interested in and committed to sustainability work
  • Advanced relationship and stakeholder management skills across all levels with an ability to interpret needs, manage expectations and influence direction and outcomes
  • An ability to switch between tasks and tactics requiring attention to detail and connection to the bigger picture
  • Demonstrated initiative, proactivity and capacity to adapt while working across multiple tasks and stakeholdersto agreed timelines
  • Synthesize complex material and translate into structured engaging, audience-appropriate content
  • Familiarity with and ability to manipulate common web development and publishing tools


Assets (Nonessential):

  • Experience working in a large distributed organization and/or higher education setting
  • Familiarity with sector dynamics and/or internal working environment of a higher education institution


To be successful in this role you will be:

  • Adaptable
  • Articulate
  • Communicator
  • Diplomatic
  • Persuasive
  • Proactive
  • Problem solver
  • Resourceful

Please note, we are aiming to hold interviews between the second and third week of July. Those selected to move forward in our process will be contacted. A copy of the full job description is available upon request. 

Closing Date: 06/25/2024, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW 
Appointment Type: Budget – Continuing 
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:  
USW Pay Band 15 — $93,752 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $119,892. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol. 
Job Category: Communication/Media/Public Relations
Recruiter: Lucy Katehos

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.