Staff - Non UnionJob Category M&P - AAPSJob Profile AAPS Salaried - Information Services, Level AJob Title Communications SpecialistDepartment DAE Integrated Marketing and CommunicationsCompensation Range $5,791.00 - $8,323.42 CAD MonthlyThe Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.Posting End Date September 17, 2025Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.Job End Date OngoingAt 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 SummaryThe Integrated Marketing & Communications team, within the Development & Alumni Engagement (DAE) portfolio, is looking for a Communications Specialist to help us connect strategy, content, and user experience more seamlessly across our digital and internal platforms.This role plays a key part in shaping how we plan, create, and deliver content across websites, email campaigns, and internal tools. The Specialist will develop, recommend, and implement storytelling and campaign materials aligned with strategic objectives, lead components of internal communication initiatives, advising on messaging approaches to meet engagement goals, and assess, enhance, and manage the systems and platforms used to reach audiences, identifying opportunities for optimization, whether that’s prospective donors, alumni, or campus partners.They collaborate and advise content for digital leads to ensure strategic alignment and integration across platforms to ensure messaging is aligned, user journeys are considered, and our platforms feel connected and easy to navigate. The role also brings a user-focused perspective to interpret analytics and performance data, providing recommendations to adjust strategy and improve outcomes, guiding and advising on continuous improvement initiatives.The Specialist collaborates regularly with internal leads and senior team members, helping maintain communications that are clear, consistent, and aligned with audience needs.Organizational StatusThis role reports to the Senior Director of Integrated Marketing & Communications and works closely with content and digital leads on the team. This role also contributes to collaborative planning and execution within the team and may partner with colleagues across faculties, central units, and external vendors to support digital and content-related projects.Work PerformedStrategic Content and Marketing SupportDevelop, recommend, and implement content strategies and campaign plans based on audience insights and performance data from a marketing and user-centric perspectiveDeliver and align messaging and content rollout to maximize audience engagement across digital platforms in alignment with team leadsIdentify opportunities to amplify or extend the reach of existing contentEnsures website content is dynamic, up-to-date, and fresh, working closely with other content creators on the team and subject-matter experts across UBCDay-to-Day Digital SupportImplement website updates using WordPress, and the internal intranet content updates through SharePoint, as well as create email campaigns using Engaging Networks or similar platforms ensuring alignment with strategic goals and UX best practicesManage and execute campaign deliverables, making adjustments as needed to meet objectives across digital and internal platforms, establish and oversee timelines, proactively addressing risks and delays and quality standardsPlan, execute, and optimize digital ad campaigns, making strategic decisions on targeting and spend distribution on platforms such as Meta and Google in line with project manager’s directionStep in for key digital tasks during absences or peak workload periodsAnalytics and UX InsightsAnalyze and interpret performance data to inform decision-making across digital platforms including email, web, and paid mediaTranslate and convert metrics and feedback into actionable recommendationsApply user-focused improvements to how content is structured and delivered across digital platformsInternal Communications StrategyDevelop, coordinate, and evaluate internal engagement initiatives to achieve strategic outcomes across teams, units, and facultiesDraft, edit, and refine internal messaging for clarity, tone, and impact that reinforces team goals and prioritiesUpdate and enhance content on digital internal platforms to support engagement and alignment with organizational priorities (SharePoint, newsletters) and ensure it remains clear, useful, and engagingConsequence of Error JudgementInitiatives executed by the Communications Specialist on behalf of the Development and Alumni Engagement portfolio are very public, and are critical to donor and alumni engagement efforts. The position has dealings with staff, faculty, as well as the business community and external suppliers.Errors in judgment could have far-reaching and long-term serious negative reputational, financial and public relations impacts for the university and its partners. Information provided by this position is used in making managerial and policy decisions at a strategic and senior level.Poor leadership, or the lack of diplomacy, foresight or sound judgment could have a serious negative impact on the reputation of the University, its senior administrators, the portfolio, faculty and staff. It could also alienate existing and potential donors as well as jeopardize relationships with alumni, resulting in a potential loss of significant donations or critical relationships.Supervision ReceivedThis position reports to the Senior Director, Integrated Marketing & Communications, and follows strategic direction collaboratively developed within the team.Supervision GivenThis position does not supervise staff but may coordinate with vendors on project work.Minimum QualificationsUndergraduate degree in a relevant field such as marketing, communications, journalism, UX, or digital media, and a minimum of four years of related experience in digital communications, content strategy, or marketing, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s ownDemonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusionPreferred QualificationsStrategic and collaborative, with the ability to work on both planning and day-to-day executionUnderstands how user experience ties into content, digital platforms, and internal communicationsComfortable working across teams and connecting the dots between different tools, platforms, and content effortsCurious about how people use and engage with content. Confident navigating digital tools, improving content, and solving practical issuesExperienced in content strategy, UX, and marketing basics, and how they apply in a higher education and fundraisingInterested in what’s working and why, especially through performance metrics, feedback, and testingExperience using SharePoint, WordPress, Engaging Networks, or similar tools for web, email, or content deliveryExperience using advertising platforms such as Meta Ads Manager and Google Ads Manager to support campaign executionProficient in design and content tools such as Canva and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, etc.)Familiarity with HTML or basic web codingConfident in writing content that is clear, engaging, and meets the needs of its audienceExperience supporting content calendars, cross-channel storytelling, and campaign coordinationHas contributed to digital initiatives by working with multiple contributors like content leads, editors, stakeholders, etc.Able to interpret research or web analytics to help improve content and user experienceComfortable navigating a complex environment with multiple priorities and stakeholdersCulturally aware and sensitive to cross-cultural communication needs in a diverse university setting
