Manager, College Communications and Marketing

Manager, College Communications and Marketing

Primary Purpose: The manager is responsible for the delivery of client-focused, expert, and strategic advisory services through the embedded communications and marketing professionals' network to a diverse, multi-disciplinary group of leaders, colleges and schools, and administrative units across the University. This position will provide leadership and ensure alignment across a team of professionals that influence and implement effective integrated marketing and communications strategies.

Nature of Work: Reporting to the Director, University Communications the manager will work collaboratively with and take collective direction from the leadership team under the Associate Vice President (AVP) and Chief Communications Officer (CCO), Strategic Communications and the central University Relations office.

The manager will use a client-oriented approach with a focus on collaboration, agility and continuous improvement to organize the capacity, skills and resources of a team of marketing and communications professionals to meet the needs of a diverse group of leaders and their units. The manager exercises discretion and applies best practices with a consistent and proactive approach.

This position requires strong leadership, relationship building, and project management skills. The successful candidate is expected to work effectively in a matrix-like reporting structure and will be required to exercise significant decision-making authority to create an environment that is highly responsive to client needs, while managing finite resources. The incumbent will be expected to evaluate the needs of multiple stakeholders in a complex and interconnected environment, and to frequently work across functional boundaries to deliver results.

A high level of adaptability is required for continuous planning, balancing multiple projects and managing competing deadlines. The incumbent will possess strong change management skills and the ability to create buy-in around organizational and process change in groups with diverse interests.

As a leader, this role will facilitate a future state which fosters employee development, advancement, and engagement.

University Relations is responsible for institutional advancement programs (alumni and external relations, development, strategic communications), and as such is dedicated to supporting the related needs of all colleges, units and the university as a whole. University Relations is comprised of specialized teams that work together in an integrated model to ensure that the University of Saskatchewan has the reputation, relationships and resources necessary to take its place among the most distinguished universities in Canada and the world.

The University of Saskatchewan values diversity and Indigenous engagement is a strategic priority. In support of this priority, the position will contribute to a team environment which recognizes and supports the importance and value of equity, diversity, and inclusion in achieving the mission of the university, and actively seek out those with diverse cultural backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to support the mission.

In University Relations, the nature of our work centres on our guiding principles of being:

• Inspiring: We are confident in ourselves and our goals. We instill confidence and excitement in others to bring them along with us.
• Committed to each other's success: We look for opportunities to make all our teams and the University successful.
• Collaborative and integrated: We work together toward shared goals.
• Solutions- and action-oriented: We continuously seek a path forward and we get things done.
• Brave and courageous: We expect to encounter obstacles. We face these challenges head-on.
• Respectful: We demonstrate our regard for others through listening, understanding, and acknowledging the contributions of all.

Accountabilities:

Leadership & Development

• Manages the employee life cycle of direct reports through activities such as: recruitment, retention, orientation and onboarding, coaching and performance feedback, training and development, succession planning, performance development, addressing disciplinary matters, and separations
• Evaluates the performance of team members, enabling and supporting high performance through the application of the University of Saskatchewan's Career Engagement framework and ensuring the offering of appropriate developmental opportunities
• Creates and executes sustainable strategies to advance employee engagement and talent management including talent acquisition, onboarding, orientation, performance management and succession planning
• Act as a champion for change, empowering employees to provide feedback, collaborate with respect to process improvement, and reduce barriers to change and efficiency in processes
• Act as the senior advisor to constituents of the embedded communications & marketing model and address barriers to collaboration, communication or process improvements to encourage teams to work more effectively
• Provides regular guidance and support to embedded communications & marketing team members
• Ensures that embedded communications & marketing professionals apply and implement university policies, processes and procedures consistently across the university
• Provide leadership in ensuring embedded communications and marketing professionals implement strategies and communications reflective of USask's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, anti-racism and anti-oppression, and ohpahotn | oohpaahotaan.

Stakeholder Service Delivery

• Fosters strong and collaborative working relationships with stakeholders including, senior leaders, unit leaders, and other internal and external partners in the interest of delivery of client-centered service
• Consults with campus leaders and partners to determine support requirements, and provides professional support to meet these requirements, considering unique or novel solutions
• Acts as the senior technical advisor to constituents of the shared services model, offering support at the most senior level to leadership on strategic marketing and communications issues, in partnership with the college/unit embedded communications & marketing professionals and relevant central office resources
• Partners with the central University Relations office to maximize the integration and customer focused capability within related functional areas through continual process improvement and the development and deployment of agile project-based teams
• Ensures embedded communications & marketing professionals service delivery is consistent and integrated across the portfolio and campus

Decision Making and Strategic Orientation

• Participates as a member of the University Relations leadership team, contributing to portfolio-wide projects and initiatives with implications to marketing and communication services, and supporting the identification and definition of function focus and goals
• Interprets and translates the objectives and strategic priorities of the university to embedded communications & marketing professionals, using these to guide unit priorities and work plans;
• Partner with University Relations units to maximize the integration and customer focused capability within functional areas through continual process improvement and the development and deployment of agile project-based teams

Problem Solving

• Proactively oversees and executes collaborative and cross-functional solutions to issues identified in the functional area
• Uses critical analysis skills to identify issues and collaborative opportunities to enable the unit and the university to meet its goals
• Conducts performance analysis on existing strategies, procedures, and policies, identifying areas for improvement and developing actionable and sustainable solutions where needed, leading cross functional projects from idea conception to implementation
• Oversees escalated inquiries and assists in resolving non-routine or complex issues
• Manages risk by remaining current with and adhering to university policies, guidelines and processes, collective agreements and relevant legislation

Education: A university degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations or a related discipline. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Experience: Seven or more years of experience working in a strategic marketing or communications leadership role, with a strong history as a business partner or familiarity in working in a shared service delivery model. Experience in leading organizational and process change and in demonstrating the success of change is required. Experience working within a multi-reporting shared services organizational structure in a post-secondary or similarly complex organization is an asset.

Skills:

• Possesses advanced subject matter knowledge with innovative problem-solving abilities and sound judgment
• exceptional leadership and management skills
• Highly effective interpersonal skills, including diplomacy, tact, and professionalism in working with stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, create buy-in and effectively implement and manage change in environments without formal authority
• Demonstrated ability to influence leaders and stakeholders without formal authority
• Exceptional communication skills including written, verbal, and presentation
• Ability to think critically to guide decision making and apply and to adjust plans based on changing priorities
• Must possess knowledge and understanding of issues, including cultural, socio-economic and other factors affecting Indigenous Peoples and an awareness that Indigenous engagement is a strategic priority at the university
• Experience working in a diverse and inclusive environment and demonstrated understanding of the value of diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• Ability to manage ambiguity, dealing with issues that do not always have a process or system in place
• Knowledge of the university's marketing and communications related systems, procedures and policies would be an asset

Department: University Relations
Status: Permanent
Employment Group: Exempt
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $91,180.00 - 152,753.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable):
Salary Phase/Band: Salary Band 4
Posted Date: 12/9/2024
Closing Date: 1/6/2025 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: On Campus

The University is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and are proud to support career opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reflect the community we serve. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by thedeybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. The University of Saskatchewan's main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Mtis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Mtis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.