Director, Communications Jobs

DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Reporting to the Vice President, Marketing and Communications, the Director, Communications develops and leads strategic initiatives for NorQuest College’s communications and creative services functions, ensuring our audiences know our college as we do — a place that transforms lives for the better.

The Director provides leadership to dynamic teams that work to bring the NorQuest brand to life and capture the essence of what sets the college apart. Through engaging storytelling, digital and print design, multimedia, and proactive media relations, the Director will guide teams to highlight the many ways in which the college impacts our learners, communities, and province.

As a contributing member of NorQuest’s senior leadership team, the Director participates in key college initiatives, identifies emerging issues and impacts, and recommends strategies in alignment with college priorities and objectives. The Director must apply a holistic, organization-wide perspective, and work collaboratively across all college portfolios, to effect change and support the college’s progression toward NorQuest 2030.

How You'll Make a Difference

• Leads institutional responses to emerging issues and crises, providing guidance and communications support that reduces impacts for students, faculty, and staff and mitigates risk for the college.
• Establishes and leads an omni-channel strategy for internal communications that enables better access to information and enhances employee experience.
• Ensures that policies and procedures are developed (as required), implemented and monitored, and that decisions and processes are coordinated and communicated within Marketing and Communications, to the VP Marketing and Communications, and to other divisions of the College.
• Works closely with senior leaders and strategic committees to identify internal and external communications needs in support of college strategic and operational plans.
• Promotes and fosters a creative and inclusive work environment that empowers employees to work to their highest potential and encourages peer-to-peer accountability.
• Fosters effective collaboration within Marketing and Communications in support of divisional and college business plans.
• Promotes and leads a client-centric internal engagement model, positioning the team as trusted advisors to other areas of the college.
• Models NorQuest’s values (the Qs) and lives NorQuest’s purpose (being a difference maker).
• Works collaboratively with the Learner Experience portfolio, faculties, Alumni, and student services to create alignment and consistency across the student lifecycle.
• Implements a comprehensive external communications strategy (including social media and media relations) that builds and enhances NorQuest’s reputation through proactive storytelling highlighting the ways in which the college impacts our learners, community, and province.
• Provides leadership and strategic direction to the team and empowers them to self-direct their work.
• Focuses on people development by ensuring all employees have clear role expectations, a development plan, and set annual performance goals with meaningful career development conversations.
• Maintains an awareness of key internal and external risks and advises the President’s Office, executive, senior leaders, and strategic committees on proactive responses.
• Oversees the development and implementation of the annual business plan, budget planning and forecasting, and quarterly reporting for the Communications division.

What You Bring

• Excellent understanding of various communications channels, platforms, and technologies.
• Excellent understanding of copywriting, graphic design, layout, and publishing.
• 7+ years in progressively senior communications leadership roles.
• Experience managing communications and creative services teams within complex organizations. Post-secondary experience considered an asset.
• Experience, in senior leadership roles, implementing strategic and business plans including budgeting, setting performance management goals, and business objectives.
• Experience developing integrated communications strategies, aligned to organizational business goals and with a focus on impact and outcomes.
• A Master's degree in a related field is required.

What Makes You a Difference Maker

As a difference maker you bring:

• Proven leadership experience and skills; demonstrated experience working with different levels of leadership to engage and influence positive outcomes.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• A collaborative management style and experience building and sustaining teams and developing strong relationships with internal and external partners.
• Demonstrated strength in thinking globally, delivering results, handling complexities, and dealing with ambiguities.
• Creative and innovative problem-solver with a commitment to quality, customer service and accountability.
• Demonstrated success as a dynamic leader and mentor at the senior leadership level.
• Cultural sensitivity and excellent interpersonal and diplomacy skills.

SALARY: $129,074 - $177,188 reflective upon what you bring AKA your education and experience. This is a full-time permanent position with immediate access to our great pension and benefit programs.

We offer flexible work options. We strive for balance between a flexible work environment, connectedness to the campus community, and ensuring NorQuesters are set up to succeed in their roles and responsibilities.

Our Commitment To Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion

We're on a journey to become an inclusive, anti-racist, and decolonized organization. NorQuesters are trailblazers – we are curious, creative, and innovative - our lived experiences are honoured, creating accessibility and a sense of belonging for everyone.

NorQuest 2030 We Are Who We Include shares our strength and difference comes from who is included, and along with our students we are learning and growing to listen deeply and say what we feel.

NorQuest College is committed to being an employer of choice for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people by recognizing, respecting, and supporting Indigenous people's self-determination through the institution’s work in decolonization, reconciliation, and Indigenization.

ACCESSIBILITY: At NorQuest, we are who we include. We strive to provide access and accommodation throughout the recruitment, application, and selection process. We want to create opportunities for you to confidently be your authentic self. If you would like an accommodation at any stage of the process, please reach out to   [email protected] .

APPLY TO BECOME A NORQUESTER: If this opportunity delights you and your expertise will shine in this role, we invite you to apply for this position online by uploading your resume and cover letter combined as one document.

PSST: Only candidates shortlisted for an interview will be contacted and we’ll make sure to do this within 28 days of the closing date.

COMPETITION NUMBER: 2023-4174

CLOSING DATE: Thursday, September 7, 2023 @ 11:59 PM MST