Manager, Internal Communications (Employees)

This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

In accordance with the Temporary Librarian, Administrative and Professional Staff (TLAPO) Agreement , this position offers a comprehensive benefits package found on our Benefits Overview page and annual salary range of $69,887 to $116,044. This position has an end date of December 15, 2024.

Location - Enterprise Square. This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Working for the Department/Faculty

The Strategic Communications portfolio enables the University of Alberta to deliver on the vision and goals outlined in the university’s strategic plan. We illustrate the value that the U of A provides to our community and to society as a whole.

In servi ce of the One University strategy, we work with our partners to tie their operational and strategic plans into the larger university strategy in a way that moves the dial on important measures of success. Whether we work directly with our partners on their initiatives, or support their work through portfolio-initiated projects, we connect the dots from strategies across the institution – especially where they connect to the larger institutional goals – and draw them together into a compelling and consistent narrative of one of the Top 5 universities in Canada

Position

Reporting to the Director, Internal Communications, the Manager, Internal Communications is responsible for leading the development and execution of integrated communications and internal promotional efforts for staff and faculty at the institutional level .

As a core member of the Internal Communications leadership team, the successful candidate will support the communications and marketing partnership network and Centres of Expertise with advice, resources and frameworks to ensure effective employee comm unications across the University of Alberta.

In all facets of this role, the Manager, Internal Communications endeavors to integrate, communicate and advance the University’s commitments to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Duties

• Provides strat egic leadership and counsel, and develops resources, templates and frameworks, related to employee communications to support communicators and leaders across the institution.
• Builds strategic partnerships through effective communication, negotiation and issues manag ement to ensure deliverables are met and strategies are aligned with the university’s strategic plan.
• Identifies, acquires, manages and supports collective and individual talent. Pro actively identifies and plans for future talent needs.
• Works towards establishing a diverse workforce reflective of the broader community by identifying and working to remove barriers to access. Creates an environment where diverse ideas, perspectives, and achievements are recognized, rewarded and celebrated.
• Working with colleagues in Centres of Expertise, analyzes market research, data/trends and identif ies opportunities.
• Plans and implements a connected institutional approach to communication and engagement with facul ty and staff, preserving strategic segmentation when needed but providing a communications framework and platforms that eliminates duplication of messages and work.
• Works collaboratively with Centres of Expertise and strategic portfolios to ensure consistent and complementary plans.
• Conceptualizes and develops integrated communications strategies, approaches, and opportunities to enhance reputation, heighten awareness, address multipl e audiences, and deliver coherent and unified messages to internal audiences. Develops key messages and strategies to communicate complex information to multiple audiences and constituencies which align with university priorities and brand.
• Builds and strengthens the team by leveraging diverse capabilities of staff and develops talent to ensure core competencies are met.
• Sets and communicates clear performance expectations for staff. Remo ves barriers to staff achieving goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience in project management, negotiation and brokering.
• Ability to translate strategic priorities into actionable communications and marketing plans.
• High degree of professionalism and judgement.
• Ability to balance competing priorities and meet and manage client expectations.
• Strong research, communication skills.
• Solid understanding of academic culture, the university’s policies and procedures and its organizational structure
• Strong management and team building skills
• Five to seven years progressive communications and marketing experience at the senior level within a large, complex, multi-faceted organization.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in a related field is required.
• Solid understanding of editorial strategy, internal communications, issues management, and social media management.

Preferred Qualifications

• A minimum of five years proven strategic leadership and experience in hiring, leading, supervising, mentoring, and managing employee performance within a large and complex, unionized environment.