Communications and Events Officer - Jobs in Kingston, ON

Job Description

About Queens UniversityQueen’s University is the Canadian research intensive university with a transformative student learning experience. Here the employment experience is as diverse as it is interesting. We have opportunities in multiple areas of globally recognized research, faculty administration, engineering & construction, athletics & recreation, power generation, corporate shared services, and many more.We are committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcome applications from individuals from equity seeking groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, persons who identify in the LGBTQ+ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.Come work with us!Job SummaryReporting to the Director, Strategic Communications and Events, with functional accountability to the Manager, Advancement Communications and Marketing, the Communications and Events Officer, works in collaboration with clients and partners to develop and execute communications materials, campaigns and programs as well as events to further Advancement and university wide strategic goals and priorities. The incumbent designs and implements communications strategies, and as well as other Office of Advancement communications as needed. The incumbent also plans, project manages, and executes alumni and donor-focused events.As part of the Department of Advancement Marketing, Communications and Donor Relations, the incumbent works with an exceptional team to leverage key messages events to further Advancement’s strategic goals while building profile and recognition of Queen’s and Queen’s Alumni brands. Communications and events are tailored to multiple audiences including alumni, donors, community members, volunteers, the Queen’s University Alumni Association (QUAA), and its branches.The incumbent must combine sound judgment, exceptional interpersonal and communications skills, strong project management skills, and attention to detail. They must be an excellent communicator who is at home in high-pressure, deadline-driven environments.This position requires the incumbent to regularly travel and work evenings and weekends and is subject to the Averaging and Travel Time Credit provisions of the USW Local 2010 Collective Agreement.Job DescriptionDUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:Event Planning and Execution

• As a senior member of the Communications and Events team, works collaboratively with colleagues to design, implement and execute a full repertoire of branded event designs, concepts, and measures that adheres to university policies and partner needs including a wide variety of strategic goals from a diverse group of clients.
• Consults, advises, and partners with event clients in Advancement and across the university, including faculties and schools, the Principal’s Office, the Office of the Provost, and the University Secretariat to plan, stage, and evaluate a variety of events for multiple audiences in locations ranging from the campus to international cities of strategic importance to the university.
• Collaborates with volunteers to plan and stage a variety of events, ensuring alignment of goals and effectiveness of planning and delivery. Appreciates the differences between volunteer-driven and staff-driven events and adapts style accordingly, is adept at developing partnerships with volunteers.
• Oversees event budgets, timelines, and other aspects of the event project, ensuring that events are delivered on time, within budget and with a high degree of guest satisfaction. Works effectively with event external suppliers to reach optimum event solutions and services.
• Understands the emerging trends of alumni, volunteer, and donor behaviour, including demographic cohort trends, such as those unique to new graduates, to identify new and dynamic event opportunities that address these trends.
• Develops and implements measures, metrics, and other evaluation tools to pursue continuous improvement based on client feedback and program performance.

Advancement Communications

• Works collaboratively with university partners to develop, implement, and execute creative communications strategies that focus on user-centred design principles and incorporate key messages and the strategic priorities of the Office of Advancement and the university more broadly.
• Fosters relationships with Advancement colleagues, faculties, departments, alumni, donors, students, and volunteers, to reach goals and achieve objectives.
• Identifies audiences, tactics, messaging, and methods of evaluation to ensure communications activities support objectives.
• Takes a lead role in developing communications plans that support event attendance strategies and engaging non-attendees digitally.
• Creates content to support communications objectives, including writing stories, social-media posts, event speaking notes, press releases, and coordinating videos.
• In consultation with the Advancement Marketing and Communications team, engages with key audiences through a variety of social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Youtube). Follows the Queen’s Social Media Guidelines, recommends, develops and regularly posts content, which may include basic photo video capture and editing, responding to questions, and moderating online discussions, as needed, to support communications objectives.
• Ensures communications standards are met for the Office of Advancement through proofreading, consistent use of language, and the Queen’s Style Guide. Provides strategic advice to internal colleagues on best practices for content on the Queen’s Alumni website. Ensures content meets accessibility and style standards and reflects the communications and marketing strategy for the Office of Advancement.
• Researches industry trends in the areas of print, social media, and web communications.
• Prepares reports and reviews analytics on an ongoing basis to determine campaign/strategy success.

Administration

• Promotes a culture of inclusion that embodies Advancement values, with a commitment to the university’s equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives designed to foster an inclusive, supportive, and welcoming work environment for individuals with diverse backgrounds and identities.
• Evaluates communications and event performance and needs, provides accurate and timely analysis and reporting to key stakeholders, makes recommendations to the Director, Strategic Communications and Events for changes designed to enhance communications and event effectiveness.
• Keeps abreast of emerging trends of alumni, student, donor and volunteer attitudes, perceptions and behaviours, and communications, including demographic cohort trends and survey evaluation.
• Represents the university and Office of Advancement to external audiences, including alumni, donors, volunteers, members of Queens faculty and staff, and other friends, community and professional organizations, meetings and conferences.
• Undertakes other duties as assigned in support of the unit and/or department.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Four-year bachelor’s degree required, preferably in communications or journalism.
• Minimum three of relevant, successful experience demonstrating passion, integrity and creativity in the design and execution of events, event planning, event promotion, and communications, including social media content creation, email invitations and website content development, preferably in a post-secondary or institutionally relevant environment.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing effective communication plans (including the use of both traditional and digital platforms), preferably in a multi-stakeholder environment.
• Proven success interacting with alumni and donors.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively research, write, and edit to deadlines for a diverse range of communications, incorporating key messages and targeting key audiences.
• Demonstrated successful experience co-ordinating multiple projects and tasks, while meeting deadlines and maintaining accuracy.
• Experience in program analysis and reporting.
• An understanding of accessibility issues and federal and provincial legislation pertaining to electronic communications regarding accessibility, privacy and electronic security, and anti-spam.
• Ability to use and implement new technologies to the Office of Advancement’s advantage.
• Advanced knowledge and ongoing learning required of operating systems including Office 365, database packages (preferably, Advance), website updates and email creation in HTML format, online event platforms, e-communication systems, and internet tools for data and statistical analysis.
• Valid G-Class driver’s licence and passport with no travel restrictions.
• Consideration will be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL SKILLS:

• Advocates/lives Advancement’s core values of Integrity, inclusivity, accountability, collaboration and service.
• Demonstrates commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where there is mutual respect and collaboration across all teams.
• Strong customer service orientation with a demonstrated passion for the university and its people.
• Strong communications and interpersonal skills to anticipate needs and present data findings/analysis and make business recommendations to staff at all levels of the organization.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills for electronic and print-based communications. Knowledge of English grammar, punctuation, and syntax. Ability to understand tone and voice guidelines and adapt writing styles to audiences and channels. Proven ability to quickly and effectively gather information by means of interviews, database research, etc.
• Proactive, critical and creative thinker able to identify potential story ideas/photo opportunities that enhance the Office of Advancement social, digital, and print communications.
• Ability to place social media communications in the broader organizational context and make content decisions accordingly.
• Excellence in researching and interpreting information from diverse sources, selecting appropriate methods of analysis, monitoring emerging trends and issues, and disseminating information.
• Strict attention to detail and accuracy, with an appreciation for the implications of errors for the university and Office of Advancement with respect to reputation and relationship building.
• Strong customer focus, with a proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with others by working co-operatively or independently to accomplish shared goals and objectives.
• Results oriented and works to achieve desired organizational goals by meeting or exceeding standards. Consistently delivers results, sets and achieves goals, consistently complies with quality and accessibility standards and meets deadlines, maintains focus on organizational goals.
• High level of tact and discretion, maturity and good judgement, and the ability to deal with sensitive issues in a professional manner.
• Proven time management and project management skills including an understanding of project management principles, practices, techniques and tools. Ability to prioritize among many competing demands and work effectively under pressure.
• Understanding of the major issues that impact the reputation of Queen’s and its learning environment.

DECISION-MAKING:

• As a senior member of the Communications and Events team, makes decisions affecting the planning and execution of communications strategies and events. Identifies and implements best methods to ensure programs meet the university’s engagement goals.
• Decides how to organize and market events by evaluating several factors such as cost effectiveness, need, interest, etc. Determines appropriate and necessary content for various communications vehicles, the optimal mode to use to communicate key messages, and maintains timeliness of materials.
• Identifies necessary constituents for interviews and further consultation in adequately preparing stories and other communications materials.
• Assesses the value of each event opportunity as it relates to overall goals, identifies most effective strategy for maximizing event opportunities, and demonstrates expertise in guiding and offering recommendations to colleagues and other university stakeholders.
• Creates and recommends new key-message opportunities that enhance the visibility of the university and supports strategic goals.
• Identifies resource needs to optimizes program delivery in a fixed resource environment. Recommends budget, annual and long-term plans, and technology investments to maximize relationship-building opportunities.
• Anticipates, analyzes and solve problems, and recommends solutions, alone and/or cooperatively.
• Delegates work to appropriate support staff when necessary.
• Recommends strategies to measure and benchmark the effectiveness of events and communications initiatives.
• Determines which university stakeholders need to be consulted in arriving at decisions regarding communications. Recognizes when to call on campus stakeholders to take advantage of their expertise.
• Determines relevant information to facilitate evidence-based decision-making.
• Determines appropriate report format and detail level, for different audiences.
• Allocates time, prioritizes tasks, and determines workflow to ensure needs of internal and external stakeholders are met. Assesses the nature of a request, adjusts priorities, and manages tasks in a fast-paced and demanding environment to achieve optimum efficiencies and productivity.

Employment Equity and Accessibility StatementThe University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen’s is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, visible minorities, Aboriginal Peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.The University provides support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicants accessibility needs. Candidates requiring accommodation during the recruitment process are asked to contact Human Resources at hradmin@queensu.ca .Quick Apply

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