Communications Specialist

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Posting Information:
This posting is for an existing vacancy.

The internal posting deadline for this position is September 3, 2026 at 11:59PM

This position is being offered as a Secondment or contract opportunity. The contract ends February, 9 2028.

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

The Communications Specialist is responsible for the coordination and execution of WUSA’s digital media efforts and support with other organizational communications. Specifically, they actively create original web and social media content in order to create awareness of the organization and its efforts, while increasing student engagement to help achieve organizational goals. The Communications Specialist is also responsible for collecting student feedback and reporting on social media analytics.

Key Accountabilities

Provides strategic oversight for WUSA’s web and social media presence

• Serves as project lead for WUSA’s digital presence, working collaboratively to develop crisp, compelling content for multiple audiences on current and emerging digital platforms and ensuring digital tactics are part of all integrated communications plans.

• Creates and implements a social media plan each term that includes goals for increasing followers and engagement on various sites, content ideas, and tools for measurement. These goals will relate to how digital presence can help achieve organizational outcomes such as increased awareness, event attendance, voter turnout, etc.

• Develops copy and other assets for WUSA’s digital content, including social media, feature based web content and video scripts.

• Provides leadership and guidance to Marketing Specialists to share with sub-groups within WUSA for development of digital content and copy for area specific online efforts (I.E. Student-Run Service social media accounts).

• Creates training documents for staff and students to use that outline the proper procedures and practices for social media.

• Utilizes campus-wide tools, including Social Baker’s , to make informed content creation and curation decisions and execute campus-wide social media collaboration on campaigns and initiatives.

• Gathers, analyzes and reports on data and analytics for social initiatives. Utilizes findings to drive future evidence-based approaches.

• Maintains an accurate and up-to-date content calendar, daily content creation, curation, monitoring and generation.

• Monitors online activity on relevant external sites to ensure we are aware of any conversations that include WUSA and our efforts and manage discussion when required.

Maintains a strong understanding of current trends and best practices for online communication with student audiences

• Maintains an understanding of how the timing, tactics and nature of communication with students can influence campaign success.

• Stays up-to-date on new and developing tools and strategies for effective communication to assess opportunity for expansion of efforts.

• Ongoing management of WUSA’sprofile and reputation with student audiences.

• Interprets WUSA’s positioning and brand identity and ensures the effective positioning through digital in the minds of students and secondary audiences.

• Accountable for the safeguarding of WUSA’s reputation through the identification, development, and delivery of new concepts and models along with well-tested, on brand, creative, innovative and high-quality approaches to marketing, communications, design, and student engagement.

Project manages digital marketing and communication projects

• Assumes project management responsibilities for digital content development and maintenance of online communication materials including resources, time and budget, ensuring proper control of expenditures.

• Liaise with initiative owners and stakeholders to ensure satisfaction at all stages of digital implementation.

• Manage work flow and production process. Documents tactics and maintains records in a shared drive.

• Reports regularly on project status.

• Manages content for on-campus digital screens and looks for opportunities to expand network for greater reach.

• Assists in other written communication for the organization as needed including emails, online articles, meeting recaps, staff communication, etc.

Collaborates with key campus partners, students, and other key stakeholders

• Works collaboratively with key University of Waterloo stakeholders including Student Success Office, University Relations, Campus Wellness and other student facing services on campus.

• Works collaboratively with key external stakeholders and partners.

Managing and motivating people

• Hires, trains and manages team of part time staff to assist with creation of content for digital media.

• Conducts termly staff evaluations and meets regularly with staff to ensure they are meeting desired goals and have necessary support for success.

• Creates and maintains a work environment that fosters and rewards creativity, innovation, and personal accountability, while providing students a work environment that puts their academics first.

• Assists in the coordination of termly staff appreciation efforts.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, business, or a related degree

• Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered

Experience

• Relevant and recent experience working with a student audience and/or participating in student groups and initiatives is preferred

• Minimum 2 years of experience in a marketing and/or communications role

• Minimum 2 years of experience in social media, digital content creation, digital/social advertising role

• Experience writing and curating content for a student audience

• Project management experience

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Advanced: MS Office suite of products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Advanced: social media platforms and tools (Hootsuite)

• Intermediate: Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, InCopy)

• Web-based project management platform experience an asset

• Web content management system (WCMS – Drupal) experience is an asset

• Knowledge of email marketing campaign and distribution platforms is an asset

• Strong communication skills – oral and written

• Strong organizational skills

• Effective time management skills

• Effective relationship-builder/collaborator

Equity Statement
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.
The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion.  As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.
The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.