Marketing And Communications Specialist

Description:

The Marketing and Communications team supports a diverse portfolio of projects, as well as diverse target audiences. As a member of the Marketing and Communications team, the individual will be responsible to draft and execute creative writing pieces for paid media, social channels, emails, web copy, newsletters, and other channels. Other primary tasks include the coordination and planning of events and tradeshow participation.

Reporting to the Director, Marketing and Communications, the Marketing and Communications Specialist will work closely with members of the Continuing Education team to provide efficient and effective communications duties and event coordination support. Continuing Education is looking for an energetic, detailed oriented, self-directed person to support marketing activities and write creative content. We're looking for someone who loves to write, enjoys connecting with people and is an agile creative writer and marketer.
Position Description

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Write compelling stories for a variety of mediums
Pitch, write, and rewrite diverse types of content such as blog posts, articles, eBooks, reports, etc.
Write scripts and speaking notes for associate vice president and senior leadership at Continuing Education as required
Craft copy that includes all the right keywords (aka Google Trends is your friend)
Produce SEO-friendly content that is optimized for search and conversion
Do research for writing and fact-checking: from concept and terms to labour market data
Collect stories for newsletters or web
Conduct interviews with students, instructors, staff, subject matter experts (SME), and other stakeholders to create compelling student stories and articles that feature instructor experience and expertise
Use Drupal's content management system to edit web copy for different web properties as required
Prepare briefing notes and communications plans for marketing campaigns, tradeshows, events, etc
Collaborate with the marketing team to create and produce high-quality data-driven reports, articles, and thought leadership pieces
Work with Marketing team to create and execute a content and editorial calendar
Make sure writing pieces and marketing materials align with the unit's brand and value proposition
Write and continually review marketing materials as needed to effectively position Continuing Education internally and externally
Double and triple check copy for style, grammar, and spelling
Proof-read as required and assist with content review/validation/refinement
Adopt our brand voice while helping to evolve it
Track what is going on word-wise in the industry
Conduct competitive research to gain new insights on strategies for marketing campaigns
Develop a strong understanding of Continuing Education assets, product lines and audiences, as well as other external media properties and touchpoints, and integrate into creative writing concepts in a smart, authentic way
Assist in preparing event materials such as timelines, rooms, vendors, legal obligations, signage, print collateral, badges, delegate packs, and more
Conduct other event related tasks such as preparing the attendee evaluation, pulling, or creating reports, creating forms, and other tasks as determined necessary for a successful event
Organize the production of signage, print material, etc
Perform other duties and tasks as assigned and required for event planning and management
Provide guidance, and support to ensure that all events are executed to a high standard of quality and professionalism
Support programming team members when they are attending tradeshows or events related to our product offerings
Perform other event duties and tasks as assigned and required for event planning and management
Work alongside different Continuing Education teams to see ideas through and ensure creative vision is executed properly.
Develop detailed project plans and tasks to monitor and track progress. Communicate and maintain timelines and priorities on every project
Create and maintain project documentation
Learn and demonstrate the ability to seamlessly navigate the company's internal file structure
Create, maintain, and communicate project updates, reports, timelines, etc
Monitor and address incoming messages on shared email inboxes to align Marketing and Communications' requests in a project' pipeline
Develop a variety of reporting templates for effectively communicating results. This could include a full report, presentation, briefs, and other documentation as required
Liaise with advertising vendors to make sure ads are paid and delivered on time
Perform other duties and tasks as assigned and required
Manage relationships with key stakeholders. This may involve engaging with, but not limited to, Continuing Education staff, students, instructors, other university departments, external organizations, professional associations, etc.
Serve as the primary liaison to tradeshow vendors. This includes email communications, coordination of booths and logistics, registration, promotion as appropriate
Coordinate with advertising and event vendors, as necessary
Collaborate with Continuing Education teams, as well as central university's brand, marketing, and communications teams
Handle complex issues and challenging interpersonal interactions with composure and diplomacy
Ensure that communications are timely, accurate, informative, professional, and represent the university appropriately
Qualifications / Requirements:

Must have a bachelor's degree preferably in Communications or related field (Marketing, Business Administration)
5+ years of project management experience
3 years of experience in similar marketing and communications roles
Proven experience in producing a variety of communication materials, including web-based communications, aimed at various audiences
Proven experience in event planning/management, public relations, or general communications
Proven experience as a strong writer and editor, able to produce high-quality content on short deadlines
Strong background in Journalism, Advertising, Marketing, or relevant field
Have a profound interest in the world around us â€" culture, music, film, art, entertainment to relate to lifelong learning
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships and facilitate collaboration between diverse groups
Demonstrated organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail
Strong communication, consultative and problem-solving skills, and ability to work with cross-functional teams effectively
Demonstrated ability to act decisively and to exercise a high degree of initiative and judgment in a fast-paced environment, with constantly shifting priorities
Demonstrated ability to work under stressful and tight deadlines while working with a diverse set of internal and external stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to balance multiple projects at once, multitask and work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
Proficiency with management information systems and software, and in Microsoft Office Suite
Proficiency on videoconferencing software: Zoom and Microsoft Teams
Demonstrated project management skills and knowledge of project management technology tools such as MS Teams, Basecamp, Asana, Trello or similar
Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills along with a strong customer service orientation
Experience with web-based applications such as Marketo, Drupal and Asana
Desire to learn, grow and contribute in a creative, collaborative environment
Have an agile mindset with a focus on learning and growth, with a clear interest in communications best practices
Knowledge and understanding of the professional development and personal enrichment educational needs of adult learners an asset
High level of tact and professionalism
Good judgment and initiative, tact, and diplomacy in dealing with the frequent interactions with, staff, instructors, university departments and external organizations
Proactive and self-motivated; able to prioritize and achieve goals with moderate supervision
Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud an asset