Job Requisition ID:Time Type:Full time
Employee Group:Staff
Job Category:Communications
Employment Type:Permanent
Department:Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association - Communications
Hiring Range:$73,695.42 - $92,119.28
Posting Information:This posting is for an existing vacancy.
The internal posting deadline for this position is July 3, 2026 at 11:59PM
There is a qualified internal in the role.
Job Description:Primary PurposeReporting to the Director, Communications, the Manager, Communications and Public Relations provides strategic leadership for WUSA's communications and media relations operations, managing organizational reputation and stakeholder engagement across a membership of 37,000+ undergraduate students. This position leads crisis communications, media partnerships, and organizational messaging while directing the communications team.
The Manager develops and executes integrated communications strategies, supports organizational spokespersons during crisis situations, and ensures consistent brand representation across all channels. They provide communications counsel to senior leadership and elected representatives, cultivate relationships with media partners and campus stakeholders, and hold accountability for strategic planning, resource allocation, and operational excellence within the communications portfolio.
This role requires expertise in media relations, crisis management, and stakeholder engagement to protect and enhance WUSA's institutional credibility and student trust.
Key AccountabilitiesStrategic Communications Planning and Implementation- Directs the development and execution of WUSA's integrated communications strategy and allocating resources to maximize impact across digital, print, and media channels. Establishes enterprise-wide standards for messaging.
- Oversees the end-to-end development, planning, and execution of all communications and public relations efforts (C-PR) for WUSA aligned with organizational strategic priorities and based on evidence-driven insights.
- Researches and analyzes previous communications efforts to create an effective research-based communications strategy for WUSA. This includes, but is not limited to, establishing goals and objectives, defining key messages, allocating resources, relationship-building with departments within WUSA, and overseeing the execution of communications initiatives.
- Ensures effective management of WUSA's brand identity, messaging, and style guidelines and ensures all are consistent in organizational marketing and communication materials, both internal and external, and provides guidance and training to staff and volunteers on how to use them correctly.
- Develops annual operational plan, outlining strategic objectives and priorities to guide the department to meet core deliverables successfully.
- Leads the planning and execution of strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with the organization's mission and vision and goals from our Long-Range Plan.
- Identifies opportunities for process optimization and implements improvements to enhance planning and delivery efficiency.
- Demonstrates a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism through their leadership, management, and operational practices.
- Ensures department's adherence to relevant organizational policies and procedures.
- Regularly assesses the progress and effectiveness of strategic initiatives, using key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success.
Image and Issues/Crisis Management- Leads crisis and issues management, supports the primary spokespersons and advises senior leadership and elected governance representatives. Develops organizational crisis communication protocols.
- Develops comprehensive communications plans and strategies for sensitive and major organizational announcements, coordinating messaging, stakeholder engagement, and timing across multiple departments.
- Leads and executes media relations activities, including media outreach, coverage initiation, attendance of media relations events, development of press release/materials, gathering of information on a variety of subjects, and understanding the broad spectrum of political, social, and cultural milieus in which WUSA (and the University) operate.
- Maintains major media relations with local news (radio, print, tv) partners.
- Champion of communications through maintaining and growing strong working relationships
- Collaborates with WUSA departments, their leaders and staff to develop vibrant communities and enrich the student experience through meaningful engagement and support.
- Cultivates and leverages positive relationships with external stakeholders, both on and off-campus, to enhance C-PR opportunities.
- Fosters positive relationships with members, student groups, and campus partners to create an inclusive and supportive environment.
- Continuously seeks ways to enhance the stakeholder experience, proactively identifying and implementing improvements to meet the evolving needs and preferences of diverse stakeholders.
Team leadership and people development- Leads team responsible for strategy, content, analytics, and maintenance of @yourwusa social media channels to leverage and manage digital resources strategically, and in partnership with the Marketing Manager and Production Manager, ensure that the WUSA brand identity, reputations, and messages are protected and presented consistently and effectively across all digital platforms.
- Develops and implements training programs to enhance staff communications capabilities and provides guidance to WUSA leaders (staff and students) to deliver effective communications efforts.
- Efficiently allocates staff resources to ensure adequate coverage and optimal performance in various departments and projects.
- Recruits, onboards, and manages staff, providing guidance, support, and recognition for their contributions to the organization.
- Promotes a positive work environment and employee wellbeing, addressing staff concerns and providing necessary support to foster job satisfaction and productivity.
- Identifies and nurtures talent within the Communications team, ensuring smooth transitions and talent development.
Resource and Budget Management- Manages WUSA Communications operations (internal & external), responsible for maintaining and developing all major processes, resources and workflows for the communications portfolio.
- Supports specialists with major aspects of C-PR efforts, including vendor/partner coordination, channel operation (social, web, print, media), & successful event execution.
- Supports budget development and maintains accurate financial forecasts, monitoring budget performance and reconciling financial data to ensure fiscal discipline and accountability.
- Supports preparation of annual budgets, collaborating with Director, Communications and relevant stakeholders to align financial plans with organizational objectives.
- Monitors and controls expenses, optimizing staff and resource allocation to ensure efficient financial operations and cost-effectiveness.
- Provides strategic and management oversight of all major channels for WUSA communication (web, print, social, media).
Required QualificationsEducation- Bachelor's degree in communication, public relations, journalism, English, marketing.
- Master's degree considered an asset
Experience- 5 years' experience in communications or public relations role.
- 3 years' experience working with crisis, sensitive and major communication announcements to large audiences.
- 2 years' experience supervising, evaluating and developing employees.
- 2 years' experience conceptualizing, planning, implementing and tracking successful social media strategies.
- Experience writing and curating content for web.
- Demonstrated sensitivity, knowledge, and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, gender, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of the students we serve and sensitivity to and knowledge and understanding of groups historically underrepresented, and groups who may have experienced discrimination.
- Experience within a student environment is an asset.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities- Excellent Strategic Communication Planning: The ability to develop and execute strategic communication plans that align with the nonprofit's goals. This includes setting clear objectives, identifying target audiences, and selecting appropriate communication channels and messaging.
- Excellent Media Relations: Proficiency in building and maintaining relationships with media outlets, journalists, and bloggers. This includes crafting press releases, pitching stories, and responding to media inquiries.
- Strong Social Media Management: Knowledge of social media platforms and the ability to create and manage content that engages the nonprofit's audience. This includes understanding social media analytics and the ability to adapt strategies based on data.
- Excellent Crisis Communication: The capacity to develop crisis communication plans and manage communication during challenging situations or controversies. Being able to provide timely, transparent, and well-managed responses to protect the organization's reputation.
- Strong Stakeholder Engagement: Skill in building and maintaining positive relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, beneficiaries, and the community. The ability to understand their needs and concerns and effectively communicate with them is crucial.
- Strong Content Creation and Storytelling: Proficiency in creating compelling written and visual content that conveys the nonprofit's mission and impact. This includes writing press releases, blog posts, speeches, and producing multimedia content.
- Strong Budget and Resource Management: The ability to manage a communications budget effectively, allocating resources where they will have the greatest impact. This may include overseeing the work of internal staff, external agencies, and freelancers.
- Exceptional EQ to work effectively with historically underrepresented and LGBTQIA+ students, staff and faculty in an urban, multicultural environment.
- Intermediate: email marketing campaign and distribution platforms (MailChimp)
- Knowledge of Canadian Press Style
