Communication and Design Specialist

UBC The University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 69,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia seeks a Communication and Design Specialist to deliver internal and faculty communications and create multimedia assets for the VPA Internal Communications team. The role emphasizes writing, editing, and publishing across web, email, and social platforms, while developing print and digital materials that reflect UBC branding.

With a focus on audience-centered content, you’ll support campaigns, coordinate with campus partners, and ensure accessibility and

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum four years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Write, edit, and format content for email newsletters, intranet articles, website updates, and social platforms.
• Identify opportunities to create and edit creative assets for campaigns, with a focus on graphic design and multimedia.
• Produce illustrations, posters, reports, infographics, and digital assets aligned with UBC branding.
• Develop web-based materials using CMS knowledge and social media tools.
• Create staff- and faculty-facing newsletters with updates sourced from campus partners.
• Design print and digital materials (signage, posters, brochures) in line with branding.
• Develop website content in collaboration with portfolio units and the Provost office.
• Manage digital assets and provide design guidance to units within VPA.

Skills

Communication

Graphic design

Video editing

Photography

Content management

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

WordPress

Drupal

CyberImpact

Envoke

InDesign

Illustrator

Photoshop

Adobe Creative Cloud

Job description

Job Title and Category

Staff - Non Union Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Information Services, Level A Job Title Communication and Design Specialist Department Internal Communications | VP Academic Compensation Range $6,143.67 - $8,830.25 CAD Monthly The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff, and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

About the Office of the Vice-President Academic & Provost (VPAO)

The Office of the Vice-President Academic & Provost is the academic heart of UBC. Our academic mission is to cultivate academic excellence and impact in a global context. We lead through three core purposes: fostering teaching and learning innovation, advancing commitments to the academic community, and stewarding university resources for the academic mission. As a strategic and operational hub, the VPAO unites academic priorities across disciplines, supporting faculty and staff in pursuit of scholarly and societal impact in service of an enriching and enlightening student experience.

About VPA Portfolio Communications

VPA Communications exists to foster a shared sense of purpose, connection, and pride in UBC’s academic mission. As strategic storytellers and communications partners, we unite and empower faculty, staff, and global collaborators by amplifying the ideas and innovations that define UBC’s academic excellence and global impact. We serve as a connector across the VP Academic’s portfolio—helping units communicate clearly, consistently, and meaningfully. Our work spans internal communications, creative services, and unit support, driving engagement and alignment through compelling content, operational efficiency, and a deep commitment to academic values.

Job Summary

This role is responsible for the delivery of internal and faculty-facing communications and creative production for the VP Academic Internal Communications team, a large and complex administrative portfolio. Focused on execution, this role helps implement communications and engagement strategies by writing, editing, and publishing digital content across web, email, and social platforms as well as developing graphic and multimedia assets for web, newsletter, and digital communications. The position also develops print and digital communications materials, manages website and social media content, and contributes to communications strategies and campaigns. The role collaborates with campus partners and ensures all materials align with UBC brand and accessibility standards. Experience in digital media, project management, and audience-focused communications is essential. The Specialist is responsible for producing timely, accurate, and audience-appropriate communications; supporting content workflows; and providing data-informed insights to improve reach and impact. The role works under general direction and is expected to manage day-to-day tasks independently while aligning closely with university brand and messaging standards.

Organizational Status

The Communication & Design Specialist reports to the Senior Manager, VPA Internal Communications. This position works as part of the VPA Internal Communications team, which is part of the VPA Communications unit that resides in the Office of the Provost & VP Academic portfolio at UBC. The incumbent collaborates regularly with other members of the VPA Communications team and may interface with other VPA staff, faculty and service providers. The role may also liaise with central UBC communications partners and vendors.

Work Performed

Works with the VPA Internal Communications team to write, edit, and format content for email newsletters, intranet articles, website updates, event announcements, social media, and internal messaging.

Identify opportunities to create and edit creative assets for campaigns, initiatives and events, with a focus on graphic design, photography and videography.

The range of materials produced may include illustrations, posters, digital and print reports, toolkits, infographics, media assets included in blog posts/website stories/social media, podcasts and short-form videos.

Researches, manages, and develops web-based communication strategies and materials using knowledge of graphic and web design, social media tools, web content management systems, and various web-based platforms.

Creates and designs staff- and faculty-facing newsletters, including writing updates and sourcing content from portfolio and campus-wide partners.

Designs print and digital materials, including digital signage, social media graphics, posters, postcards, reports, brochures, presentations, and various other promotional assets in line with the UBC brand and with attention to audience needs.

Develops content for websites and other digital communication platforms in collaboration with the Office of the Provost & VP Academic and other portfolio units, with accountability for creating and editing communication materials.

Updates content on unit websites supported by the VPA Internal Communications team, and ensures units’ online presence adheres to UBC communications and brand standards.

Develops templates that help accelerate production and unify the look and feel of communications materials.

Engages with faculty members, staff, and students across UBC Vancouver in producing content.

Manages digital asset management systems to ensure that all creative assets are securely stored, managed and catalogued.

Provides design and creative guidance and advice to units in the VP Academic.

Performs other related duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Errors can have significant negative impacts on the achievement of UBC's strategic goals and commitments related to diversity, equity and inclusion, and UBC's reputation.

Supervision Received

Reports to the Senior Manager, VPA Internal Communications, and works under general direction. Work is reviewed in terms of conformance with established standards and specific objectives. Receives project-based assignments with defined goals, timelines, and outcomes. Expected to manage day-to-day execution independently and escalte issues or decisions requiring strategic input. Work is reviewed for quality, adherence to standards, and alignment with broader communications goals. When working with units in the VPA portfolio, task-specific supervision may be provided by the respective units in consultation with the Senior Manager, VPA Internal Communications.

Supervision Given

May provide guidance or task-level supervision to Work Learn students or coordinate with vendors and service providers on specific deliverables.

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum four years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience in a post-secondary institution or similar environment is a strong asset.
• Experience in communications, graphic design or digital media preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to adapt writing styles for different audiences and purposes.
• Experience working with social media and websites in an organizational/corporate environment.
• Working knowledge of content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal)
• Experience with email newsletter software (such as CyberImpact or Envoke) an asset.
• Demonstrated graphic design ability using Adobe Creative Cloud suite, specifically InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Understanding of current digital, social media, and content marketing trends.
• Experience with social media monitoring and management, website analytics, and data visualization tools.
• Skilled in the areas of aesthetic design principles, photography, video, and video & audio editing.
• Knowledge and experience working in a brand environment, with an understanding of visual design principles.
• Ability to work with diverse individuals in a complex setting.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to exercise tact and diplomacy when working with confidential and sensitive information.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently within a collaborative team environment.
• Maintains excellent rapport with the university community as well as external stakeholders.
• Exercises good judgment and maturity in all communications.
• Understanding of and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and respectful engagement.

Company Culture & Commitments

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world. Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential. New ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Are you ready to embrace the future together? Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at [e-mail].