Communications Manager

The University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia invites applications for a Communications Manager within the Michael Smith Laboratories. You will lead strategic communications plans, create visual assets, and manage internal and external channels to raise awareness of the department’s research, education, and outreach programs.

Reporting to the Operations Manager and collaborating with media relations, branding, and faculty, you will develop budgets, supervise projects, and build partnerships to enhance

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree and five years of related experience.
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Experience in marketing, communications, journalism, or media relations is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the communication operations for the Michael Smith Laboratories.
• Collaborate with media relations, branding, and faculty on communications strategies.
• Develop and manage strategic communication plans and budgets.
• Create high-quality content and visual assets across channels (web, newsletters, social, print).
• Enhance student experience and broaden national and international awareness of the unit.

Skills

Communication skills

Project management

Media relations

Equity & inclusion awareness

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

WordPress

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

Staff - Non Union Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Information Services, Level B Job Title Communications Manager Department Operations | Michael Smith Laboratories | Faculty of Science

Compensation Range $7,158.42 - $10,292.25 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.

Posting End Date September 28, 2026 Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date. Job End Date Ongoing This position will be filled internally. It is posted for informational purposes only.

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.

Job Summary

The Communications Manager provides strategic leadership, including development and implementation of communication plans for the Michael Smith Laboratories. We are a dynamic hub for ground breaking biotechnology research and education excellence. Our highly interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment supports faculty with focus in genomics, molecular biology, engineering, and biotechnology. The Manager’s goals include: effective communication about the department’s activities; building local, national, and international awareness of the unit, its research, and its education and outreach programs; promoting the reputation of the department to attract and engage collaborators and partners from academia and industry; enhance the student experience and to attract top students. Responsibilities include conceiving and creation of visual assets and communications content, ensuring quality, accuracy, and consistent brand standards across various communication channels. This position manages communication projects and various other department priority initiatives that lead to enhanced research and a positive student experience.

Responsibilities

• Leads the communication operations within the Michael Smith Laboratories.
• Reports to the Operations Manager while receiving direction from the Director on the department's vision.
• Sit on various department committees and work with the faculty, staff and students in managing a broad range of communication projects.
• Will liaise with UBC Media Relations, Faculty of Science Communications, Development and Alumni Engagement teams, UBC Brand, other academic units within the University, and key external stakeholders.
• Leads the development and implementation of strategic communication plans that reflects the departments goals and priorities.
• Manages internal and external communications initiatives with the objective to raise local, regional, provincial, national, and international awareness.
• Evaluates the effectiveness and impact of communications strategies and recommends improvements.
• Accountable for the development and delivery of high-quality content and visual assets across digital, media and promotional channels including: website and related sites, newsletters, media releases, social media channels, videos, external reviews, and print publications.
• Transforms complex research stories and academic achievements into accessible and inspiring visual assets that resonate with diverse audiences, celebrating the successes of the department’s innovative research, education and outreach programs.
• Oversees the department's visual identities including developing and communicating usage standards, creating templates across multiple assets within UBC’s Brand guidelines, and advises on best practices with faculty and staff on development of communication pieces to ensure public-facing materials are consistent and on-brand.
• Manages all aspects of communications projects, including developing project timelines and budgets, monitoring projects to completion, preparing progress reports, and making recommendations for contingency plans.
• Collects statistics on engagement, assesses performance metrics, and develops plans to build a network of followers.
• Leads a working-group of trainees to generate material that promote department research and people through various channels.
• Plans, develops, manages departmental events and seminars that foster community, enhance knowledge translation, and create a positive student experience.
• Drives creative audio/visual content development from concept to completion.
• In coordination with UBC Media Relations, cultivates relationships with the media, responds to media and public inquiries and tracks media exposure.
• Actively seeks out partnerships and develops relationships with other campus communicators and media relations, partner departments, research centres, and external partners to identify and leverage opportunities for collaboration.
• Ensures the department's communications are maintained within UBC Brand standards, across all channels.
• Other duties as assigned.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position makes decisions regarding the quality and accuracy of communications projects, initiatives and materials produced that are critical to the Michael Smith Laboratories. The Communications Manager makes decisions regarding the management of a full range of communications, editorial and web services. Given the high profile and wide distribution of these materials throughout the University, across the country and around the world, inappropriate or inaccurate statements may seriously affect the image and reputation of individuals, faculty members, and the University. The role requires the ability to think strategically and analytically about defining measures of success and metrics to track progress. Inappropriate, ineffectual, or poor messaging in communications could result in low recruitment and student retention, poor fundraising, or negative perception of the University's academic record. This position must exercise tact and diplomacy when dealing with staff and faculty and gain their support to ensure communications programs reflect the vision and work of the department and are delivered accurately and in a timely manner. Any errors and/or omissions in judgment could seriously undermine the reputation, responsibilities and effectiveness of the Michael Smith Laboratories.

Supervision Received

Works independently and reports to the Operations Manager while receiving direction from the Director on the department's vision. Works autonomously within broad mandates to meet goals, and according to direction from department leadership. Performance will be evaluated against set objectives. Works collaboratively with staff, faculty members and students on events and special projects.

Supervision Given

This position may oversee, coordinate and direct the work of internal and external service providers, as well as train faculty, research and administrative staff on specific processes. May supervise student assistants.

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum five 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

• University degree in a discipline such as molecular biology, microbiology, biological engineering, medical genetics, plant biology, science communication or similar is preferred.
• Demonstrated working experience in marketing, communications, journalism, media relations/public relations.
• Experience working in the higher education sector related to science would be an asset.
• Well organized and have a strong ability to prioritize and delegate assignments.
• Proven multitasking skills, including ability to work effectively under pressure, handle heavy volumes, and meet demanding deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the media and public relations agencies.
• Proven experience in strategic communications planning, project management, and implementation of a broad range of digital and non-digital communication projects for a variety of audiences.
• Demonstrated experience working with a range of audiences including researchers, journalists, community groups, donors, graphic designers, etc.
• Enthusiasm, openness to trying new things, and the ability to recognize opportunities.
• Ability to effectively use social media platforms and graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator), website content management systems (e.g., WordPress), and the Microsoft suite of products at an advanced level.
• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, analytical skills as well as effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work in a complex and demanding environment with a high level of attention to detail.
• Critical thinker who can make well-informed, thoughtful, and thorough decisions.
• Ability to conduct needs analyses, plan, organize, manage, monitor, complete and evaluate projects within allocated time and resources.
• Ability to research, understand and recommend new and evolving solutions.
• Ability to anticipate problems and issues and plan ahead.
• Ability to compose correspondence, reports, presentations, and other written materials using clear concise language. Accurately proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Ability to exercise tact and discretion when working with information of a confidential or sensitive nature.
• Ability to work effectively and diplomatically with various levels of administration, campus audiences, external agencies, and the public.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

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].