Communications Strategist

University of New Brunswick; Fredericton; Hybrid; CAD 67,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

The University of New Brunswick’s Strategic Communications & Marketing Office is seeking a Communications Strategist to provide strategic counsel, craft executive communications, and manage media relations for institutional initiatives. You will create speeches, talking points, and press materials, while ensuring consistent messaging across audiences and channels.

Reporting to the Institutional Communications Manager, you will collaborate with senior leaders, develop strategic plans, and drive

Qualifications

• University degree, preferably in communications, public relations or related discipline.
• Minimum 7 years of direct experience advising and supporting executive leaders in communications.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Excellent storyteller and superior writer with excellent editorial, proofreading and verbal communications skills.
• Established experience in speech writing, copy editing and preparing presentation materials, with demonstrated experience in reviewing, editing, fact-checking and proofreading internal and external materials according to CP style guidelines.
• Excellent time-management, interpersonal and team-building skills.
• Demonstrated experience in public relations, diplomacy, professionalism and confidentiality.
• Proven ability to develop, implement, execute and measure strategic communications plans.

Responsibilities

• Write news releases, briefing notes, background reports and other materials for social media and traditional media strategies.
• Create compelling content for senior leaders, including speeches, talking points, key messages and presentation materials for internal and external engagements.
• Verifies facts, gathers information through interviews and research, evaluates and analyzes content, and presents complex information in a clear and understandable manner for a range of audiences.
• Work closely with team leads to develop and generate ideas, adapt and rework content for various forms of collateral.
• Develop and implement strategic communication plans to support announcements, major initiatives and organizational objectives.
• Ensure coordinated, timely and effective delivery of messaging across internal and external audiences.
• Develop and maintain relationships with government, community, industry, and sector stakeholders to advance institutional priorities and strengthen organizational reputation.
• Responds to inquiries received from the public, the media, internal and external stakeholders as required.
• Coordinate paid, earned and owned media opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Storytelling

Editing

Verbal communication

Speech writing

Presentation skills

Public relations

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Team-building

Education

University degree in communications or related discipline

Job description

Closing Date: October 5th, 2026 at 4:00 PM

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING

The Strategic Communications & Marketing (SCM) Office directsall corporate communications through storytelling, media relations, marketing, branding, creative and digital media strategies across the University.SCMoverseesstrategic communications and marketing policies, procedures, strategies and plans that advance the University's vision,missionand reputation.This unitworksin close collaboration with other University units across both campuses to implement strategies, develop performance standards andmonitoreffectiveness of the strategies.

WHAT WE OFFER

Full-time | 1-year Term| Fredericton or Saint John | Hybrid

UNB is committed to ensuring employees can maintain a healthy work-life balance. As such, we are proud to support a hybrid work approach, which includes flexible hours and work-from-home options.

Standard Work Hours: Mon - Fri | 8:15 am - 4:30 pm | 36.25 hours per week

Additional Working Conditions:

• Ability to travel between campuses and work added hours on occasion, as needed.

Salary Range: $66,858 - $91,120 per annum

YOUR FOCUS

Reporting to Institutional Communications Manager, the Communications Strategist provides strategic communications counsel and content support for institutional initiatives and executive communication needs. The role creates impactful communications, supports media and stakeholder relations, and ensures consistent, effective messaging across audiences and channels.

• Write news releases, briefing notes, background reports and other materials for social media and traditional media strategies.
• Create compelling content for senior leaders, including speeches, talking points, key messages and presentation materials for internal and external engagements.
• Verifies facts, gathers information through interviews and research, evaluates and analyzes content, and presents complex information in a clear and understandable manner for a range of audiences.
• Work closely with team leads to develop and generate ideas, adapt and rework content for various forms of collateral.
• Develop and implement strategic communication plans to support announcements, major initiatives and organizational objectives.
• Ensure coordinated, timely and effective delivery of messaging across internal and external audiences.
• Develop and maintain relationships with government, community, industry, and sector stakeholders to advance institutional priorities and strengthen organizational reputation.
• Responds to inquiries received from the public, the media, internal and external stakeholders as required.
• Coordinate paid, earned and owned media opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

WHAT YOU BRING

• University degree, preferably in communications, public relations or related discipline.
• Minimum 7 years of direct experience in advising and supporting executive leaders in communications.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Excellent storyteller and superior writer with excellent editorial, proofreading and verbal communications skills.
• Established experience in speech writing, copy editing and preparing presentation materials, with demonstrated experience in reviewing, editing, fact-checking and proofreading internal and external materials according to CP style guidelines.
• Excellent time-management, interpersonal and team-building skills.
• Demonstrated experience in public relations, diplomacy, professionalism and confidentiality.
• Proven ability to develop, implement, execute and measure strategic communications plans.

Additional Strengths

• Strong collaboration and consensus-building skills and experience working with diverse internal and external stakeholder needs and priorities.
• Experience managing communications projects within complex organizations.
• Knowledge and understanding of current and emerging industry requirements and practices in the areas of communications, media relations, internal communications and public relations.
• Confident working with senior leadership of an organization.
• Demonstrated project management skills, highly organized and able to deliver priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent trust-building and conflict resolution skills.
• Knowledge of post-secondary systems structures is an asset.

WHY CHOOSE UNB?

UNB offers a large variety of benefits for employees, including a full pension, a minimum of three weeks of vacation annually, the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), and dental, life, and health insurance.

ADMINISTRATIVE, PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL GROUP (APT)

This position is part of the non-union Administrative, Professional and Technical (APT) group.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

The University of New Brunswick is committed to employment equity and fostering diversity within our community and developing an inclusive workplace that reflects the richness of the broader community that we serve. The University welcomes and encourages applications from all qualified individuals who will help us achieve our goals, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

We thank all who apply; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.