Junior Communications Specialist, Communications, External Relations

University of Calgary; Calgary; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Calgary is recruiting multiple Full-time Limited Term Junior Communications Specialist positions for approximately 24 months within the Office of External Relations. The program is designed to develop professional communication skills in a dynamic environment, with exposure to content creation, feature writing, video, and digital campaigns.

Junior Specialists will work on communication plans, events, websites, eMarketing, and social media, reporting to Senior Specialists while

Qualifications

• Post-secondary credential in communications or a related field is required.
• Graduated within the past 3 years (preferred).
• Strong writing and visual storytelling abilities.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Develop communication plans for initiatives.
• Coordinate events' communication assets.
• Develop materials including updates for website and social media.
• Support External Relations team with general communications.
• Produce content such as briefs and speaking notes.

Skills

Content creation

Writing

Communication

Project management

Social media

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications

Tools

Drupal

Dialog Insight

Adobe Premiere

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

The Office of External Relations is currently seeking multiple Full‑time Limited Term Junior Communications Specialist for approximately 24 months. The Office of External Relations is the university central hub for connection and collaboration. We advance UCalgary mission by uniting people, ideas, and initiatives across campus and beyond. By building and sustaining meaningful relationships with communities, partners, and stakeholders, we amplify the university vision, communicate its priorities with clarity, and drive progress toward shared goals. External Relations features a number of major functions including Communications; Community Engagement, Government Relations and UCalgary International. The University of Calgary is recruiting for the Communications Specialist Program (CSP) with the External Relations Communications team. This program is designed to give recent grads the opportunity to develop professional communication skills in a working environment over a two‑year fixed employment term. Junior Specialists are given the opportunity to develop skills in content creation, feature story writing, video, project management, client service, key messaging, eMarketing, web content development and more while assisting university client departments. There is no expectation for previous professional communications experience, but a post‑secondary credential in the field of communications is required (some equivalencies may be considered). The number of candidates recruited for the program varies by intake, with cohorts of one to five established depending on need and vacancies. Applicants may also be considered for future intakes. Junior Specialists will be placed on one of three teams within Communications: Institutional Communications, Content and Social Media or Community Communications. Working closely with other Senior/Communications Specialists, Junior Specialists will assist in the development and delivery of efficient and effective communications for a variety of internal clients. Primary tasks include the development and implementation of communication plans for various initiatives, the coordination and planning of communication assets related to events and projects, and the development of communication materials including updates for website and content for social media channels. The Junior Specialist will interact with a diverse population within the university and may include interactions with external organizations and stakeholders. The position requires the ability to use discretion, maintain professionalism, confidentiality and composure under pressure, demonstrate adaptability and flexibility and provide efficient, quality service often requiring multi‑tasking simultaneous priorities. High volume and variety of work demands, much of which are driven by internally and externally imposed deadlines and requirements, can be expected.

Summary of Key Responsibilities

• Accountabilities for this position include the successful coordination and facilitation of a wide range of client projects, and the prioritization and delivery of associated communication support within External Relations.
• Specific Tasks and Duties:
  • Work with Senior Communication Specialists to set goals and key messages for client projects,
  • Help write project briefs and communications plans on behalf of UCalgary clients,
  • Develop content such as briefing and speaking notes on behalf of UCalgary clients,
  • Build websites using the UCalgary CMS Drupal,
  • Help build and maintain eMarketing campaigns using the Dialog Insight platform,
  • Create print and digital collateral, in alignment with university brand standards,
  • Use initiative and good judgment, and work in a cooperative, timely and efficient manner
  • Work effectively within the framework of the University of Calgary's policies and procedures,
  • Provide general communications support as needed to the External Relations team.

Qualifications / Requirements

• Post‑secondary education, preferably a university degree in communications or a related field, graduated within the past 3 years.
• Less than 2 years of related working experience.
• Strong communication, consultative and problem‑solving skills, and ability to work with cross‑functional teams effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships and facilitate collaboration between diverse groups.
• Dedication to continuous learning and skill development.
• Strong writing, visual storytelling, and editing skills, able to produce high‑quality content on short deadlines.
• Experience in producing a variety of communication materials for various audiences.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Drupal, Dialog Insight, Adobe Premiere, or similar web‑based applications as well as social media platforms.
• Strong attention to detail.

Application Deadline

October 19, 2026

About The University Of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest‑ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands‑on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start‑ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca. The University of Calgary has launched an institution‑wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do. The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit‑based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous‑based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding diversity EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments (email protected) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture (email protected). We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

Additional Information

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website. This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist / Advisor Job Family, Phase 1.