Marketing and Communications Specialist, SHCS - Okanagan

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

Job summary

UBC Okanagan seeks a Marketing and Communications Specialist to advance SHCS campaigns, student housing and campus services. This role shapes messages, plans and content across digital and traditional channels while supervising student staff and collaborating with campus partners.

The position drives brand-aligned communications, digital strategy, and measurable outcomes, reporting to the Manager of Communications and Marketing. Ongoing, internal posting for inform/assess.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum five years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Develops strategic marketing and communications plans aligned with SHCS priorities and university goals.
• Leads integrated campaigns and projects with timelines and budgets.
• Develops creative content for digital and print channels and guides student staff.
• Manages SHCS digital channels, email campaigns and website content.
• Monitors performance with analytics and adjusts strategies accordingly.
• Maintains brand alignment across portfolio communications and materials.
• Supervises student staff and coordinates external service providers.

Skills

Marketing strategy

Campaign management

Digital marketing

Content development

Analytics

Brand alignment

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership supervision

Education

Undergraduate degree

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Canva

Content Management System (CMS)

Job description

Job Title

Marketing and Communications Specialist, SHCS - Okanagan

Job Title

Marketing and Communications Specialist, SHCS - Okanagan

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Information Services, Level B

Job Family Group

Staff - Non Union

Department

UBCO | Marketing and Communications | Student Housing and Community Services

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.

Job End Date

Ongoing

Posting End Date

November 2, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

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

This position provides specialized marketing and communications expertise to Student Housing and Community Services (SHCS) portfolios at the UBC Okanagan campus, including Student Housing, Food Services, Child Care Services, Conferences and Accommodations and Parking, with support to the Bookstore and other SHCS portfolios as required.

This position develops, implements and evaluates marketing and communications strategies, campaigns and projects that support unit objectives, increase awareness and engagement, and contribute to the student and campus experience. Working directly with SHCS leaders and stakeholders, this position assesses needs, identifies opportunities, recommends strategies, and leads initiatives from planning and concept development through creative production, implementation and evaluation.

This position independently manages multiple concurrent initiatives and makes decisions and recommendations regarding their planning, prioritization and implementation within established University and SHCS policies, strategies, brand standards and guidelines. The position provides specialized expertise across digital and traditional communications and supervises student staff supporting marketing and communications activities.

Organizational Status

Reports to the Manager of Communications and Marketing, Student Housing and Community Services at UBCO. Works independently under the general guidance of the Manager and collaborates with SHCS leaders and staff, marketing and communications colleagues across the Okanagan and Vancouver campuses, other UBC communications professionals, campus partners, student groups and external service providers.

Serves as a marketing and communications resource to SHCS units, providing specialized expertise and recommendations to support effective communication with students, staff, clients and other key audiences.

Work Performed

Marketing and Communications Strategy and Advisory Support

• In consultation with key stakeholders, develops strategic marketing and communications plans that support portfolio goals and broader SHCS, VP Students and UBC priorities, including key message development, audiences, tactics, timelines, budgets, deliverables and measures of success.
• Provides specialized marketing and communications advice and expertise to SHCS stakeholders and identifies opportunities for integrated and cross-portfolio communications that increase the reach and effectiveness of SHCS initiatives.
• Maintains knowledge of emerging marketing and communications trends, technologies and best practices, and recommends their appropriate application within SHCS.

Campaign and Project Management

• Leads the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of integrated marketing and communications campaigns and projects to ensure established objectives, timelines, budgets and deliverables are achieved.
• Independently manages multiple concurrent projects and campaigns, coordinating internal and external contributors, establishing priorities, monitoring progress and developing contingency approaches where required.
• Communicates project status and recommendations to stakeholders, negotiates changes to scope, timelines and deliverables as required, and evaluates completed initiatives to inform future planning.

Creative Development and Content Production

• Develops creative concepts and produces marketing and communications materials for digital and physical channels, including written, visual, photography, video, multimedia, print and graphic design assets, and coordinates external creative services where required.
• Ensures creative materials are accessible, audience appropriate and consistent with UBC and SHCS brand standards.
• Provides creative direction to student staff and other contributors and develops templates, tools and resources that support consistent communications.

Digital Marketing and Communications

• Develops and implements digital communications strategies and content plans for SHCS portfolios.
• Manages SHCS Okanagan social media channels and strategy, including annual and campaign planning, editorial calendars, content development, publishing, monitoring, community engagement and performance evaluation.
• Identifies and evaluates emerging digital platforms, tools and communications opportunities and recommends their appropriate use.
• Develops, writes, edits and optimizes SHCS website content, ensuring accuracy, usability, accessibility and alignment with UBC standards.
• Plans and implements targeted email communications and other digital campaigns.
• Uses digital analytics and audience data to assess performance and improve communications effectiveness.

Research, Measurement and Evaluation

• Establishes measures of success and monitors and analyzes campaign, web, social media, email, event and other relevant performance data.
• Designs and implements surveys and other audience research initiatives, interprets findings and stakeholder feedback, and applies results to future communications strategy and planning.

Stakeholder Relationships and Partnerships

• Develops effective working relationships with SHCS leaders and staff, campus communications colleagues, student groups and university partners and identifies opportunities for partnership and collaboration.
• Represents SHCS marketing and communications on projects, working groups and initiatives, providing specialized advice and exercising judgment, diplomacy and tact when addressing communications matters.

Brand Alignment

• Ensures marketing and communications initiatives align with UBC and SHCS brand, reputation and communications standards.
• Provides guidance to SHCS stakeholders and student staff on the appropriate application of brand standards.
• Reviews communications materials for brand consistency, qualify and effectiveness and contributes to communications templates, standards and best practices.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position exercises independent judgment in the development, prioritization and implementation of specialized marketing and communications initiatives and in providing professional advice and recommendations to SHCS stakeholders.

Decisions and recommendations made by this position affect the quality, effectiveness and timeliness of communications with students, staff, clients and other University audiences and may affect participation in and awareness of SHCS programs and services.

The position represents both UBC and Student Housing and Community Services. Poor judgment, inappropriate communications strategies, inaccurate information, failure to appropriately manage sensitive communications, or communications that do not meet University standards could negatively affect the University's reputation, stakeholder relationships, service delivery and student experience.

This position is expected to recognize issues requiring consultation or escalation and seek guidance from the Manager where appropriate.

Supervision Received

Works independently within established University and SHCS policies, strategies and general guidelines and under the general guidance of the Manager, Communications and Marketing.

This position independently determines appropriate approaches and priorities for assigned portfolios and projects and makes decisions and recommendations regarding the planning and implementation of specialized marketing and communications initiatives.

Supervision Given

Supervises student staff involved in marketing and communications activities.

Provides creative and project direction to student staff and coordinates their contributions across multiple marketing and communications initiatives.

May provide functional direction to external service providers, contractors and other project contributors.

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

• Experience developing and implementing strategic marketing and communications plans and integrated campaigns, preferably within a large, complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience independently managing multiple marketing and communications projects from planning through implementation and evaluation.
• Experience providing marketing and communications advice and recommendations to leaders and stakeholders.
• Graphic design and visual communications skills, with proficiency in relevant design and editing applications such as Adobe Creative Suite and Canva.
• Experience developing digital communications across web, social media and email, including use of content management systems, analytics and relevant digital tools.
• Experience with photography, videography and multimedia content development.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret analytics, audience research and campaign results and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Experience supervising, training or providing direction to student employees or other staff.
• Excellent communication, consultation, project-management and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, establish priorities, manage multiple deadlines and work effectively with diverse stakeholders.