Marketing and Media Relations Strategist

University of British Columbia - Staff; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia is seeking a Marketing and Media Relations Strategist to support the Faculty of Forestry. This role focuses on digital marketing and communications, enhancing awareness and engagement for various programs and initiatives. The position requires creativity, strategic thinking, and strong collaboration skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of related experience.
• Proficiency in digital marketing tools and platforms.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement digital marketing plans.
• Manage media relations and student recruitment initiatives.
• Create and curate engaging written content for digital channels.

Skills

Digital Marketing

Media Relations

Communication

Project Management

Social Media Management

SEO Practices

Graphic Design

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant academic discipline

Tools

Microsoft 365

Adobe Creative Cloud

Google Analytics

Canva

WordPress

Job description

Staff - Non Union

Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Marketing and Sales, Level B Job Title Marketing and Media Relations Strategist Department Communications | Dean's Office | Faculty of Forestry Compensation Range $6,747.50 - $9,701.42 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 July 8, 2025

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

Job End Date

Job Summary

The position supports the Faculty of Forestry’s overall marketing and communications needs with a noted focus on digital marketing and media requirements under the Dean’s Office. Reporting to the Associate Director of Communications and Marketing, the Strategist is integral to building awareness and demand for Faculty programs, research, development, and other initiatives, while also ensuring the consistency of branding and messaging across platforms.

The University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Faculty of Forestry is recognized globally as one of the leading forestry faculties in the world. Today the Faculty embodies a comprehensive offering of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs that cover a breadth of disciplines, including wood products science, natural resources conservation, forest sciences, urban forestry and forest resources management. Our programs model the broad spectrum of topics that relate to forests’ interplay between our environment and all those who live on our planet.

Organizational Status

This position reports to the Associate Director of Communications and Marketing.

Work Performed

The role supports the marketing and communications oversight for the Faculty of Forestry’s Development, Alumni and External Relations team; Student Services; Graduate Services; Professional Programs; the Haida Gwaii Institute; Research Forests and Centres; the Dean’s Office and faculty members/labs as required. This includes:

Brand and Marketing

• Develops and implements digital marketing plans; advises on the most appropriate tools to reach a varied audience, including websites, social media, podcasts, videos, digital signage, and media designed to increase awareness of and engagement in Forestry initiatives.
• Leads brand and marketing projects including print advertising, online publications, events, media engagement, digital campaigns, video and newsletters.
• Plans and builds out student recruiting initiatives, developing digital and email campaigns for the Faculty’s undergraduate, professional masters, and micro-certificate programs. Works closely with the Central Undergraduate Recruitment team to amplify recruitment efforts.
• Builds out social media and paid digital campaigns to promote programs, research, events, awards, and initiatives.
• Manages the social media amplification budget to boost relevant digital content. Manages budgets and payments for in-house paid digital campaigns.
• Represents the Faculty in community management on all digital channels to build and grow trust and relationships with target audiences by overseeing listening, moderating, and interacting. Supports issues management as needed.

Media Relations

• Leads strategic media relations efforts by identifying opportunities, crafting compelling story pitches, and securing high-profile coverage for UBC Forestry.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with local and national media, working closely with UBC’s central Media Relations and Brand & Marketing teams.
• Supports media needs of Forestry departments, research forests, research centres, and the Haida Gwaii Institute, including liaising with campus and local media as required. Pitching story ideas to news media.
• Supports issues management and provides media relations guidance to internal stakeholders, including researchers and senior leadership. Leads Faculty wide media training and workshops.
• Oversees and mentors student trainees and co-op students engaged in media-related projects and communications support.

Communications

• Creates, edits, and curates engaging written content for digital channels, including web pages, announcements, news stories, faculty profiles, and internal newsletters.
• Acts as a communications advisor to faculty and staff, offering expert guidance on content strategy, messaging, and tactical implementation.
• Collaborates across departments and with external partners to align communication initiatives with faculty priorities and university-wide campaigns.
• Identifies and coordinates opportunities to highlight UBC Forestry in Central UBC teams such as Central Media Relations, Brand and Marketing, Alumni, and Recruitment. Responsible for planning and creation of content based on the UBC Forestry’s editorial calendar.
• Stays current with communications trends, technologies, and forestry/environmental news to inform strategy and strengthen storytelling efforts.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Must exercise tact and diplomacy when dealing with faculty, staff, suppliers, students, and alumni. May need to balance multiple projects with competing deadlines and make decisions on how best to manage the work given, based on the timeframe, the relative strategic importance of the projects and the impact of failing to meet deadlines. The quality of the digital and media assets developed and managed has a profound influence on the public's opinion of the Faculty of Forestry. The production and distribution of inaccurate, inconsistent or ineffective information could have a significant detrimental effect on the Faculty’s ability to compete for research funding, reputation with alumni, to attract and steward donors, and the Faculty’s ability to attract the best graduate and undergraduate students possible.

Supervision Received

Works independently under the broad direction of the Associate Director of Communications and Marketing. Receives minimal direction on objectives and must be able to lead projects and develop procedures for completion to meet critical deadlines.

Supervision Given

The position will supervise junior and student staff members. working in this area. May provide mentorship to the Digital Marketing Assistants.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant academic discipline. Minimum of three 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 working within a large, complex organization, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively within dynamic team environments.
• Demonstrated willingness to learn and adapt flexibly to changing priorities.

• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud, and web-based design tools (e.g., Canva); working knowledge of WordPress.
• Strong grasp of graphic and web design principles with the ability to support production of engaging, accessible marketing materials across digital and print formats.
• Experience using analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics), SEO practices, and digital research platforms to support content strategy and performance tracking.
• Experience with social media platforms (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TicTok) and social media management platforms.
• Demonstrated excellence in project and time management, with a keen attention to detail and the ability to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to adapt tone and messaging for diverse audiences and channels.
• Proven ability to pitch compelling stories and maintain relationships with key media contacts to secure meaningful coverage.
• Deep understanding of inclusive, accessible, and anti-racist communication practices, with a demonstrated commitment to equity and social justice.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams, build relationships, and work effectively with diverse partners and communities.
• Demonstrated capacity to learn and adapt quickly to evolving technologies, platforms, and trends in media and communications.
• Experience working in Agile project environments and contributing to content and campaign development.
• Internal communications experience and diverse stakeholder engagement.

• Knowledge of graphic design software including, Adobe CC suite: Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator is an asset.
• Ability to perform video editing and graphic design is an asset.