Communications Manager

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. 

Organizational Status
Leads the communication operations within the Michael Smith Laboratories. The Communications Manager reports to the Operations Manager while receiving direction from the Director on the department's vision. They will sit on a various department committees and work with the faculty, staff and students in managing a broad range of communication projects This position 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.

Work Performed
- 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.