Communications Advisor

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.

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

Job End Date

**This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, with an expectation of working on campus a minimum of three days per week.**

Job Description

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 Advisor coordinates and implements communication plans, initiatives, and activities in partnership with teams across the Finance and Operations (VPFO) portfolio, supporting the development, delivery, and evaluation of departmental communications, change management, and engagement.

Focused primarily on staff audiences, as well as students and faculty, the role ensures accessible and effective communications across a range of channels and touchpoints, including all VPFO-managed websites and newsletters. The Communications Advisor also supports communications projects and campaigns through strong content management and editorial practices, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, communication objectives, and brand standards.

The position serves as a trusted communications advisor and collaborative partner, providing guidance on messaging, channels, content, and communication, change, and engagement approaches. Through strategic advice and coordinated planning, the Communications Advisor supports clear, integrated communications across VPFO and UBC channels.

• Size and operational scope of the VPFO require dedicated, tactical communications support to meet the day-to-day needs of all our departments.
• Plays a critical role in delivering timely, audience-focused content and supporting the execution of campaigns, updates, and initiatives across the portfolio.
• Provides hands-on support for departmental communications, including the development and coordination of service updates, internal announcements, stakeholder messaging, promotional campaigns, and visual collateral.
• Ensures consistency in tone, style, and branding, while also enabling faster turnaround times for essential communications.

Organizational Status
Reports to the Manager, Communications. Is a collaborative member of the VPFO Communications team within the VPFO portfolio. This position partners with various internal client departments across UBC in addition to partnering with teams across the VPFO portfolio. The position liaises with UBC staff and the outside community as required.
Work Performed
Integrated Communication, Engagement & Change Strategies and Operations

• Develops and executes communication and engagement plans and activities that support VPFO priorities, culture, initiatives, and the employer brand.

• Uses employee and audience insights, analytics, research, and partner feedback to inform clear, accessible, user-centered content.

• Establishes and maintains communication workflows, templates, and communication and engagement standards to ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with the UBC brand.

• Supports strategic projects (e.g., website redesigns, emerging AI tools, surveys, campaigns) through research, insights, and analytics, communications, and change expertise in collaboration with the VPFO Communications team and other partners.

Collaborative Relationships

• Builds and sustains collaborative relationships across VPFO and UBC to ensure alignment, consistency, and effective communications practices.

• Provides communications and engagement support and guidance on messaging, channels, and communication approaches.

• Proactively engages and coordinates with partners to understand project needs and provides guidance informed by communication best practices.

• Works closely with Human Resources to develop and deliver engagement and communications that strengthen culture.

Content Development and Editorial Management

• Develops content and storytelling to support VPFO priorities and key experiences across employee communications, translating complex VPFO information into clear, accessible, and user-focused content using plain language principles.
• Writes, edits, and reviews content to ensure clarity, consistency, tone, and alignment with brand standards.
• Plans and coordinates integrated editorial calendars across VPFO channels, ensuring alignment with operational priorities, days of significance, and employee lifecycle.
• Prepares communication materials including briefing notes, speaking notes, presentations, and related assets.

Project and Program Management

• Applies a structured project and change management approach to communications initiatives, including scoping, timelines, deliverables, milestones, stakeholder engagement, and change impacts.

• Partners with leaders, subject matter experts and other stakeholders to support organizational change, build understanding and alignment, and facilitate successful implementation of initiatives.

• Develops and supports approaches that enable meaningful two-way communication and engagement with staff, creating opportunities to gather feedback, understand stakeholder perspectives and inform communications and change strategies.
• Coordinates workflows across multiple contributors and partners (e.g., subject matter experts, editors, designers and vendors) to ensure timely, high-quality delivery and alignment across stakeholders.

• Anticipates communication and change management needs, identifies potential barriers to adoption or engagement, and recommends strategies to support successful outcomes.
• Supports intake, prioritization, and workload planning processes for the VPFO Communications team.

• Manages vendor relationships and oversees deliverables, as required.

Continuous improvement and professional practice

• Contributes to the evolution of VPFO Communications and engagement through knowledge sharing, collaboration, and continuous learning and improvement.

• Stays current on trends in internal communications, digital experiences, employee engagement, and equity-informed approaches.
• Supports the development of visual and content assets, including coordinating photoshoots and maintaining media assets.

• Monitors and responds to general inquiries through shared channels.

• Participates in institutional committees and initiatives requiring VPFO Communications, and other duties, as required.
  

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Attention to detail and sound judgment are required when preparing and publishing communications materials. Errors or delays may affect the accuracy, consistency, and effectiveness of communications provided to the community.
Supervision Received
Works under the direction and guidance of the Manager, Communications.
Supervision Given
This position may supervise student staff and may direct and review work from internal and external service providers.
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

• Strong knowledge of current and evolving communications practices with experience executing integrated digital and print communications plans in a large, complex organization.
• Advanced writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with the ability to adapt style and tone for different audiences, channels, and brand guidelines.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including planning and delivering multiple projects, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and influencing across organizational levels. Experience using project management and collaboration tools, such as Asana.
• Demonstrated ability to support and enable organizational change through effective communication, engagement, and change management practices.

• Experience applying a range of employee engagement and consultation methods, including focus groups, interviews, workshops, surveys, and other facilitated discussions.
• Experience using survey and feedback platforms such as Qualtrics, Microsoft Forms or similar tools to design surveys, collect and analyze feedback, and communicate insights.
• Experience using AI tools and AI agents to support communications, engagement, research, analysis, workflow automation, or other business processes, with an understanding of responsible and effective AI use.
• Strategic and proactive mindset, with the ability to anticipate communication and change needs, identify risks or barriers, and recommend practical approaches.

• Experience using digital tools and content management systems (e.g., Drupal/WordPress, SharePoint, CyberImpact, Google Analytics) to create, distribute, and assess content and engagement.
• Working knowledge of graphic and web design principles, with experience using tools such as Canva or Adobe Creative Suite.

• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills, with the ability to communicate effectively, foster inclusive and respectful environments, and build partnerships across teams.

• Strong critical thinking and organizational skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, adapt to change, embrace new approaches, and deliver high-quality work independently and as part of a team.

• Proficiency in standard business tools (e.g., Microsoft 365) and the ability and interest to learn new and evolving technologies and systems.