Communications Specialist
Permanent, Full-Time, starting October 2026
One of our core values at St. Michaels University School is respect. With this in mind, we acknowledge that our school rests in the heart of Straits Salish territory, a living culture with its own rites, ceremonies, and unfolding history. We honour the Esquimalt, Songhees, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples – whose homelands we share and whom we recognize as our neighbours.
St. Michaels University School (SMUS) is seeking a Communications Specialist to join our dynamic Marketing & Communications department.
Is this you? Reporting to the Director, Marketing & Communications, you are a versatile writer, editor and communications professional who creates clear, engaging and audience-focused content across a range of channels. With strong editorial judgment, you help determine how best to tell a story or communicate a message - from timely news and short-form content to feature stories, website content, newsletters and other school communications.
Working collaboratively across the School and closely with members of the Marketing and Communications team, you identify and develop stories; write and edit content for different audiences and channels; support the School’s weekly newsletter and other strategic communications; and manage day-to-day website content to ensure it is accurate, current, relevant and effective for its intended audiences. The role also provides writing and editorial support across the team’s work, including marketing, digital and print communications. Strong organization, attention to detail and sound judgment are essential, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities and respond to the fast-moving communications needs of a busy school community.
Work Schedule & Environment:
- Hours of work are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday, with occasional evening or weekend work to attend School activities and events.
- Primarily in-person at the 3400 Richmond Road campus, with some flexibility for remote work.
- Regular travel between SMUS’s two campuses is required.
Responsibilities include:
Content & Editorial
- Identify, develop, write and edit timely and engaging content that reflects the breadth of school life and supports SMUS’s strategic priorities, using strong editorial judgment to determine the appropriate format, length and channel.
- Write for a range of audiences and channels, including news and feature stories, short-form content, web, social media, marketing materials and other School communications.
- Plan, curate, write and build the School’s weekly newsletter, balancing content from across the School to create an engaging and strategic reflection of the SMUS community.
- Build relationships across the School, conduct interviews and proactively identify compelling stories and content opportunities.
- Provide writing and editorial support for major publications, special projects and other Marketing and Communications initiatives, while supporting consistent editorial style, brand voice and messaging.
Website Content
- Manage day-to-day website content, including writing, editing, publishing and updating stories, general page content, staff information, documents and other timely information.
- Apply best practices for writing and organizing web content to ensure it is accurate, current, accessible and effective for intended audiences.
- Proactively identify content that requires improvement and work with departments, Marketing and Communications colleagues and external developers on website content needs and larger initiatives.
Media Relations & External Communications
- Support media relations and external communications, including writing media releases, preparing key messages, responding to media requests and identifying potential earned media opportunities.
- Provide communications support for School initiatives, announcements and emerging issues as required.
Experience and Qualifications:
- Post-secondary education in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing or a related field, along with three to five years of relevant professional experience.
- Exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills, with demonstrated ability to write effectively for different audiences, purposes and channels.
- Strong editorial judgment and storytelling skills, with a keen sense of newsworthiness and the ability to identify the appropriate approach and level of effort for different content.
- Strong understanding of writing for digital audiences, news writing techniques, Canadian Press style and brand voice.
- Experience writing and publishing website content using a Content Management System such as Drupal or WordPress; experience with email platforms such as Mailchimp and/or project management tools like Asana are an asset
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to work quickly and accurately while managing multiple deadlines, requests and changing priorities.
- Strong interpersonal and interviewing skills, with the ability to build rapport and communicate effectively with a wide range of people, from young students to colleagues, school leaders, families and alumni.
- Proactive, adaptable and comfortable learning new tools and technologies, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Sound judgment, tact and discretion; experience working in education or another complex, fast-moving organization is considered an asset.
Salary & Benefits:
Annual salary range: $65,700 - $98,700
- Competitive compensation
- Generous vacation and school closure days
- Comprehensive health and dental benefits
- Employer-supported retirement savings plan
- Professional development opportunities
- Employee wellness programs
- Beautiful Victoria campus
- Strong, collaborative school community
- Meaningful work in one of Canada’s leading independent schools
Criminal Record Check:
Must pass and maintain a clear Solicitor General criminal record check for the purpose of working with children.
Application Details:
Please apply online (not via LinkedIn) with a cover letter and resume by 2:00 pm Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Apply here: https://careers.risepeople.com/SMUS/en/17500_communications-specialist
About St. Michaels University School:
Located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, St. Michaels University School (SMUS) is a Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 day and boarding school with a global reputation for academic excellence.
Our students from over 30 countries all over the world have opportunities in academics, athletics, arts, leadership, service and outdoor education, and are inspired by an extraordinary staff committed to character growth and preparing students for what lies ahead in life. The school’s Mission shapes these endeavours: Our school seeks the excellence in all of us, with passion and compassion. We are a community shaped by the pursuit of truth and goodness, providing outstanding preparation for life.
At St. Michaels University School, we seek to employ and empower individuals who wish to forge impactful relationships and careers that place our students at the centre. We firmly believe that expanding our diversity while adjusting our practice will lead to becoming the community we envision – a place where staff and students share a sense that they fully belong.
