Communications Consultant

Department: Office of the Provost and VP Academic
This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant. 
Career Opportunities (sapsf.com) 

General Purpose

Student Affairs is seeking a Manager, Communications to lead an integrated communications strategy that advances Student Affairs priorities, strengthens internal alignment, enhances the portfolio's reputation and raises awareness of the impact of Student Affairs within the University community and beyond.

As the primary communications advisor to Student Affairs senior leaders, you will provide strategic counsel and executive communications support, set portfolio-wide standards for messaging, voice, tone, accessibility and brand, and coordinate communications across multiple directorates. Working closely with the Office of Communications and Marketing, campus communicators and communications staff embedded across Student Affairs, you will shape coordinated approaches to storytelling, issues management, digital communications, publications, stakeholder engagement and change communications. You will also use analytics and stakeholder feedback to measure impact, and help build communications capacity through training and mentoring.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Communications Leadership:

• Lead the development, execution and evaluation of portfolio-wide, annual and project-specific communications strategies and plans.
• Advise Student Affairs senior leadership on messaging, stakeholder engagement, reputation management and emerging issues.
• Translate strategic goals from leaders, committees and project teams into effective communications approaches and deliverables.
• Establish performance measures and evaluate effectiveness using data, analytics, audience insights and stakeholder feedback.

Portfolio Coordination and Internal Communications:

• Coordinate planning across departments to ensure consistency, reduce duplication, improve timing and maximize impact.
• Establish communications calendars for major initiatives, campaigns, recurrent communications and institutional reporting cycles.
• Strengthen internal communications channels, including staff updates, newsletters and e-blasts, and proactively address communication gaps and misinformation.

Content Development, Executive Communications and Reputation Management:

• Write, edit and review key messages, briefing notes, reports, speeches, presentations, newsletters, feature stories, web content and digital posts.
• Prepare executive communications in collaboration with Student Affairs senior leadership.
• Develop communications strategies for significant initiatives, announcements, organizational change and sensitive issues.
• Collaborate with University Communications and the Office of Communications and Marketing on institutional priorities.

Digital Communications, Publications, Website and Analytics:

• Develop and oversee a comprehensive digital and social media strategy for Student Affairs.
• Provide strategic direction for the Student Affairs website, including content review, updates and navigation recommendations.
• Manage recurrent publications, e-newsletters, e-blasts, content calendars, mailing lists and publication schedules.

Stakeholder Engagement, Issues Support and Committee Work

• Build relationships with Student Affairs departments, campus communicators, senior leaders, committees, student groups and external partners.
• Support issue identification and response planning through research, consultation and draft messaging.
• Help coordinate communications on sensitive, high-profile or time-sensitive matters with senior leaders and University Communications.

Requirements

Education:

• Undergraduate degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing or a related discipline.
• A Master's degree is considered an asset.

Experience:

• Six years of progressively responsible experience in strategic, internal or corporate communications, public relations or marketing within a large, complex organization. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. 
• Proven experience developing and executing communications strategies and plans, and advising senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Experience producing diverse communications content and managing digital publications, web content, calendars and mailing lists.
• Experience using analytics and stakeholder feedback to evaluate and improve communications.
• Experience mentoring, training or supervising staff, students or other contributors.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills, with the ability to make complex or sensitive information clear and accessible for varied audiences.
• Strong political acuity, discretion and judgment, and the ability to influence and build consensus without direct authority.
• Knowledge of branding, reputation management, change communications, accessibility, plain language and digital best practices.
• Excellent project management and research skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, web content management, e-blast, social media and analytics tools, with a working knowledge of photography and video for digital channels.

Assets:

• Experience within a post-secondary institution, public sector organization or similarly complex environment.
• A Master's degree.

Employee Type: Regular Position Number: 10929134

Classification: P&M FT- Band 05    
Professional/Managerial Salary Bands 
The target hiring salary for this position is minimum and up to 96% of midpoint for the salary grade.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 11/09/2026 Closing Date: 11/16/2026