Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Crop Development Centre
Summary
About the Crop Development Centre
The Crop Development Centre (CDC) exists to turn momentum into impact through the continuous advancement of Canadian seed. Since 1971, for more than 55 years, the CDC has carried discovery forward from foundational research through breeding, testing, training, and commercialization in one connected system. That integration is what sets the CDC apart. The CDC’s work spans pulses, cereals, oilseeds, and specialty crops. The centre develops varieties that perform under real conditions, licenses them through industry partnerships, and returns that value to farmers, the province, and the broader agricultural system.
Embedded within the Department of Plant Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, the CDC runs large breeding programs across more than 40 crops, and its teams grow to more than 300 people through the summer field season. This role sits on the small central team that supports communications, brand, and administration across the whole centre. The CDC holds strong brand equity rooted in trust, independence, and practical outcomes. The centre has a recently updated brand foundation and a growing set of assets, and is building out the templates, content, and materials that bring that brand to life across every channel.
Nature of Work
The Communications Coordinator supports how the CDC tells its story to seed growers and licensees, industry partners and commodity groups, funders and government, and university leadership. Reporting to the Manager, Crop Development Centre, the coordinator assists in the development, coordination, and delivery of internal and external communications, producing and distributing a wide range of content and designed assets that keep the CDC visible, consistent, and current across platforms.
The coordinator works collaboratively with the CDC Manager, the CDC Director, breeders, program staff, and the College of Agriculture and Bioresources communications team to promote programs, events, and achievements through storytelling and campaign support, while keeping every piece aligned to the CDC and University of Saskatchewan brand guidelines. The Manager sets communications strategy and priorities, and the coordinator carries them out, turning direction into finished content, assets, and events. This is a hands-on, execution-focused role where roles are broad, priorities shift, and follow-through matters. Flexibility for occasional work outside normal hours is required, and travel within Saskatchewan to field sites and industry events is required at times.
This is primarily a CDC role, however the coordinator also provides some communications support to the Department of Plant Sciences, including the department newsletter, social media management, and website updates.
Key Responsibilities
- Contributes to the development and execution of CDC's annual marketing and communications plans in support of the priorities set by the CDC Manager.
- Drafts, edits, and distributes content across the CDC's channels, including website updates, social media posts, newsletter articles, research impact stories, variety release announcements, and program updates, and monitors engagement metrics.
- Produces the CDC semi-annual newsletter, including writing, layout, and distribution, under the direction of the CDC Manager, as well as support for the Plant Sciences quarterly internal newsletter.
- Designs and produces print and digital assets within the CDC brand system, such as social graphics, website banners, event display banners, pull-up flags, tradeshow materials, brochures, and branded templates.
- Applies the CDC and University of Saskatchewan brand and style guidelines consistently across all materials.
- Captures and coordinates photography and videography that reflects the CDC's work in real field conditions, including liaising with external photographers and travel to trial sites as required.
- Assists in managing the CDC's photo and video assets, including organizing archives and coordinating shoots.
- Schedules and monitors the CDC and Plant Sciences social media content, currently LinkedIn and X (Twitter), and helps grow engagement.
- Builds, maintains, and expands the CDC's website within the university’s content management system (Cascade), working within its constraints, alongside the CDC Manager and updates the Plant Sciences website occasionally.
- Supports the CDC's presence at the annual Crop Production Show, Ag in Motion, field days, and industry events, including materials, logistics, and on-site coordination.
- Provides logistical and administrative support for communications projects and events.
- Works closely with the CDC Manager, CDC Director, breeders, researchers, and program staff whose work the role helps communicate, and collaborates with the College of Agriculture and Bioresources communications team on shared initiatives and brand alignment.
- Communicates and acts in a respectful and professional manner, collaborates effectively, abides by policy, and contributes to a positive and productive work and learning environment.
- Undertakes related duties, as assigned, consistent with the nature of the position.
Qualifications
- A bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, graphic design, journalism, public relations, or related field. The University of Saskatchewan recognizes alternate career paths, and an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
- Two or more years of related experience in communications or marketing.
- Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with the ability to make technical work clear and credible for non-specialist audiences.
- Design skills and a strong visual eye, with experience producing print and digital assets within an established brand system using Canva and the Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop).
- Familiarity with social media platforms and content management systems, including content scheduling and basic analytics.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
- Attention to detail, sound judgment, critical thinking, and professionalism in all communications.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a small, collaborative team where roles are broad and priorities shift.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
- Comfortable using AI tools in a communications and marketing workflow, and eager to help shape how the CDC uses them (Microsoft Co-Pilot, Claude, Gemini etc.)
- Willing and able to attend field events, tradeshows, and industry days, with occasional work outside regular hours (minimal) and travel within Saskatchewan as required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Interest in or curiosity about agriculture, agri-food or crop science.
- Experience with email marketing platforms and newsletter production, such as Mailchimp.
- Photography skills would be an asset.
How to Apply
Submit your application through the University of Saskatchewan careers portal. Please include:
- A cover letter telling us why this work interests you and what you would bring to it.
- A current resume or CV.
- Two or three samples that demonstrate both your writing and your design work (links to published work or a portfolio are welcome).
Department: Crop Development Centre
Status: Permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $53,091.00 - 82,954.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Specialist Professional
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 1
Posted Date: 9/28/2026
Closing Date: 10/16/2026 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: On Campus
The University of Saskatchewan aspires to be what the world needs and embraces equity, diversity and inclusion as foundational to excellence and innovation. We actively seek to create a welcoming environment where all individuals feel empowered to thrive, contribute, and grow. Applications from equity-deserving groups are encouraged as part of our ongoing efforts to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve: EDI Framework for Action.
We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and the Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation.
The University of Saskatchewan provides an accessible and inclusive workplace. Should you require support through any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us for assistance.
