Communications Strategist

Closing Date: October 5th, 2026 at 4:00 PM

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
The Strategic Communications & Marketing (SCM) Office directs all corporate communications through storytelling, media relations, marketing, branding, creative and digital media strategies across the University. SCM oversees strategic communications and marketing policies, procedures, strategies and plans that advance the University's vision, mission and reputation. This unit works in close collaboration with other University units across both campuses to implement strategies, develop performance standards and monitor effectiveness of the strategies.

WHAT WE OFFER

Full-time | 1-year Term| Fredericton or Saint John | Hybrid

UNB is committed to ensuring employees can maintain a healthy work-life balance. As such, we are proud to support a hybrid work approach, which includes flexible hours and work-from-home options.

Standard Work Hours: Mon - Fri | 8:15 am - 4:30 pm | 36.25 hours per week

Additional Working Conditions:

• Ability to travel between campuses and work added hours on occasion, as needed.

Salary Range: $66,858 - $91,120 per annum

YOUR FOCUS

Reporting to Institutional Communications Manager, the Communications Strategist provides strategic communications counsel and content support for institutional initiatives and executive communication needs. The role creates impactful communications, supports media and stakeholder relations, and ensures consistent, effective messaging across audiences and channels.

• Write news releases, briefing notes, background reports and other materials for social media and traditional media strategies.
• Create compelling content for senior leaders, including speeches, talking points, key messages and presentation materials for internal and external engagements.
• Verifies facts, gathers information through interviews and research, evaluates and analyzes content, and presents complex information in a clear and understandable manner for a range of audiences.
• Work closely with team leads to develop and generate ideas, adapt and rework content for various forms of collateral.
• Develop and implement strategic communication plans to support announcements, major initiatives and organizational objectives.
• Ensure coordinated, timely and effective delivery of messaging across internal and external audiences.
• Develop and maintain relationships with government, community, industry, and sector stakeholders to advance institutional priorities and strengthen organizational reputation.
• Responds to inquiries received from the public, the media, internal and external stakeholders as required.
• Coordinate paid, earned and owned media opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

WHAT YOU BRING

• University degree, preferably in communications, public relations or related discipline.
• Minimum 7 years of direct experience in advising and supporting executive leaders in communications.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Excellent storyteller and superior writer with excellent editorial, proofreading and verbal communications skills.
• Established experience in speech writing, copy editing and preparing presentation materials, with demonstrated experience in reviewing, editing, fact-checking and proofreading internal and external materials according to CP style guidelines.
• Excellent time-management, interpersonal and team-building skills.
• Demonstrated experience in public relations, diplomacy, professionalism and confidentiality.
• Proven ability to develop, implement, execute and measure strategic communications plans.

Additional Strengths

• Strong collaboration and consensus-building skills and experience working with diverse internal and external stakeholder needs and priorities.
• Experience managing communications projects within complex organizations.
• Knowledge and understanding of current and emerging industry requirements and practices in the areas of communications, media relations, internal communications and public relations.
• Confident working with senior leadership of an organization.
• Demonstrated project management skills, highly organized and able to deliver priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent trust-building and conflict resolution skills.
• Knowledge of post-secondary systems structures is an asset.