City : Hamilton

Category : Other

Industry : Education

Employer : McMaster University

Communications Coordinator

JD 0820

Unit/Project Description: The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) Education Services oversees a wide breadth of education programming within the Faculty of Health Sciences, including the staff, central support and resources provided to education programs. Education Services oversees the financial, physical and human resources in the program offices, special projects, and the creation and sustainability of services that all programs share (e.g. anatomy and simulation). We are currently seeking a Communications Coordinator to develop and support a strategic vision for both internal and external communications, as well as the planning and execution of major annual events. This position will be supporting Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) approximately 3 days per week and Education Services, including programs within Education Services, for approximately 2 days per week. 

The Communications Coordinator will develop and implement communication strategies for education programs, support recruitment initiatives, create reports, announcements, events and facilitate other engagement activities. This includes, among other work, projects and initiatives, the development and maintenance of educational websites and intranet sites, social media engagement, writing documents (e.g., newsletters, reports, orientation materials, letters, emails, etc.) and distributing information to various internal and external constituents. 

The Communications Coordinator will also play a key role and collaborate in the planning and delivery of approximately 2-3 large-scale, high-profile in-person events each year. The role requires a high degree of collaboration, ability to be responsive to constituents’ needs and priorities, and ability to motivate others towards a shared communications and engagement vision.

The ideal candidate will have professional experience in communications, and planning and executing large scale events, preferably in an educational environment. They will have an exceptional service orientation and a high degree of professionalism; as well as superior written and grammatical skills, knowledge of website planning and editing content, engagement with social media, experience writing reports and professional documents and an ability to work in a fast-paced and changing environment.

Note: The Additional Information section below contains specific attributes for this role. The Purpose and Key Functions section directly below is a more general list of potential duties for this position. 

Job Summary: Responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating a strategic communication plan which includes marketing initiatives and incorporating new infrastructure to support the communication activities and enhance the overall profile of a department. 

Purpose and Key Functions: 

• Develop, coordinate and implement a work plan for the communication and promotion of the department.
• Develop the infrastructure to support the communications strategy on an ongoing basis.
• Develop recruitment, communication, and strategic plans and objectives.
• Conduct ongoing market research which includes administering surveys and planning, coordinating, and facilitating focus groups.
• Provide recommendations on the future development of communication strategy, structure, function, and activity.
• Complete annual needs assessments and write business plans which include the development of communication and strategy plans and objectives.
• Compile and disseminate ad hoc reports and products to broad audiences and stakeholders.
• Write and design communications, marketing, and dissemination tools for diverse audiences in print and electronic formats.
• Liaise with internal contacts, external partners, community organizations and other stakeholders.
• Evaluate websites and makes necessary changes regarding graphic layout, content, usability and relevance.
• Photograph and record various events and collect signed consent forms for release.
• Develop and maintain a graphics and video inventory.
• Represent the department at various events including, but not limited to, information sessions and fairs.
• Conduct database, literature, and web searches to locate documents and articles that can be used for reference in marketing tools.
• Update and maintain information in databases.
• Source vendors and obtain pricing information.
• Attend and participate in a variety of meetings.
• Remain current with frequent developments in social media platforms and trends in the communication field.
• Draft press releases for review by relevant stakeholders prior to their release.
• Proofread and edit various publications authored by other staff members.
• Plan the production and graphic design layouts of departmental publications and communications tools.
• Deal with a wide variety of individuals inside and outside the organization, including responding to national and international inquiries received by the department.
• Coordinate media inquiries and connect media with relevant persons in the department.
• Stay abreast of new technologies and developments in the field to ensure the communication plan is current and relevant.
• Develop and maintain social media platforms.
• Develop strong working relationship with key contacts, both clinical and non-clinical for purpose of promoting activities and programs of the clinics as well as of the department.
• Coordinate with clinic leadership to roll out patient engagement strategies.
• Work with clinics to disseminate information to patients.
• Identify opportunities for communication and leverage and optimize these opportunities using existing tools. 

Supervision: 

• No formal supervision of others is required.

Requirements: 

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, or related field.
• Requires 3 years of relevant experience.

Assets:

• Previous communications experience working in an academic or health care environment. 

Additional Information: 

The successful candidate will have/demonstrate the following: 

• Develops, coordinates, implements, and evaluates an annual communications, marketing, and recruitment plan aligned with the vision, objectives, and the goals of various education programs at McMaster University.
• Creates and delivers inclusive, accessible, and engaging communications for a broad range of interest holders.
• Writes and distributes complex, multi-audience communications (e.g., newsletters, announcements, articles, orientation materials, professional reports, trainee and learner profiles, etc.).
• Procures and organizes photo and video shoots to support event promotion and content development across platforms.
• Supports digital, web and social media content for various education programs ensuring adherence to McMaster brand and accessibility standards.
• Conducts regular audits of website admin/editing access (e.g., secure access for internal users).
• Consults, plans, creates, and implements effective social media strategies to increase engagement, attract followers, and promote various education program initiatives and events (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, etc.).
• Maintains a strong, consistent digital presence and monitors analytics to optimize engagement.
• Participates/leads the planning, coordination, and execution of large-scale and high-profile events.
• Coordinates event logistics including venue, communications, marketing materials, outreach and in-person support.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Visio, Canva, and Adobe Suite: InDesign, Photoshop, Acrobat and WordPress.
• Maintains positive, collaborative relationships with McMaster departments, education programs, teaching hospitals, and external partners.

This position may require you to travel and to work outside of your regular work schedule including evenings and weekends to meet operational demands (i.e. assist with various events). 

We thank all who apply; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.