Ville : Ottawa

Catégorie : Full time

Industrie : Higher Education

Employeur : University of Ottawa

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Posting Reason:

Replacement of a regular position

Job Type:

Employee

Anticipated Duration in Months (for contracts and temporary assignments):

N/A

Job Family:

Communications and Advisory Services

# of Open Positions:

1

Faculty/Service - Department:

Office of Communications and Public Affairs - Issues Management and Media Relations

Campus:

Main Campus

Union Affiliation:

N/A

Date Posted (YYYY/MM/DD):

2026/02/23

Applications must be received BEFORE (YYYY/MM/DD):

2026/03/06

Hours per week:

35

Salary Grade:

Non-Union Grade NM1

Salary Range:

$104,880.00 - $131,101.00

Position Purpose:

The Lead Writer has a mandate to support the President in strengthening the University’s reputation and institutional relationships with key audiences and stakeholders while ensuring alignment with the University’s communications objectives and strategies. The incumbent is responsible for planning and producing executive speeches and other executive communications assets and materials, including but not limited to social media content, video scripts, news media products including opeds and briefing notes for interviews, correspondence, institutional messages to the University community, presentations, and more for senior executive leaders, particularly the President, for both internal and external audiences within sometimes tight deadlines.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• The Lead Writer, Executive Communications develops and writes speeches and other communications assets and materials for University executives, particularly the President. The Lead Writer incorporates ideas, objectives, the institutional position and philosophy into messaging that is relevant to the topic, speaker and target audience.

• Compiles, analyses and interprets knowledge from diverse sources, researches, writes and edits the President’s executive communications assets and materials, ensuring each product delivers a strong message in the President’s personal voice.

• Conducts independent research and develops narratives that support institutional priorities. The Lead Writer interviews prominent researchers and global leaders relevant to each engagement, gathers information on complex research projects and produces impactful communications assets and materials for key audiences.

• The incumbent works closely with speakers to develop their voice and tone and assist them in preparing to deliver remarks; this may include coaching, guidance and providing advice.

• Performs extensive background research to identify and respond to the needs, priorities and requirements of key audiences including students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and external audiences.

• The Lead Writer works to identify speaking and other communications opportunities to enhance the University’s reputation and profile.

What you will bring:

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in journalism or communications or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience 

• Minimum of 10 years of professional writing experience, including message development, executive speechwriting and the development of a narrative

• Demonstrated success in writing effective speeches for executives

• Extensive experience researching, writing and editing

• An effective communicator 

• Excellent interpersonal skills, critical thinking and proven ability to balance competing demands in a dynamic environment

• Proven leadership and project management skills

• Collaborative, highly articulate, strategic, committed to excellence 

• High standards for accuracy, responsiveness, integrity and discretion

• Digital-savvy with solid technology experience, including proficiency in Microsoft Office, social media platforms and related programs; mastering digital platforms (including Canva), the web, and current trends.

• Strong verbal communication skills in both official languages. Exceptional writing skills in one of the official languages.

• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends and sometimes on very short notice. 

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Key Competencies at uOttawa:
Here are the required competencies for all or our employees at uOttawa: 

Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.
Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.
Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.
Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.

The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact hrtalentmanagement@uottawa.ca to communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Note: if this is a union position: The hiring process will be governed by the current collective agreement related to the union affiliation noted above; you can click here to find out more.

If this is a front-line position with responsibilities to interact with students, selected candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.