AFI Communications Manager

Department: Arrell Food Institute 
This position is classified under the Grant & Trust Professional Group

Temporary full-time from 01/19/2026  to 01/14/2028  

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

The Arrell Food Institute (AFI) is improving global food systems. Building on world-class strengths at Canada’s Food University, AFI has had a very successful first 8 years, forming a wide network of national and international experts, and running a variety of events and creating excellent communications products. AFI is expected to communicate clearly and effectively across a range of complex and nuanced issues – this post is crucial to that endeavour.

AFI is expanding its thought leadership work - taking opportunities to shape national and international discourse on food systems issues, elevating the Arrell Chairs and rooted in the depth of expertise at UoG, Canada's Food University. We offer Scholarships, run international awards, and host an annual Summit. Major programs run from within the AFI team are i) Sustainable Food Systems for Canada (SF4C), a national platform advancing innovation and training to strengthen Canada’s sustainable agri-food sector. The initiative brings together leading academic institutions, Indigenous organizations, and industry partners to help close productivity gaps and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ii) Food from Thought, the University of Guelph’s Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) initiative, a $76.7M, 7-year project aimed at catalyzing a new digital agricultural revolution involving over 100 faculty members.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to AFI’s Director of Operations and working closely with programme colleagues, the Communications Manager is responsible for managing and leading the communications and marketing activities for AFI, including FFT and SF4C. The Communications Manager will be a strategic, forward-looking and experienced leader with the skills to guide the shared strategic themes and objectives of these programs. The role is responsible for developing the strategic direction of our public presence.

The Communications Manager is a vital part of the AFI team, with responsibilities including:

• Leading the development, management, and implementation of a multi-dimensional communications strategy for AFI, FFT and SF4C incorporating traditional and social media, media relations, and image and message management across a variety of internal and external communities.
• Manage the work of two Communications Coordinators and supervise students working as communications assistants, in pursuit of agreed communications priorities.
• Collaborating with AFI’s Strategic Initiatives team to promote AFI's though leadership perspectives and contributions to topical and timely public debates.
• Working closely with staff in the University of Guelph Communications and Public Affairs office, and Communications staff elsewhere in the University on initiatives and activities aligned with, and/or supported by AFI.
• Leading the design, development, and production of new communications materials to support our communications strategy.
• Managing contracts with external agencies, consultants and freelancers for content development, and providing editorial management for all communications.
• Design and/or manage the development of high-quality written content on AFI activities including website and social media content, news stories, press releases, presentations, speaking notes, etc.
• Develop and maintain all messaging and communications platforms and ensure that the platforms are coordinated and respect brand standards and accessibility requirements. Platforms include, but are not exclusive to, websites, social media, e-newsletter, advertisements, annual & interim reports, podcasts and other mechanisms, as necessary.
• Serving as the central media contact for AFI, including responding to inquiries and requests, and providing referrals as required.
• Planning and implementing marketing and promotion of events.

Requirements

The Communications Manager will deliver high quality communications products on time and on budget to meet AFI objectives. The successful candidate is likely to demonstrate many of the following qualities:

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, etc) or in an agriculture or food discipline with a post graduate certificate in communications.
• Ten years of experience in a communications role.
• Experience working with diverse audiences, including journalists, influencers, researchers, and communications contractors.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication, presentation and organizational skills and the ability to work in a cross-functional team environment.
• Ability to work independently and complete tasks professionally, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrable commitment to supporting equity.
• Flexibility of approach and ability to adjust to rapidly evolving environments and conditions to function effectively and ensure continuity.
• Ability to effectively work with and harness the capacity of paid students and volunteers.
• Proficiency in design and photography software, and experience in editing, visual design, production management and coordinating web platforms and social media accounts.
• Experience in plain language writing and research communications.

The Communications Manager will be a valued member of an equitable, fast-paced team, with a high degree of capability and an appetite for solutions. The successful candidate will likely have the opportunity to flex their communications skills, add tangible outcomes to their resume, and build their personal networks. 

The successful candidate will be working on-campus with the option to work remotely regularly. Some travel will be expected for this role, for example to enable event attendance.

 
Employee Type: Temporary 
Classification: Grant/ Trust fund position, P&M FT- Band 05    
GTP Professional/Managerial Salary Bands 

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: 12/19/2025 
Close Date: 01/04/2026  

*Tentative evaluation; subject to committee review.