Issues & Communications Manager

Department: Media Relations and Stakeholder Communications

This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph

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 Issues and Communications Manager plays a key role in helping promote and protect the reputation of the University of Guelph through proactive and responsive communications and issues management. This role is responsible for responding to media inquiries on controversial and sensitive topics, monitoring potential issues in the media and on social media, preparing issue briefs and forecasts, and developing communications strategies and content in response to evolving situations. The role is also involved in crisis communications.

The Issues and Communications Manager interacts with senior leaders, including the President, Vice Presidents, and Assistant and Associate Vice Presidents, and must be able to build trusting relationships across the organization. The successful candidate will work closely and build strong collaborations with colleagues in Communications and Marketing, Government Relations and Community Engagement, Alumni Affairs and Development, Research Communications, with University college communicators, and administrative departments.

The Issues and Communications Manager makes good decisions in fast-paced, highly charged environments that have significant consequences for the reputation of the University and the campus community. The manager works with confidential information and is responsible for ensuring best practices when it comes to FIPPA and privacy protection.

The Issues and Communications Manager periodically acts on behalf of the Director, Media Relations and Stakeholder Communications, at which time the manager takes a lead role in support of the AVP, Communications and Marketing on issues management and media relations; makes management decisions; acts as a spokesperson; oversees issues management; and responds to crisis situations.

The Issues and Communications Manager will represent the Communications and Marketing Department and the University on various committees, steering groups and councils.

Duties and Responsibilites

General duties of the Issues and Communications Manager, some of which are performed together with the Director, Media Relations and Stakeholder Communications:

• Provide experience-based, judgement-driven advice and support to leadership and campus communicators related to issues.
• Support organizational issues management by playing a key, centralized role in the University’s management of issues through environmental scanning, issue identification and analysis, strategy development and execution, and monitoring and evaluation, and by bringing a professional, best-practice approach to the work.
• Develop issues briefs and forecasts, and create and execute issues management plans, strategies, and responses.
• Be a convenor across departments, Colleges, and disciplines, bringing colleagues and interest holders together to support integrated institutional issues plans and responses.
• Conduct proactive environmental scanning to identify emerging trends, risks, and developments within the post-secondary and broader business sectors, and sociopolitical landscape that could impact the organization’s operations or reputation.
• Help establish a proactive, communicative organizational culture by supporting the development and implementation of an issues management framework.
• Respond to media inquiries that are high-profile, sensitive and/or controversial and that could cause reputational harm. Make quick decisions in a fast-paced, highly charged environment.
• Use professionalism, knowledge of FIPPA, and judgement in knowing when to consult with general counsel in relation to issues response.
• Execute crisis management responses as needed. This involves knowing how to communicate using a full suite of channels in a crisis, understanding how and where to connect with interest holders, and the ability to work with administrators from across the University in a crisis.
• Develop, implement, evaluate, and report on strategic communications plans.
• When required to act on behalf of the Director, play a lead role in relation to issues management and support the Associate Vice-President, Communications and Marketing with crisis management.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in Communications, Public Relations, or a related field and 6 years’ experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strategic thinker with professional experience managing issues on behalf of a large organization, including environmental scanning, issue identification and analysis, strategy development and execution, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Strong critical thinking skills and confidence in assessing and recommending media and communications approaches.
• Proven ability to work closely with senior leaders and subject matter experts to make complex ideas relatable to multiple audiences.
• Successful experience working with mainstream and non-traditional media.
• Confident and seasoned professional who can provide strategic guidance and leadership to clients and colleagues on all aspects of effective media relations and communications.
• Digital and social media savvy, with a strong grasp of the evolving digital media landscape.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills to develop, lead and execute communication plans effectively and efficiently.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills.
• Able to manage competing priorities and remain calm and composed under pressure.
• Sound judgment, diplomacy and confidentiality using a professional, client-service approach.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with many diverse clients/stakeholders.
• Experience managing large, diverse groups and in navigating complex interest holder relationships.
• Detailed knowledge of the University of Guelph including its history, organizational structure, interest holders, programs, and institutional goals and priorities.

This is a hybrid position. The successful candidate will be required to work on-site a minimum of two days each week.

Employee Type: Regular 
Position Number: 10390051 
Classification: P&M FT- Band 05    
Professional/Managerial Salary Bands 

*Tentative evaluation; subject to committee review.

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:  02/07/2025  
Closing Date:  02/28/2025