Director, Media Relations and Stakeholder Communications

The Director, Media Relations and Stakeholder Communications is a key member of the department of Communications and Marketing (C&M) and reports to the Associate Vice-President, C&M (AVP). This position plays a central leadership role, along with the AVP and Vice-President (External), in managing the University's reputational risk in the face of highly charged controversies and protecting and enhancing its reputation. The incumbent is responsible for developing all strategies and tactics that mitigate reputational risk and acts as University spokesperson, especially on sensitive and high-profile issues and in crisis situations. In consultation and independently, the incumbent makes decisions that have significant consequences on the reputation of the University and on the campus and external communities. The Director, Media Relations and Stakeholder Communications provides guidance and support to senior leaders, including the President, Vice Presidents and other executive team members, advising them on external and internal communications, media relations and issues management. Similar support is also provided to deans, chairs and communicators from all seven U of G colleges to other university officials and staff members, colleagues in Communications and Marketing, Government Relations and Community Engagement, Research Communications, as well to partner organizations outside the University. Working with the AVP and VP (External), the Director is responsible for the strategic direction of all University of Guelph communications activities involving stakeholder and media relations. This includes overseeing the University's Media Relations team, all central and aligned media relations activities, the University's key publications and strategic institutional positioning. The incumbent works to advance U of G's reputation, support institutional goals and priorities, and ensure the University is consistently, accurately, and effectively represented in the media and among stakeholder organizations. The Director, Media Relations and Stakeholder Communications leads the planning and development of high-value institutional materials, and the development and delivery of the University's key messages centrally and in support of priority institutional initiatives. This position plays an active role, both strategically and operationally, in department planning, budgeting, and project management. The Director supervises a team of five full-time staff members who create key external and internal messages for the University and for senior administrators, as well as for the media and external partners. The incumbent works in close collaboration with the Chief of Staff, Director, Integrated and Internal Communications and the Director, Marketing and Digital Engagement, along with communicators from all seven U of G colleges, other University academic and non-academic units, the broader Campus Communicators Network and external stakeholder organizations. The new Director will lead the University's central media relations activities and content development for media, news stories, feature content and key publications that contribute to U of G institutional goals, and builds relationships with target audiences, enhancing the University's reputation and brand image, raising awareness of University achievements and contributing to advancement programs. This includes content development for news stories and editorial features, all central University print publications and external communications, all major University public and media announcements, media guides and media training. The incumbent develops strategic communications plans and evaluates media efforts and plays a leadership role in informing media, stakeholders and the campus community of breaking issues and news, and initiates faculty, staff, and student participation in a proactive media strategy. Requirements of the position include:

• Undergraduate Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or related discipline and seven (7) years' experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including writing content, interviewing and editing
• Extensive experience in media relations, and stakeholder communications with demonstrated experience in developing and implementing communications plans, strategies
• Extensive experience in issues and crisis management
• Skilled in handling high-profile, sensitive, and controversial situations
• Demonstrated experience managing large, diverse groups and in navigating complex stakeholder relationships.
• Highly skilled with social media, editorial content development and traditional media
• Knowledge of branding, marketing, and advertising strategies
• Ability to use KPIs and data analytics to generate reports and make strategic improvement recommendations.
• Ability to gain detailed knowledge of the University of Guelph - historical, organizational structure, people (including alumni community), programs, geography, institutional goals and mission

There will be an expectation that the successful candidate be able to work on site with the possibility of some remote work. Position Number 390-028 Classification P10* *Tentative evaluation; subject to committee review. At the University of Guelph, fostering a 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.

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