Project Specialist, Brand Communications

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Job Profile

Job Title

Department

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The Project Specialist, Brand Communications works closely with the Brand and Marketing team, colleagues from the Communications Portfolio, and other key contacts across the university to coordinate and implement brand management activities, manage institutional brand channels, and lead on brand-aligned projects that support university priorities.

The Project Specialist, Brand Communications performs project planning, coordination, and management functions in support of key brand communications and engagement initiatives, including digital projects and campaigns.

Organizational Status

The Project Specialist, Brand Communications reports to the Manager, Brand Communications, and works collaboratively with a cross-disciplinary team of communications, technical development, and creative staff in Communications, as well as internal and external stakeholders across the university.

Work Performed

• The Project Specialist, Brand Communications is responsible for planning and coordinating the production and delivery of brand management activities, and priority brand projects (design system, Brand website, events calendar, digital signage)

• Develops project charters, defining scope and timeline/work back schedules, in consultation/collaboration with service delivery units in Brand and Marketing.

• Proposes and tracks project budgets, including coordinating with relevant teams within Brand and Marketing and vendors and contractors as needed.

• Coordinates the execution of communications and marketing activities, including design and digital production.

• Provides operational communications support for UBC brand channels including website updates, database maintenance, and basic support for communications infrastructure (digital signage, brand ticketing system, etc)

• Acts as an implementation lead throughout projects, from design to execution, delivery and evaluation. Works collaboratively with team to ensure projects are completed successfully.

• Facilitates project planning and status meetings, and agile rituals (sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives)

• Liaises with stakeholders and sponsors to provide status updates and manage on-going inputs and approvals.

• May also work with vendors and contractors as needed to complete operational or project-based work.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The position must be able to work independently and exercise independent judgement in managing brand communication needs and issues. Actions and decisions are expected to consider the goals and resources of the university and the Communications portfolio, including as they pertain to brand communications and engagement strategies, technical implementation approach, editorial copy, and visual design.

Poorly executed operations and projects can result in loss of stakeholder support, weak results and/or inefficient use of resourcing and budget and could have a significant impact on the brand equity and reputation of the University.

Supervision Received

This position operates cross-functionally within and outside of Brand and Marketing, and reports to the Manager, Brand Communications. The position will also work closely with other communications professionals at UBC, vendors, and other staff from across the university as needed. This position also works independently within established guidelines and standards.

Supervision Given

This position is required to coordinate the production of writing, design, and digital communications work to support brand communications and management strategies and initiatives. This position may oversee the work of internal and external contractors/vendors, and co-op and/or work learn student placements.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline complemented with ongoing professional development and relevant experience. Minimum five years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to lead projects, manage timelines, staffing, and resourcing, working under pressure to meet multiple competing deadlines

• Comfortable making decisions with moderate levels of ambiguity and complexity

• Experience working in a large, complex organizational environment

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with digital content producers (writers, designers, photographers, videographers) and technical specialists (system administrators, programmers), along with direct experience working hands-on in any one of these disciplines

• Experience working with web and related technologies with the ability to quickly grasp technical concepts and accurately understand capabilities and constraints of proposed solutions and systems

• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to interact with and build consensus among a project team with diplomacy and tact

• Experience with project management tools and software, and agile and waterfall methodologies

• Experience with design tools (ex. Adobe Creative Suite, Figma) web content management systems (ex. Wordpress), project management software (ex. Asana, MS Project), and office productivity tools (ex. Office 365 suite).

• Knowledge of the University and its policies, goals, issues, and mission a definite asset

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written

• Demonstrated willingness to learn and continually upgrade skills

Collaboration:

• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively within a team environment. Exceptional service orientation and interpersonal skills. A positive and collaborative attitude with a willingness to go above and beyond when needed.

• Able to work in an environment that is decentralized, complex, and with diverse range of stakeholders. Effectively works through influence and engenders trust from wide variety of people.

• Ability to recognize, respect and work effectively with individuals and groups with diverse perspectives and backgrounds.

• Takes initiative in learning about language and issues relating to equity and diversity.

• Ability to recognize and appreciate the contributions of colleagues. Committed to demonstrating respect to colleagues at every level by trusting in their abilities and knowledge to perform their roles and earning respect through meeting commitments.

• Models and demonstrates effective communication through active listening and appreciative inquiry and is open to providing and receiving timely, constructive feedback.

• Listens to, encourages, and expresses creative and innovative ideas.

• Open to experiment and improvise with new ways of approaching processes, tasks, or problems.