The Director, Strategic Communications & Marketing is a senior leadership role within the External Relations Department at Vancouver Island University (VIU), placing the Director at the centre of how VIU tells its story, protects its reputation, and connects with the communities we serve.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President, External Relations, this position leads VIU's communications function and provides strategic oversight of Marketing, ensuring the two work from one voice. The Director shapes the tone and strategic direction behind how the university speaks to the communities we serve, and ensures everything from a media response to a recruitment campaign reflects that voice consistently.

Duties:

As the university's senior communications specialist, the Director guides external and internal messaging, issues management, and media relations, while also overseeing the marketing strategy and operations that amplify that message and support enrolment, student persistence, and engagement. Their leadership spans institutional brand and prospective student engagement, presidential and executive communications, and reputational risk management.

In the capacity of a media relations expert, the Director plays a pivotal role in advising the President and Senior Management Team on issues management, assessing situations, shaping institutional responses, and formulating the strategic recommendations that guide VIU through moments that matter. As a member of the President's Council, the Director's insight helps shape how the university navigates emerging issues before they reach the public.

This year brings two of the university's most significant leadership transitions, and communications for both will be central to this role: the recruitment and installation of a new President and Vice-Chancellor, and the appointment of a new Chancellor. In collaboration with the AVP External Relations, and University Secretariat, the Director will support the communications planning and execution behind each.

The Director also oversees VIU's brand strategy and marketing operations team, from market research and campaign development to performance measurement, ensuring the university's visual identity and public presence stay aligned with the communications direction the Director sets. Leading a multidisciplinary team across communications, marketing, media relations, and digital engagement, the Director builds a group that works from one strategic narrative rather than two separate functions.

Primary Responsibilities

• Strategic Communications Leadership:
  
  
  
  Set the direction for VIU's communications strategy, external and internal messaging, and institutional storytelling, ensuring every channel speaks with one voice and supports the university's Strategic Plan.
• Leadership Transition Communications: Lead communications planning and execution for this year's key leadership transitions, including the recruitment and installation of a current President and Vice-Chancellor, and the appointment of a new Chancellor.
• Media Relations and Issues Management: Serve as VIU's lead on reputational risk, crisis communications planning, and issues management, advising the President, Senior Management Team, and Board.
• Presidential and Executive Communications: Guide the President's and executive team's public communications, positioning their voice and VIU's leadership within the communities we serve.
• Marketing Oversight: Oversee brand strategy and marketing operations, including market research, campaign development, and performance measurement, ensuring they stay in service of the university's communications goals and enrolment targets.
• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team across communications, marketing, media relations, and digital engagement, building a high-performing group aligned to institutional priorities.
• Cross-Institutional Collaboration: Work with academic and administrative units to ensure consistent messaging and integrated planning across the institution.
• Budget Management: Manage the communications and marketing budget, ensuring resources are deployed effectively in support of institutional goals.

Required Qualifications:

A degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field, with 6 to 10 years of senior-level leadership experience in communications within complex organizations. Postsecondary or public sector experience is preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

• A proven track record leading strategic communications, media relations, and crisis communications, with demonstrated experience overseeing marketing operations and brand strategy.
• Experience advising executive leadership,
  
  
  
  including presidents, senior management teams, and boards, on communications strategy and issues management.
• Exceptional creative, analytical, and problem‑solving skills, with an understanding of how provincial, federal, and international decisions affect the postsecondary landscape.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence across all levels of leadership, and to lead a multidisciplinary team spanning communications and marketing.

While this is a 14‑month term covering a leave, the role carries full Director‑level responsibility for VIU's communications and marketing throughout. The ideal candidate is a communications leader who also knows how to oversee a marketing function in service of that work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Special attention will be given to candidates who have postsecondary experience

VIU is pleased to offer eligible employees a comprehensive benefit plan; ample paid holiday time; professional development opportunities and a desirable pension plan. As part of the VIU campus community, our employees work with supportive colleagues within an encouraging environment and are provided with the tools and training that promote learning and development. The perks of VIU employment are multiple, and include well‑being initiatives and services, strategic discounts, and flexible work opportunities.

Note:

• Short‑listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview.
• however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
• Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students. In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity‑seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences. We encourage members of all equity‑seeking groups to self‑identify within their application cover letter. When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity. Disclosure and/or self‑identification with an equity‑seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.