Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to inspire everyone who attends our campus – artists, leaders, and thinkers – to unleash their creative potential.
We acknowledge, with deep respect and gratitude, our home on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain. In the spirit of respect and truth, we honour and acknowledge the Banff area, known as “Minhrpa” (translated in Stoney Nakoda as “the waterfalls”) and the Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) – comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney Nations – as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, Kainai. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Shuswap Nations, Ktunaxa Nations, and Metis Nation of Alberta, Rockyview District 4.
We acknowledge all Nations who live, work, and play, help us steward this land, and honour and celebrate this place.
The Opportunity The Communications Officer at Banff Centre is a natural planner, a passionate pitcher, an in-house storyteller, who thrives in collaboration.
The Communications Officer prepares, implements, and evaluates external communications plans for Banff Centre in collaboration with specific program, event, service, and administrative areas. The objective of this position is to provide support to the Director of Communications for all external communications relating to events and programs as well as creating the content and storytelling needs of Banff Centre. The role is responsible for researching, writing, editing, and proofreading content from a variety of internal sources, as well as coordinating and commissioning content from external contributors when appropriate.
A primary focus of this position is to strengthen Banff Centre’s presence across owned and earned communication channels by developing engaging stories, securing media coverage, increasing participation in events, and encouraging applications to programs. A key member of the Communications team in creating and executing unified marketing and communications plans.
Roles And Responsibilities
Reporting to Director of Communications, below are some key accountabilities:
Media & Public Relations
- The Communications Officer works with the Communications Coordinator to maintain a media clippings library, is a key user of our media monitoring service, and is responsible for media coverage reporting to the Board of Governors.
- Working closely with the Director of Communications, this position drafts news releases and related pitches, as required.
- This position assists in responding to inquiries from the media, organizing media visits to Banff Centre, and writing and leading campus media tours.
- The Communications Officer will have a particular focus on event-related media relations and coverage, working closely with Production on story opportunities for local and provincial media, including drafting speaking notes for pre-show introductions and coordinating event photo and video capture.
- Media outreach and pitching will include public awareness of Banff Centre programs, faculty, and educational outcomes, and will entail working alongside the Communications Coordinator in press material creation.
- The Communications Officer will assist the Director of Communications on crisis communications plans for Banff Centre.
Content & Storytelling
- The Communications Officer will develop and execute Banff Centre’s Content Strategy in close collaboration with the Content Producer.
- They will implement editorial guidelines for all owned content, including articles for web and print, video, audio, and in-person content channels.
- In collaboration with the Content Producer, the Communications Officer will co-manage the content calendar and track publishing timelines and project status, coordinating with contributing departments and teammates.
- They will create editorial plans and budgets, commission and edit new writers, and assists in the content, design, and print production process of select print publications.
- They conceive, research, create, and write compelling original content that tells the stories of Banff Centre.
- They will work closely with the Content Producer to facilitate audio, video, or photo capture, also working closely with Photo Services and Digital Arts Teams.
- The Communications Officer will evaluate the effectiveness and success of content in collaboration with Marketing, measuring actual results against desired outcomes.
Communications and Content Plans
- The Communications Officer develops and executes communications and content plans as part of a unified Marketing and Communications plan, in collaboration with marketing teammates, Content Producer, and with guidance from the Director, Communications and Director, Marketing.
- The position is also a professional resource to the programs and departments of Banff Centre and requires independent judgment and evaluation of communication project needs. This work requires research, problem-solving, and project management skills.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Educational Requirements
- 3 years of related experience is required
- Completion of an undergraduate degree or diploma in communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field
- Experience with event planning, conferences, or a post-secondary institution
- Proven experience pitching and securing impactful media coverage
- Direct arts-related industry experience is preferred
- Thorough knowledge of marketing and communications practices and planning.
- Excellent interpersonal communication
- Highly motivated self-starter with the ability to work under broad direction without close supervision
- Strong organization skills with ability to successfully manage multiple tasks and projects
- Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and tasks
- Proven analytical experience with research, writing, and editing
- Familiarity with Internet and Web-based communication
- Strong team player
- Effective problem solver with the ability to seek collaborative and creative solutions
Special Requirements / Considerations
- The extensive range of data maintained in Marketing and Communications will expose the Communications Officer to sensitive and confidential information.
Respect for and maintenance of this confidentiality is a strict requirement for the position.
- The Marketing and Communications work environment is primarily open offices. This is a fast-paced work environment where deadlines are ongoing, and meeting deadlines are critical to the success of the organization. Consideration for colleagues is essential.
Employment Terms and BenefitsApplication Process
- In accordance with CUPE 4318, this is a unionized, salaried support staff position, subject to a 6-month probation period.
- The annual salary for this position is between $58,843 - $72,467 depending on experience, based on working 40 hours per week.
- The successful candidate will have access to a range of benefits through Alberta Blue Cross and will be eligible to participate in our defined benefit pension plan.
- Benefits of working at Banff Centre are:
- Transitional staff housing (based on availability)
- Professional development
- Employee Assistance Program
- Health care spending account
- Staff cafeteria and restaurant discounts
- Onsite fitness facility at a discounted rate – first month free for recent staff!
- We are accepting applications for the Communications Officer position until a suitable candidate is found.
- Please submit all documents into one PDF document.
- Candidates offered a position with Banff Centre, in this capacity, will be required to obtain a criminal record check verifying a clear record before a final job offer can be finalized.
- Visa Requirements: Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Canada.
Banff
Centre is unable to assist candidates in obtaining Canadian work authorization.
Commitment to Diversity
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is committed to creating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive campus for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Guided by our values, Banff Centre is rooted in Alberta with provincial, national and global impact. Our strength arises from inclusion; the diversity of people, ideas, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds in our work and team.
We encourage women; First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression to apply.
Privacy Statement
Banff Centre is a public body pursuant to the Protection of Privacy Act (Alberta) (“POPA”) and the Access to Information Act (“ATIA”). All of your personal information collected by Banff Centre, including personal information collected through third-party contractors or platforms, in relation to the creation of your candidate profile and submission of a job application, is collected pursuant to section 4(c) of POPA for the purpose of administering your candidate profile, evaluating your eligibility for a position(s) at Banff Centre, and communicating with you about your application. Your personal information may be disclosed, as required, pursuant to ATIA or other applicable law, to satisfy reporting requirements, or for statistical, funding, planning or research purposes.
If you have any questions about the collection, use or protection of this information, please contact the Privacy Coordinator at
[email protected], 107 Tunnel Mountain Drive, Box 1200, Banff Alberta, T1L 1H5, (phone hidden).
📌 Communications Officer (Banff)
🏢 Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
📍 Banff