Communications Officer, Institute for Pandemics

Date Posted: 03/04/2025
Req ID: 41912
Faculty/Division: Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Department: Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00057689

Description:

About us:

The Dalla Lana School of Public Health is a Faculty of the University of Toronto that originated as one of the Schools of Hygiene begun by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1927. The School, which played a critical role in the COVID-19 pandemic response, went through a dramatic renaissance after the 2003 SARS crisis and it is now the largest public health school in Canada, with more than 850 faculty, 1,000 students, and research and training partnerships with institutions throughout Toronto and the world. With $76 million in research funding per year, including more than $31.5 million held at DLSPH, the School contributes to improving population health and health policy and health systems through discoveries and innovation in data science and AI, maternal, child and reproductive health, climate change [response], implementation and improvement sciences, preventable disease through vaccines and prevention through [and] wellness such as with diabetes, comparative health policy, sustainable and equitable health systems, global and Indigenous health, among many other areas.

Your opportunity:

The Institute for Pandemics (IfP) draws from the University’s diverse expertise to incorporate complex skill sets, from public health, epidemiology, mathematical modelling, health system and policy, medicine, social and behavioural sciences, pharmacy, engineering, information sciences, to management, economics and many other disciplines to address the multidimensional challenges of pandemics and public health emergencies. Forged by our experts’ experience fighting COVID-19, drawn from our deep history in public health and health systems, and ignited by the visions of DLSPH and University of Toronto, the Institute is urgently committed to help Canada and our planet mitigate the human suffering, system disruption and socioeconomic devastation caused by these recurrent health crises.

As the Communications Officer, you will be accountable for developing and implementing knowledge mobilization activities and digital communication campaigns that support IfP’s mission, vision, and objectives. Using your strong story seeking skills, you will gather newsworthy content and conduct interviews with leaders, faculty, staff and students to develop communication materials. You will also conceptualize and organize events, including webinars, seminars, workshops, and an annual symposium, to promote key research and knowledge generated by IfP researchers. By supporting communications initiatives, you will continue to promote the cutting-edge research of our faculty, staff, and students.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Implementing communication plans that support outreach goals and objectives
• Drafting documents for knowledge translation purposes
• Developing content for marketing and/or promotional materials; Writing news and feature stories
• Drafting and editing content for print and/or online communications channels
• Conducting interviews with leaders, faculty, staff, and students for external publication
• Creating and maintaining presence on social media platforms
• Conceptualizing, organizing, and executing event activities

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
• Minimum four (4) years of relevant experience in a similar role.
• Demonstrated experience building digital communication campaigns, preferably in a healthcare or post-secondary institution.
• Strong experience developing relationships with news reporters and media contacts.
• Demonstrated experience conducting interviews.
• Demonstrated experience organizing and executing event activities from start to finish.
• Experience managing social media; writing and editing web and social media content.
• Excellent verbal communication skills and writing skills for web and print communications, and the ability to edit and proofread.
• Advanced skills in using Microsoft Office, WordPress, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign or similar programs, including HTML.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to present ideas, in print and web version, to staff, faculty and students.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and work under pressure, as well as to manage competing priorities.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Communicator
• Multi-tasker
• Resourceful
• Team player
• Thoughtful

This is a term position of 1 year, with the possibility of extension. 

Closing Date: 03/18/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW 
Appointment Type: Budget - Term 
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:  
USW Pay Band 11 -- $75,223. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $96,196. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol. 
Job Category: Communication/Media/Public Relations
Recruiter: Amanda Krmek

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.