Communications Officer

Date Posted: 05/21/2025
Req ID: 43016
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: School of Cities
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00055758

Description:

About us:

The Faculty of Arts & Science is the heart of Canada’s leading university and one of the most comprehensive and diverse academic divisions in the world. The strength of Arts & Science derives from our combined teaching and research excellence in the humanities, sciences and social sciences across 29 departments, seven colleges and 46 interdisciplinary centres, institutes and programs.

We can only realize our mission with the dedication and excellence of engaged staff and faculty. The diversity of opportunities and perspectives within the Faculty reflect the local and global landscape and the need for curiosity, innovative thinking and collaboration. At Arts & Science, we take pride in our legacy of innovation and discovery that has changed the way we think about the world.


Your opportunity:

The School of Cities’ mission is to convene urban-focused researchers, educators, students, practitioners, institutions and the general public to explore and address complex urban challenges,
with the aim of making cities, urban regions and communities more sustainable, prosperous and just. It is a place where diverse communities can come together to spark new insights and design
creative ways for cities, communities and their citizens to thrive. The School supports scholars, practitioners, and community members to co-create new understandings, policies, and practices and fosters opportunity, insight, and knowledge exchange with a global reach.

The Infrastructure Institute is a training, advisory, and interdisciplinary research hub based at the University of Toronto’s School of Cities. The Infrastructure Institute mission is to build local and global expertise in planning for civil and social infrastructure and we seek to refine collaboration between public, private, and the not-for-profit sectors and become Canada’s hub for infrastructure training and interdisciplinary knowledge.

Under the supervision of both the Director of the Infrastructure Institute, and Executive Director of the School of Cities, and taking general direction from Projects Lead, the Communications Officer (CO) will be responsible forreviewing, writing, editing, and maintaining the communications assets of the Institute including writing original, compelling, accurate, high-quality content for online and print communications on urban-related topics. The CO will develop story ideas and support the production of original content for the website, newsletter, publications, and media outlets, including pitching news articles, report writing, copywriting for print and web, press releases, and formal letters and emails. In consultation withthe leadership team and program staff, the CO plays a key role in communicating the launch of program activities and is responsible for digital marketing and promotion. The CO edits content prepared by the program staff, maintaining consistency in style and approach and exercising judgement in positioning the activities of the Institute. The CO will actively consult and collaborate to foster purposeful communications partnerships with faculty, students, industry and community partners, and government stakeholders.

The Communications Officer will actively consult and collaborate to foster purposeful communications partnerships with faculty, students, industry and community partners, and government stakeholders.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing tasks related to the production and dissemination of communications/marketing materials
• Writing and editing copy and content to advance communications objectives
• Writingnews and feature stories
• Developing content for marketing and/or promotional materials
• Implementing a digital media plan that supports marketing/communications strategy
• Gathering relevant or newsworthy content
• Liaising with departmental staff to support effective content/story development

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Urban Studies, Urban Planning, Communications, Journalism, or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
• Minimum four years' experience in communications within the city or community development field, an urban-focused organization, or municipal government.
• Excellent understanding of communications channels, media platforms, digital promotion,and the style and type of content to reach a variety of audiences both domestically and internationally.
• Excellent communication skills (oral, written and presentation); demonstrated skillsengaging with senior decision-makers, community organizations, and with private and public sector partners; demonstrated ability to write in a variety of styles and voices for a range of audiences.
• Demonstrated understanding of issues facing cities, domestically and internationally.
• Demonstrated understanding and implementation of equity, social justice, diversity and inclusion within communications strategies, deliverables, and outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience preparing communications strategies and materials for a wide range of complex and/or academic subject matter.
• High degree of accuracy, attention to detail and a meticulous approach to work in order to maintain accountability for a complex system.
• Advanced skill working with Adobe Creative Suite products, including Photoshop, InDesign.
• Advanced skill working Drupal CMS.
• Graphic design skills and experience an asset.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Adaptable
• Direct
• Meticulous
• Multi-tasker
• Patient
• Problem solver
• Resourceful
• Team player

Notes:

• This is a term role ending May 2026.
• This role is currently eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, pursuant to University policies and guidelines, including but not limited to the University of Toronto’s Alternative Work Arrangements Guideline.

Closing Date: 05/30/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW 
Appointment Type: Grant - 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

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.