Strategic Engagement Manager

Description:

The Strategic Engagement Manager is a critical role in the Department to advance the visibility, reach, and impact of both the SI group and MScAC program by developing and implementing comprehensive, integrated communications, marketing, and engagement strategies. Supported by a highly professional and supportive team, this role drives awareness of our unique graduate program and high-profile research initiatives locally, nationally, and globally through targeted communication and marketing plans, engagement strategies, and proactive media outreach.

The Strategic Engagement Manager also plays a key role in building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners, advising on brand-building opportunities, and ensuring all communications align with the Department and University's style and identity. By analyzing market trends, tracking performance metrics, and translating complex academic initiatives for broader audiences, this role provides the strategic insight necessary to grow the Department's reach and impact on a national and international scale.

Operating with a high degree of independence, this position will play a critical role in shaping strategic approaches, guiding priorities, and providing functional advice to a team. The position will serve as a key connector between internal research and academic activities and external audiences; translating complex initiatives into compelling, audience-specific narratives that resonate with industry, government, and broader external communities.

Your responsibilities will include:

Developing and implementing integrated communications, marketing, and community engagement strategies for SI and MScAC, including plans to support partnership development and revenue generation
Advising on marketing best practices, brand-building opportunities, and long-term market growth and outreach strategies, including estimating, planning, and monitoring financial resources for promotional programs and projects
Building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance, and representing SI and MScAC at Department, Faculty, and University meetings
Tracking performance metrics and conducting data analysis, in order to provide recommendations for academic and executive leadership on possibly contentious media issues, and translating complex academic or policy issues for non-expert audiences
Producing and editing promotional and outreach materials, including websites, press releases, media advisories, talking points, and Q&A documents, ensuring adherence to brand identity and University style guides
Keeping well-informed on local and global policy developments, political trends, and public sentiment and identifying opportunities for alignment with the public agenda to identify opportunities for proactive and innovative media outreach, including coordinating interviews, preparing op-eds, and developing traditional and digital media and social media plans
Experience monitoring and interpreting market trends and public policy developments, and integrating insights into communications and engagement strategies
Supervising the work of marketing, communications and event professionals and coordinating activities with creative professionals and vendors

Essential Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or a related discipline
Minimum five (5) years of experience developing and executing comprehensive and strategic marketing and communications plans, preferably for a technology-focused program or organization; agency experience preferred
Proven experience and success developing, contributing to, and evaluating the success of integrated marketing and communications strategies that support growth objectives, both on a national and global scale
Significant project management experience for complex projects, including the ability to set priorities, schedules, leverage and adjust allocation of limited resources, meet deadlines, liaise with multi-site stakeholders, and resolve disputes
Relevant and demonstrated experience with market research skills, necessary to collect and analyze data, and then make recommendations based on analysis that will support strategic objectives
Superior written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to translate complex, technical, or policy-related materials into compelling content for broad and diverse audiences
Demonstrated knowledge of social and multimedia strategies, tools, channels, trends, best practices, and capabilities
Significant experience building and strengthening relationships with external stakeholders and partners of strategic importance, including across industry and government sectors
Experience with forecasting, planning, and monitoring budgets. Experience reconciling and reporting on funding accounts
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), content management systems (WordPress preferred), databases (Airtable or similar) and publishing/graphic design software, such as Adobe Creative Suite and InDesign
Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple and competing demands simultaneously and meet deadlines
Demonstrated ability in cultivating and fostering networks of contacts and interests
Demonstrated ability to problem-solve issues in a creative and effective manner
Exceptional ability to exercise judgement and independent decision making
Experience supervising staff and coordinating the work of other internal teams, including guiding priorities and supporting workflows, preferably in a unionized environment
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence outcomes and resolve conflict and issues with tact and diplomacy
Ability to act with tact, discretion and maintain confidentiality