Job Description

Rady Faculty of Health Sciences

Position number: 22495

Date posted: February 20, 2026

Advertised until: February 27, 2026

Job details

Senior Communications Officer - AA3 (AESES)

Revised Regular Continuing Full-Time (Budget Funded)

Full-time:

Yes

Permanent:

Yes

Work schedule:

35 Hours/week (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm)

Salary:

$31.30 to $44.11 per hour ($56,966.00 to $80,280.20 per annum)

Expected Start Date

March 16, 2026

Trial/Probation period:

1820 hours worked

For more information please contact: Ilana Simon -

Qualifications

MINIMUM FORMAL EDUCATION/TRAINING REQUIRED:

Undergraduate degree in communications or a related discipline.
Knowledge of university regulations, programs and procedures as they relate to the function/program.

EXPERIENCE:

Three years of directly-related administrative experience.
Experience in writing, strategic communications, digital marketing and media relations is required.
Experience in a research, science, medical or health environment preferred.
Experience writing and creating print and digital materials is preferred.
Knowledge of the University of Manitoba regulations and experience in an academic environment preferred.
Previous experience in managing large projects is required.
Experience working within a team is preferred.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Excellent interpersonal skills, initiative and diplomacy to work collaboratively with all levels of faculty, staff, students and the public is required.
Advanced proficiency with PC computers and programs – MS Office, Teams, Adobe Acrobat) is required.
Excellent written and oral communication skills and attention to the accuracy of grammar, spelling and punctuation are required.
Advanced proficiency with Canadian Press style is required.
Advanced news judgment and knowledge of news media are required.
Advanced skill as an interviewer is required.
Strong research skills are required.
Strong problem-solving skills are required.
Strong organizational and time management skills are required.
Demonstrated innovation and creativity are required
Experience in digital promotion and creative approach to social media is required.
Ability to undertake special projects as required.
Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to provide advice and develop and present informational materials is required.
Proven ability to independently prioritize work and meet deadlines is required
Excellent organizational/time management skills is required.
Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities is required.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various levels of internal and external contacts is required.
Ability to pay close attention to detail and complete assigned tasks accurately is required.
Ability to make sound independent judgments is required.
Ability to work as part of a team and also independently is required.
Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality is required.
Ability to follow detailed protocols and meet required deadlines is required.
Ability to adapt to a changing technological environment and a willingness to learn new skills is required.
A satisfactory work record, including satisfactory attendance and punctuality, is required.

Key responsibilities

WRITING/COMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA RELATIONS:

Analyzes and interprets scholarly articles/summaries by UM researchers to identify newsworthy scientific projects or findings.
Conducts online research in order to understand and translate UM scientific knowledge, and to place the achievements of UM faculty, students and alumni in a global context.
Synthesizes and summarizes scholarly information for the greatest strategic impact.
Creates and executes strategic communications plans to pitch public interest stories to media based on sound news judgment.
Interviews subject-matter experts according to best practices, such as probing to clarify the national/international context of UM research and obtaining detailed examples.
Applies advanced knowledge of international plain-language standards (such as identifying and eliminating jargon, simplifying concepts, removing ambiguity, explaining technical terms and shortening sentences) in order to translate complex scientific/academic knowledge into plain, accessible, inclusive language for readers of all abilities and backgrounds.
Writes high-impact, strategic communication materials, supporting the goal of enhancing the reputation of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and its six colleges. Materials include storytelling stories for the UM Today news site and journalistic style stories for RadyUM magazine, media releases, speaking notes, annual reports, brochures, PowerPoints, event programs, interpretive display panels, advertisements, digital content for UM website and UM Intranet SharePoint site, social media posts and college newsletters.
Promotes Rady Faculty news and activities by actively seeking out story ideas or other opportunities for engagement and promotion.
Demonstrates advanced proficiency and creative excellence in both news and feature writing.
Demonstrates advanced knowledge of Canadian Press (CP) style, and of UM style where it differs from CP style.
Provides ongoing media relations support for the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and colleges/units within the RFHS, following up with media requests, arranging interviews and preparing interviewees to advance Rady's reputation and gain earned media at the local and national level.
Serves as primary media relations contact in the absence of the Director of Communications & Marketing.
Executes the most senior writing assignments in the department, including writing strategic internal communications on behalf of the Dean of the Rady Faculty or other senior faculty leaders.
Develops strategic communications and marketing plans to meet the goals and objectives of colleges and units within Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
Co-ordinates and directs photo shoots using university or freelance photographers to produce images of faculty, students, sites and events for promotional use or publications, ensuring diversity, inclusion and adherence to UM photography guidelines and standards. Shoots photos and videos personally.
Liaises and collaborates with central UM strategic communications, media relations, and marketing and brand as required.

Project management:
As assistant editor,and working under the direction of the editor/Director of Communications & Marketing, of the twice-yearly, 36-page RadyUM magazine, project-manages the magazine. This is a two- to three-month project beginning when the Director, Communications & Marketing has selected and assigned the stories, and includes duties such as:
- following a project timeline to ensure the publication date is met;
- sourcing photos from inside and outside UM;
- instructing UM photographers to take specific internal photos;
- selecting photos in close collaboration with the editor and graphic designer;
- informing the graphic designer in writing of the specifics for each story;
- in consultation with the editor, directing the graphic designer to change design elements such as photo cropping, photo size, photo placement, text size, and addition or deletion of graphics;
- obtaining/editing/rewriting content from within UM, such as lists of faculty awards and honours, biographies of award winners and emeriti appointees, Notable News items, obituaries and messages from Donor Relations;
- proofreading the print edition with acute attention to detail before it goes to press, then proofreading the online edition against the print edition and advising the team that posts the online edition of needed corrections;
- conducting online research to find notable alumni and researchers to profile in future issues;
- working closely with the editor/ Director, Communications & Marketing on finalizing magazine copy.

WEB & NEWS MEDIA:

Prepares and digitally publishes stories on UM Today news site on Drupal incorporating visually appealing photographs, videos and best storytelling practices.
Shoots photos and videos to accompany UM Today and for social media.
Crafts and posts stories on UM Intranet SharePoint site.
Prepares digital marketing collateral using Adobe Express, for publishing online and promotion through Rady social media channels.
Updates Rady social media channels.
Creates college newsletters on a quarterly basis working with college leadership, soliciting submissions and crafting newsletter stories.
Writes and creates web content for RFHS colleges/departments/units.

OTHER DUTIES:

Supports execution of special events organized by Rady communications & marketing team.
Participates in a variety of duties associated with the accreditation process as required; stays informed of accreditation standards as it relates to the area.
Maintains and updates the procedures manual for this position.
May be required to perform related duties not exceeding skills and capabilities as required.

Additional information

The University of Manitoba is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities).

If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact or Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.

Application materials, including letters of reference, will be handled in accordance with the protection of privacy provisions of "The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act" (Manitoba). Please note that curriculum vitae will be provided to participating members of the search process.

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