Overview of the position:
The Marketing and Communications Officer is a key staff member of the Desautels Faculty of Music and School of Art, who will use their creative talents, and strategic media and marketing experience to create and promote a visual and brand identity for each of the School of Art and Desautels Faculty of Music, and work to promote and publicize the work and strengths of our units, faculty, and students internally within the University, and externally in Winnipeg, Manitoba, across Canada, and internationally. This individual will be an innovative communicator and thinker, be results-driven and able to work to a deadline in enacting the vision of the members of the two units, and also will be able to work collaboratively with administration, staff, faculty, and students.
They work directly with, and report to, the Dean/Director to develop and implement effective marketing and communications strategies, as well as to initiate and lead independently on a range of campaigns and projects regarding appropriate market targets and stakeholders. They will develop and implement the marketing vision and strategic direction while aligning with the priorities of the Faculty/School’s Strategic Plan and the UM’s overall brand and messaging. This position also provides oversight to the Communications Assistant and Events Coordinator, including providing coverage for these positions. They will also develop effective marketing and communication strategies for the School of Art Gallery, the Desautels Faculty of Music’s Division of Preparatory Studies, and the Desautels Concert Hall.
Overview of the School of Art:
The School of Art offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Studio, 240 students), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Art History, 10 students), Diploma in Art (30 students), Master of Fine Art (10 students), and Master of Arts in Art and Architectural History (8 students). There are 16 administration office staff, 7 studio technicians, 20 full-time faculty members, 20-25 sessional instructors, teaching assistants, student monitors and work study students serving approximately 300 undergraduate students and 10 grad students. The approximate budget for the School of Art is $5 million.
Overview of the Desautels Faculty of Music:
The Desautels Faculty of Music offers a Bachelor of Music degree (approximately 130 students), a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Performance (4 students), a Master of Music degree (25 students), Master of Arts in Music Research degree (5 students), and a Bachelor of Jazz Studies (50 students). With a total enrolment of approximately 225 students, they are offered specialized study in solo performance, chamber music, large ensembles, music education, musicology, and music theory, as well as a wide range of music electives. The Desautels Faculty of Music has an extensive outreach program which includes the Division of Preparatory Studies, offering quality individual and group instruction to students in Winnipeg and the surrounding area. The Division presently contracts 30-40 teachers and provides lessons to approximately 200 students, in addition to early childhood classes, and group programs for elementary-aged students. The Desautels Faculty of Music has 32 full-time faculty, 30-35 Sessional Instructors, 70 contract employees, approximately 15 graders/markers/teaching assistants and 20 student technicians/librarians, and 7 support staff. The Desautels Faculty of Music’s operating budget is almost $7 million.
Responsibilities:
- Generates and executes an annual strategic communication plan for the DFOM/SOA, including the School of Art Gallery, Prep Studies Division and Desautels Concert Hall.
- Develops marketing communications plans (or creative briefs) and strategies for projects relating to matters of public interest, alumni relations, student recruitment and community engagement, including research and preparation, disseminating stories, promoting faculty and research to media and relevant stakeholders, including, when appropriate, storytelling and news articles posted on UM Today.
- Leads the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of the annual cycle of all communications initiatives in areas of strategic importance (student recruitment, ensemble recruitment, student and/or faculty led initiatives, research projects, alumni, diversity and inclusion, etc.), including contributing to the institutional advertising campaign in collaboration with Strategic Marketing and Communications (SMC), and developing independent advertising and marketing campaigns, events and website and social media content.
- Proactively identifies and acts on opportunities and potential marketing communications issues related to the Faculty/School.
- Works with faculty and executive team to create and implement new content and design of web pages.
- Track, analyse, and provide Dean/Director with statistical data on website traffic.
- Produces communications for faculty and staff audience and, when appropriate, for the UM Intranet.
- Produces high level, well researched, accurate articles, and identifies potential new key messages to advance the profile of the Faculty/School and its faculty and staff.
- Oversees and coordinates external communications between the Faculty/School and external stakeholders relating to matters of public interest, alumni and partner relations, stewardship, recruitment, and community engagement in line with a communications vision and strategic direction for the Faculty/School’s brand and identity. This activity includes researching, and preparing all media releases, in coordination with Media Relations, advisories, backgrounders and fact sheets on behalf of the Faculty/School, disseminating story ideas to media, promoting faculty stories, facilitating interviews and ensuring appropriate spokespersons are representing the Faculty/School on key messages, and highlighting the results of research to media and relevant stakeholders.
- In collaboration with the Faculty and School Recruitment Committees, participates and supports in the development and implementation of a recruitment strategy.
- With respect to UM’s strategic priorities, highlights the Faculty/School’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in all aspects of work.
- Supervises the Communications Assistant implementation of the DFOM/SOA social media posts and other content, ensuring alignment with the units’ strategic marketing plans.
- Develops brand resources and promotional materials to maintain brand consistency across the Faculty/School. This includes regularly providing support to faculty and staff on the proper use of faculty brand resources.
- Supervision of and assignment of tasks to Communications Assistant and Events Coordinator.
- Develops and executes programs and events that support relationships between prospective and current students, alumni, faculty and the university.
- Leads the administrative team for the promotion of the Faculty and School’s programs at internal and external recruitment fairs, events, conferences, and festivals.