Position Overview

The Cumming School of Medicine’s Fund Development Office under the VP Advancement is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Senior Communications & Events Specialist.

The Cumming School of Medicine’s Fund Development Office is a critical business unit functioning as part of both the University’s Advancement Office (Fund Development) and the Cumming School of Medicine. The objective of the office is to raise funds and steward donors on behalf of both Cumming School of Medicine-specific priorities and the University of Calgary.

The  office also plays a significant role working with numerous external funding partners, such as the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Calgary Health Foundation and the Alberta Cancer Foundation, in helping to connect donors with students and researchers.

Reporting to the Director, Donor Relations and working closely with members across the faculty, the Specialist will lead and execute events, stewardship and communications activities celebrating donors whose gifts make a difference to research and education at the Cumming School of Medicine.

The Senior Communications and Events Specialist leads a variety of high-level planning activities in the school, has access to highly sensitive and confidential information, and interacts with key external stakeholders including donors, alumni and community leaders. There is a high volume of work requiring sound judgment, diplomacy, tact, conflict resolution, decision-making and ability to manage fluid expectations, projects and deadlines.

Position Description

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

  • Leads the strategy, planning and execution of all in-person and virtual recognition and stewardship events such as namings, announcements and lab tours. These events are often high-profile; position would serve as lead with the President Office and announcements of university-wide importance. This includes project management and oversight to ensure all communications and logistical tasks are completed. Oversee management of small-scale donor meetings to ensure appropriate coverage and staffing
  • Liaise with vendors, oversee volunteer management, event registration, communicating with researchers and event speakers, set up and tear-down of events, event execution and post-event follow-up
  • Requests and manages lists for invitations and other mailouts. Must possess strong attention to detail and above-average knowledge of Excel. Experience with audience segmentation strongly preferred
  • Works closely with the Director, Donor Relations to maintain an annual calendar of events, implementing a long-term strategic approach to effective event planning and management
  • Creates and leads stewardship and recognition strategy in concert with fundraisers including  how t fund development events can best celebrate  donors and then oversees the
  •   implementation of the strategy
  • Creates detailed work plans for all events, managing workflow to ensure goals are met on time; plays a driving role in fostering cross-team collaboration
  • Development of event communications collateral, including: event briefing notes, communications plans, speaking notes, event collateral such as invitations, menus and handouts. Ensures university brand standards and messaging is incorporated throughout materials
  • Researches and writes key messages around for external and internal use
  •     Oversee and provide expertise in digital communications for the CSM fund development team. This includes, but is not limited to, drafting, designing and running Marketo marketing software for invitations, reporting updates and fundraising appeals. Creating reports on analytics and ensuring data is entered into BBCRM in a timely manner
  • Project management for video projects, including creative oversight of the project, scripting, storyboarding, managing timelines. Shooting and editing for smaller video projects is an asset
  • Create slides for electronic bulletin boards that speak to impact of giving to CSM. Work with fundraisers and designers to prepare pitch decks and other fundraising presentations
  • Social media point person for CSM Fund Development. Create strategies and content for dissemination by partners across the university that speak to impact of philanthropy to the CSM

Qualifications / Requirements:

  • A university degree in communications, journalism, marketing or public relations preferred
  • Minimum of 5 – 7 years’ experience in a related field
  • Demonstrated experience and leadership in project management, particularly as it relates to event and communications planning and execution including creating briefing notes
  • Highly developed verbal, visual and written communication skills including superior communications skills specifically in speech writing and storytelling
  • Ability to work independently, high level of self-motivation, initiative and a strong work ethic. Serves as event lead, motivating and setting their own and others priorities and deadlines
  • Demonstrated ability to mentor, motivate and coach others
  • Deals effectively with complex issues using sound judgment and initiating resolutions; ensures integrity of services. Highly developed organizational, analytical and problem solving skills
  • Excellent people skills and an upbeat, enthusiastic attitude. Demonstrates strong communication, leadership, facilitation, negotiation and client service skills
  • Exceptionally strong attention to detail, project management and organizational skills
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and direct others; effectively manage multiple projects and shifting priorities
  • Demonstrated budget management abilities
  • Skilled at taking a project from concept to completion
  • High degree of professionalism. Impact of error is high; failure to meet expectations can result in reputational risk for university. Fully understands impact of decisions
  • Solid computer skills, specifically in the areas of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel. Knowledge of event & marketing software (eg: Marketo), as well as project management software, an asset. Knowledge of and experience in Adobe Creative Suite (eg: PhotoShop, InDesign) an asset. Knowledge or Adobe Premiere Pro an asset. Knowledge of CRM (eg: BBCRM) an asset
  • Experience in post-secondary education, health and/or a scientific research writing environment is considered an asset

Application Deadline:  July 18, 2022

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

Additional Information

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.

To find out more about management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Management and Staff Careers website

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

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