Director, Strategic Communications

Join Vancouver Island University (VIU) as the Director of Strategic Communications, a pivotal leadership role within the External Relations Department that places you at the heart of our university's vision and community outreach.

Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President of External Relations this position offers a unique opportunity to shape and share the university's strategic narrative on a local, regional, national, and international scale.

As the Director of Strategic Communications, you'll be the creative force and strategic mind behind initiatives that capture the essence of VIU's mission, sparking excitement and elevating awareness about our Strategic Plan. Your leadership will extend across multiple key areas including external and internal communications, issues management, media relations, and overseeing our institutional events and initiatives.

In the capacity of a media relations expert, the Director of Strategic Communications plays a pivotal role in advising the Executive team, including the President, on issues management. This position is responsible for assessing situations, formulating strategic recommendations, and spearheading initiatives to effectively manage media relations and internal and external communications.

In this role, you'll be instrumental in crafting and executing comprehensive communications strategies and enhancing VIU's profile and reputation alongside the Director of Marketing through innovative digital, print, and interactive media campaigns. As the university's senior communications specialist, your vision will guide the strategic communications direction, supporting the university's strategic objectives and ensuring cohesive messaging across individual units.

Collaborating closely with the Director of Marketing, you will play a crucial role in managing reputational risk, promoting the university's leadership, and connecting VIU with our diverse communities. Your efforts will directly support the strategic plan's fulfillment, enhancing the visibility and reputation of our president, faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement communication strategies for the university that align with VIU's strategic goals, operational needs, budgeting, and fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.

Comprehensive Communications Management: Oversee all aspects of VIU's communications, from external and internal messaging to issues management, and media relations, ensuring strategic alignment with the university's vision and mitigating reputational risks.

Reputational Risk Management: Pro-actively advises and develops strategies to mitigate issues and manage crises as part of reputational risk management for the University and the President. This includes providing advice on and developing in-depth communications strategies including creating key messaging for issues and crisis management for the President/Senior Management Team/President's Council/bargaining units/faculty/staff. Manages media requests and inquiries and provides direction and advice on appropriate media responses to mitigate risk to institution's reputation. Acts as lead communications person on VIU's Emergency Response Team - creating messaging; directs and leads Communications team to get messages to appropriate audiences. As directed by the President, the Director also develops key messaging for the Board and Board Chair.

President Communications: Executes and helps in the development of the President's communications, public engagement and operational strategies to preserve, protect and build the reputation of the University and the President with key internal and external stakeholders

Event Leadership: Direct the coordination of strategic institutional events and initiatives, advising on engagement strategies to maximize awareness and impact.

What You'll Bring:

A degree in a related field, with at least 6 years of senior-level leadership experience in communications within complex organizations. Post-secondary or public sector experience is preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

• A proven track record in developing and executing strategic communications plans, media relations, effective crisis communications, managing teams, and building successful stakeholder relationships.
• Experience advising executive and senior-level managers.
• Exceptional creative, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with an understanding of how provincial, federal and international decisions affect the landscape of postsecondary education.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence across all levels of leadership and cultivate a culture of innovation and quality.

This role is a chance to make a significant impact at VIU, shaping the future of our university and making a difference in the communities we serve. If you're a visionary leader passionate about education and communication, we invite you to apply and help us advance VIU's strategic objectives and enhance our global presence.


All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Vancouver Island University is a comprehensive teaching university with 13,000 students across four campuses. VIU proudly fosters student success, strong community connections and meaningful collaborations by providing access to a wide range of programs, from academic undergraduate and master’s to industry-responsive trades and vocational training.

VIU is pleased to offer employees a comprehensive benefit plan; ample paid holiday time; professional development opportunities and a desirable pension plan that takes the worry out of retirement. As part of the VIU campus community, you will work with supportive colleagues within an encouraging environment and are provided with the tools and training that promote learning and development. The perks of VIU employment are multiple, and include well-being initiatives and services, strategic discounts, and flexible work opportunities. 

The VIU community acknowledges and thanks the Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun, Tla’amin, Snaw-naw-as and Qualicum First Nation on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live and share knowledge.

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