Description
The VP External Relations within VP External Relations is currently seeking a Full-time Regular News Specialist.
The University of Calgary is hiring a News Specialist to join the UToday news team within the External Relations Communication Services team, reporting in to the Senior Manager, UToday Services. Day-to-day job requirements will focus on content creation, publishing, and distribution of newsletters relating to UCalgary news. There may be occasional evening and weekend work when workloads are high.
The News Specialist will work directly with the Senior News Specialist and the Senior Manager to curate and produce written and visual content for UToday. In this position, the Specialist will also create and implement a visual strategy designed to elevate and enhace UToday. The Specialist will collaborate with other teams across the campus and help identify and tell compelling stories through words and visuals that align with UToday's strategy. The role is essential in supporting and upskilling communicators at the University. This successful candidate will be a strong team player with a good eye for news, a strategic thinker, able to suggest and predict solutions for client communications while also willing to work tactfully to ensure one-off and project work are completed in a timely manner.
The specialist will be required to write news articles, take photos and video, and support other writers on the team, while ensuring knowledge sharing and training on UToday services.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
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Develop and implement standards that align with best practices for digital news publishing, visual storytelling, newsletter communications, accessibility, SEO, and content lifecycle management for UToday.
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Provide subject matter expert guidance on the application of these standards, ensuring consistency.
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Manage competing SME and partner interests, and provide key support for successful implementation of new processes, technologies, and communication solutions.
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Produce news stories through writing, photography, and videography.
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Design and maintain communication templates, standards, and practices that support consistent branding, accessibility compliance, user experience, and effective audience engagement across UToday.
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Create and maintain knowledge base of systems and processes relating to the digital elements of the team.
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Experience editing and peer reviewing essential.
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Support the development and evolution of UToday's performance measurement framework, including key performance indicators, and conducting audience and engagement analysis, and translating findings into strategic recommendations that inform priorities, content distribution strategies, and communications planning.
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Serve as the functional lead for UToday's digital publishing and distribution platforms, proactively identifying opportunities for optimization, evaluating emerging technologies and industry best practices, and recommending enhancements for technical issues with news site and emails for the team.
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Maintain UToday's digital assets.
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Build and publish news stories in the content management system.
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Build, test and send newsletters from the email platform.
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Maintain distribution lists.
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Ensure design elements are on brand and fit-for-purpose in news content and newsletters.
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Develop and execute tools to survey users for feedback.
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Collaborate with Social Media & Media Relations.
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Ensure all assets have accurate descriptions, tags, and are aligned with brand.
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Inbox management.
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Identify Newsmakers for UToday.
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Build non-standard newsletter blocks, such as Throwbacks, In Memoriam, Getting to Know Us, etc.
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Knowledge sharing and upskilling on platforms used by UToday.
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IT liaison for managing technical issues to resolution.
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Management of the DAM.
Qualifications / Requirements:
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An undergraduate degree in marketing, digital media, information design or communications is required.
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4 - 7 years of experience using web tools for publishing and emails.
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Experience taking photos and video required.
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Experience with content management systems is required.
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Experience building webpages, webforms and troubleshooting is required.
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Experience with Dialog Insight in building invitations, e-newsletters, and email communications is an asset.
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Experience with issues management and escalation processes an asset.
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Experience with design tools, such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop and Cava is required.
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Experience in Livewhale is an asset.
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Ability to use Google Analytics and develop and maintain measurement tools is preferred.
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Experience with HTML, JavaScript, XML, and others is an asset.
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Knowledge of video platforms is required.
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A strong writer for both web and print.
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Experience in client services is required.
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Interest in developing communication skills.
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Experience and enjoyment working in team settings.
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Strong interpersonal skills.
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Dedication to continue growing through course-based and on the job training opportunities.
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Willingness to experiment with new ideas and tools.
Application Deadline: July 3, 2026.
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.
This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist / Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p 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.
The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.
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 Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
