Sustainability Job Posting: Communications Manager

(3BL Media / the CSRfeed) March 18, 2011 - Communications Manager, Network for Business Sustainability
Richard Ivey School of Business, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada

Deadline: March 25, 2011 The Network for Business Sustainability (NBS) is a Canadian non-profit organization that produces authoritative resources on important sustainability issues – with the goal of shaping management practice and research. We connect thousands of researchers and professionals worldwide who are interested in corporate social responsibility and who believe in the value of research-based practice and practice-based research.   The Network is based at the Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario, and is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, a dozen corporations, three federal departments, and Ivey/Western.   Everything the Network does involves a communications component—often online. Our website is our ‘public face’ and ‘storefront.’ We interact most frequently with our members through email and Twitter. Most of our research reports are published only electronically and available online. And our efforts to enable dialogue between scholars and executives are shifting from in-person events to online discussions. Consequently, we need to remain on the cutting-edge of web communications, while maintaining traditional communications activities such as media relations.   Primary Objectives of the Position
The Network seeks an entrepreneurially-minded individual to manage its communications. The objective is to position NBS as the world’s top source of authoritative and relevant knowledge in business sustainability. This requires not only publishing ‘static’ knowledge developed by NBS members for target practitioner audiences, but also enabling real-time, two-way sharing of ‘dynamic’ knowledge between NBS members and target audiences. The position requires a diverse range of responsibilities and skill sets, with an increasing emphasis on those related to the web.   Key Responsibilities
1. Publish Knowledge Online: Publish NBS knowledge online and drive online consumption. Analyze website statistics. Form partnerships to disseminate our knowledge more broadly. Increasingly facilitate knowledge flow to and from social media, such as Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. Coordinate and manage website development projects (this implies a baseline understanding of available technologies and a strong understanding of which best suit different situations). Manage relationships with vendors (e.g., web developers, graphics designers). 2. Write and Edit: Write emails, newsletters, web content and press releases for business and academic audiences and coordinate regular distributions (e.g., maintaining and querying database, sending mass emails, etc.). Provide editorial direction for NBS knowledge products (e.g., reports, grants). Ensure consistency of the NBS brand (tone, quality, and visual identity) in all print and online materials. 3. Enable Interactivity and Dialogue: Put in place appropriate technologies for online interactivity and dialogue. Facilitate online dialogue and two-way knowledge exchange between NBS members and other target audience members. Capture and follow up on knowledge shared and opportunities raised in the dialogues. Help conceptualize, organize and promote NBS events, as the need arises. 4. Media Relations: Increase NBS awareness among sustainability and business reporters. Coordinate writing and distribution of press releases, sometimes in collaboration with media managers from other organizations, including Ivey. Track media coverage.   Relationships
• Supervisor: Report to the Executive Director of the Network for Business Sustainability.
• NBS Team Members: Work closely with fellow NBS staff on shared projects.
• Professional Contacts: Interact frequently with executives (Leadership Council members) and academics.
• Vendors: Manage deadlines, priorities, and budgets associated with third party vendors such as videographers, web developers, graphic designers, and social media consultants.
• Staff: Manage communications assistant and students as needed, determining priority of work and providing training and direction.   Qualifications
The ideal candidate possesses the following qualifications:   Education
1. A degree in a communications-related field.
2. An advanced degree an asset. Experience
1. At least 5 years of experience managing communications.
2. Experience publishing knowledge online and using social media an asset.   Skills
1. Excellent interpersonal, communications and organizational skills.
2. Excellent writing and editing skills.
3. Strong understanding of executives’ communications preferences.
4. Demonstrated leadership, motivation, and ability to work independently.
5. Understanding of and passion for business sustainability an asset.   Start Date, Term and Compensation
• Start date negotiable (preferably in early June 2011).
• One-year contract term, with possibility of renewal.
• Compensation to be negotiated. Will be commensurate with experience and university standards.   How to Apply
Forward your resume and cover letters to hrresumes@ivey.ca before March 25, 2011. Please include reference NBS026-3BL in the subject line.
 

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