Regular/Temporary

Regular

Job Title

Associate Director, Content

Job ID

71938

Location

Central Campus

Open Date

09/16/2025

Job Type

Continuing

Close Date

10/02/2025

Employee Group

TMG

Favorite Job

Department

CMPA Communications - Content

Salary Grade/Band

Band M

Salary Range

$101466.00 - $152200.00 (annual)

Hours per Week

35

Posting Details

McMaster University, ranked among the world’s top 100 universities and recognized as Canada’s “most innovative,” is a place where people, ideas, and research come together to create a Brighter World.

As part of McMaster’s Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs (CMPA) team, you will join a dynamic and evolving group dedicated to advancing the university’s priorities, fostering pride, and strengthening McMaster’s profile locally, nationally and globally.

Within CMPA, the Communications team is a network of central and embedded professionals who provide expertise in leadership communications, media relations, storytelling, brand content, issues management, video and creative production, and social media strategy and delivery. We work closely and collaboratively with university leadership, colleagues across CMPA, Faculties, and administrative units to showcase the best of McMaster and to provide trusted, strategic communications advice.

Are you a seasoned leader who loves shaping an institution’s story?

We’re looking for a dynamic, strategic, and creative thinker to fill the role of Associate Director, Content. Reporting to the Executive Director, Strategic Communications, this position is central to the work of Communications, Marketing & Public Affairs (CMPA) and oversees the creation and management of the University’s multi-channel storytelling—bringing McMaster’s research, people, and places to life through compelling, purpose-driven content and editorial strategy. The role advances the reputation of the University with key internal and external audiences, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, government partners, media, and opinion leaders.

This exciting role manages a high-performing editorial team—including social media, writing, and visual content professionals—and serves as a collaborative connector across a network of university communicators. You’ll provide trusted communications and digital tools counsel to campus partners—covering strategic content creation, and social media storytelling—and translate priorities into clear narratives, coverage plans, and digital campaigns. Acting as a key liaison across the communications community, you’ll bring together story series, strategic social media campaigns, marketing content, and community-building initiatives that strengthen reputation and engagement.

Job Description

Accountabilities

Content Strategy & Storytelling

• In coordination with the Executive Director, Strategic Communications, develop and execute the university’s content and editorial strategy, ensuring alignment with McMaster’s institutional priorities and brand strategy.
• Lead updates of the editorial calendar that integrates institutional stories, university leadership priorities, and major marketing and fundraising campaigns.
• Commission, edit, and review high-level institutional content, including flagship stories and features in collaboration with CMPA leadership.
• Identify and prioritize high-impact storytelling that demonstrates McMaster’s student experience, research innovation and impact on community and global challenges.
• Ensure internal communications tactics that fall under the portfolio, including the main university-wide newsletter, community features, award stories, student and staff spotlights, reinforce the university’s priorities, culture, brand and reputation.
• Oversee evaluation of content performance and adjust strategies based on analytics, audience insights, and institutional goals.

Digital Engagement & Innovation

• Lead the team responsible for the University’s main news site, homepage, and central social media platforms, providing strategic direction and ensuring content aligns with institutional priorities and brand.
• In coordination with Marketing, oversee the creation and delivery of a digital audience engagement strategy, including a detailed social media plan and policy updates.
• Promote and model editorial standards, voice, accessibility guidelines best practices across all channels.
• Champion content innovation and track trends in storytelling formats and emerging digital platforms.
• In coordination with the Executive Director, Strategic Communications, explore the responsible use of AI-enabled tools within the university’s guidance.

Reputation

• Support issues management, including social media monitoring and overseeing the posting of digital content.

Collaboration & Partnerships

• Partner with executive communications teams to ensure editorial content produced by this unit complements institutional leadership messaging.
• Foster collaboration with the CMPA marketing team and other campus partners/communicators to ensure cohesive content campaigns and brand consistency.
• Aligns content strategy across marketing, public affairs, faculties, and administrative units for coordinated campaigns.
• Act as a strategic partner across the university community, cultivating strong relationships that advance institutional priorities and strengthen reputation.

Leadership & Team Development

• Direct a team of experienced managers responsible for website content, social media engagement, and visual storytelling — ensuring their work is integrated, aligned, and supported.
• Mentor and develop staff, building capacity and ensuring pathways for career progression within the team.

Note: This role requires flexibility in working hours, including occasional evenings and weekends, as well as some travel. In the event of an issue or crisis, the position may be called upon to serve as a member of the university’s crisis response team.

Qualifications

• A University degree in English, Journalism, Communications, marketing or a related field
• Significant experience as communications, public relations or marketing manager
• Background as a working journalist in print, radio, television is an asset
• Sound judgement and decision making
• Demonstrated outstanding communication (oral and written skills)
• Proven strategic planning experience
• Demonstrated success in marketing initiatives and management
• Volunteer management skills
• A strong background, understanding and experience in the digital environment and ability to anticipate technological shifts and their relevant applications
• Project management, including all forms of production
• Strong service approach in working with people both inside and outside of organization
• Effective time management
• Facilitation skills
• Demonstrated management of employees and budgets

Knowledgeable about:

• McMaster University policies and guidelines

• McMaster's Brand Standards; and marketing and communication strategies

• The University's Crisis Response Plan

• McMaster Alumni Association policies and procedures

• Microsoft Office365 apps: including word processing (Word), spreadsheets (Excel), Teams, SharePoint and presentation (Power Point) programs

• Comfortable in both Windows and Mac environment

• Programs for web management (including content management systems); WordPress, Google Analytics, Google AdWords

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

• Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Hybrid Work Language

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.