Research Profile Officer

Victoria, BC
On-site
Posted Oct 15, 2026
1 position

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Employment type: Full-time
Experience level: Senior · 5+ years
Minimum education: Bachelor’s degree
Posting language: English
Working hours: 40 hours per week
Seniority: Mid-Senior level

Job summary

Develop and implement strategic communications, storytelling, and engagement initiatives that showcase UVic’s research strengths, priorities, and impact. Lead coordinated cross-team communications projects, advise on sensitive and high-profile initiatives, and build relationships with researchers, university leaders, communications teams, funding agencies, and other partners.

Job details

The Office of the Vice-President Research and Innovation (VPRI) portfolio provides strategic leadership and oversight for research at UVic, supporting institutional research priorities, partnerships, services and research entities across the university. Within this portfolio, the Strategic Research Initiatives (SRI) Unit leads research planning and coordination to strengthen existing research areas, develop new opportunities for faculty, staff and students, and advance the university’s research and strategic goals. Mandate Reporting to the Manager, Research Profile, the Research Profile Officer (RPO) is responsible for planning and developing strategic communications initiatives to proactively convey UVic’s research strengths and impact areas. The position also develops and implements targeted internal and external engagement strategies to deliver on the aspirations outlined in the Research and Creative Works Strategy. This position collaborates with VPRI, the central marketing and communications team and faculty communication officers to ensure research priorities are reflected in institutional marketing and communications strategies, campaigns and channels through coordinated planning and alignment. Objectives Advance UVic’s research profile and reputation by developing and implementing strategic communications and storytelling initiatives that showcase the institutions research priorities, enhance awareness, attract funding opportunities and contribute to UVic’s reputation and impact. Lead cross-team projects to ensure consistent messaging, brand awareness and effective promotion of research strengths across all communication and marketing channels. Provide strategic communications guidance on high-profile and sensitive initiatives, exercising sound judgment, diplomacy and tact while managing competing priorities, multiple projects and tight deadlines. Build and maintain collaborative relationships with researchers, academic and administrative leaders, communications professionals, funding agencies and other key partners. This role performs complex, deadline-driven work with highly confidential or sensitive information of high reputational impact. Workloads may increase during peak periods, such as key milestones, campaign launches or earned media periods. The Position Requires Completion Of a Bachelor’s Degree In a Related Discipline, Such As Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Or Public Administration And a Minimum Of 5 Years Of Directly Related Experience, Such As Development and implementation of partner communication and/or engagement initiatives in a collaborative and digital first environment, related to research; Demonstrated experience in research writing and editing; A proven ability to develop credibility and build effective, sustainable and strategic relationships with faculty, staff and other relevant partners; and An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Strategic communication planning with critical analysis and key message development Standard office software (MS 360: Outlook, Power Point, Word, Excel, Teams, OneDrive); Technology-based collaboration tools and project management software (e.g. Miro, Slido, Trello, Asana, Zoom). Strong working knowledge of digital content research trends, techniques and methodologies to respond to and shape evolving needs in paid, owned and earned content including digital marketing platforms Outstanding oral and written communication skills; Ability to edit communications and promotional material and to adapt writing style to a variety of purposes and audiences, including taking complex, scientific information and translating into clear, succinct, compelling narratives; Excellent judgment and a thorough understanding of complex issues related to the university research environment, and how those issues may affect communications activities; Ability, maturity and confidence to work constructively with senior executives from within and outside the institution, and colleagues from other units and stakeholder organizations; Ability to work with a high degree of independence in carrying out the responsibilities of the position, and as an integral part of a small team; and Ability to work under pressure on several projects, requests and challenges at the same time with changing deadlines. Experience writing briefs for integrated marketing campaigns, department and senior executives Assets Or Preferences Experience in a university or government setting or equivalent large, complex publicly funded institution.

What you’ll do

Requirements

Requires a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and at least five years of directly related experience, including research communications or engagement work and research writing and editing. Candidates should demonstrate strategic communications expertise, strong writing and editing skills, relationship-building ability, sound judgment, and the capacity to manage multiple deadlines independently and collaboratively.