Communications Strategist to President and CEO

Communications Strategist to the President and CEO (2969)

Position Overview:

The Communications Strategist is a trusted advisor responsible for the development and implementation of strategic communications supporting NAIT’s President and CEO, the Board Chair, and the Office of the President. This temporary position ends on or before Dec 31, 2026, with a possibility of extension.

Key Responsibilities (time allocation):

Executive and presidential communications: 30%

Board communications and strategic governance support: 20%

Strategic planning and enterprise-wide campaign leadership: 25%

Project management and oversight of execution: 15%

Cross-unit collaboration and counsel to peers: 10%

Key Responsibilities:

Develop and deliver strategic communications for NAIT’s President, Board Chair, and Office of the President, including speeches, executive briefings, governance reports, and social media content.

Lead the planning, writing, and execution of presidential and board-facing communications, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities such as The NAIT Effect and annual OKRs.

Manage the production of high-profile messaging for internal and external audiences, including employees, learners, donors, government, and media.

Coordinate governance communications, including the Consolidated Executive Management Committee Report to the Board and other board-related materials.

Provide editorial oversight and strategic counsel on executive messaging developed by other teams, ensuring consistency, tone, and readiness for senior audiences.

Collaborate with Marketing & Communications, External Relations, and Strategy & Governance to ensure message integration across platforms and departments.

Lead cross-functional communications projects, including institutional campaigns, executive visibility initiatives, and reputational risk responses.

Monitor and respond to emerging issues, providing rapid communications support during high-stakes or time-sensitive scenarios—including evenings and weekends as needed.

Maintain and evolve the President’s communications strategy and voice across all channels, including digital platforms and public-facing engagements.

Skills & Abilities:

Outstanding writing and content development skills across speeches, social media, video, and digital platforms.

Versatile in multiple media formats; able to produce executive and board communications in written, spoken, and visual forms.

Owner of the President’s “voice,” building a close, practical working relationship with executive leadership and the Board Chair.

Strategic, adaptable, and responsive—able to manage urgent, high-stakes communications, including outside regular hours.

Politically astute, discreet, and emotionally intelligent; skilled at synthesizing complex information for diverse audiences.

Familiarity with the use of AI tools and large language models (LLMs) to enhance efficiency, accelerate content development, and support strategic decision-making in communications.

Qualifications:

Education:

A bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field is required.

A master’s degree or equivalencies are considered an asset.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in communications, public relations, or a related field, with a demonstrated track record of developing and delivering executive-level communications.

Experience supporting senior leaders or boards, ideally in a public sector, post-secondary, or complex organizational environment.

Proven ability to manage high-profile, high-stakes communications projects and campaigns.

Experience with issues management, governance communications, and institutional storytelling is an asset.

Technical

Skills:

Advanced proficiency in written and digital communications, including speech writing, social media, and video content development.

Strong command of Microsoft Office Suite and digital collaboration tools.

Familiarity with digital publishing platforms, social media management tools, and multimedia production.

Experience using AI tools and large language models (LLMs) to enhance communications efficiency and effectiveness.

Other Requirements:

Exceptional interpersonal,…