News and Media Analyst

Competition 1551

This competition is open to all applicants however; internal candidates and applicants who were former employees of the University of Alberta in the past 18 months will be given priority consideration before external candidates. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status.

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed at: Faculty & Staff Benefits.

Location -  Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton. This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Working for External Relations and Strategic Communications

Strategic Communications is focused on enhancing and protecting the institutional reputation of the University of Alberta as one of the leading public universities in Canada and the world. We are inspired by and committed to supporting the strategic goals of Shape, the university's institutional strategic plan. We build awareness and understanding of the U of A's transformative impact on students and society. We showcase the initiatives and stories that demonstrate the U of A's commitment to research and teaching excellence that lead to positive, enduring change both close to home and around the world. We also foster pride and engagement across our internal communities and campuses. Finally, we enable transparency and accountability around university administration and governance.

Position 

Under the direction of the Director, Issues Management and Strategic Initiatives, the News and Media Analyst provides communications coordination and content in a fast-paced environment driven by external media, breaking news cycles and social media discourse. 

The News and Media Analyst monitors public information, news (print, digital, broadcast, etc.) and social media for mentions of the University of Alberta and other topics of interest. They regularly gather and analyze information, intelligence and metrics for External Relations products and reports on community and audience reach, engagement, content and impact.

The News and Media Analyst is part of a dynamic, best-in-class team developing proactive communications strategies and communications campaigns that support strategic objectives and respond to current affairs. They work alongside experts in communications planning, news content, media relations, social media management, issues management, digital design and development, and brand marketing.

Duties 

• Lead active monitoring of news, digital and social media channels and platforms for UofA activities and content for the External Relations team.
• Ensure the timely dissemination of time-sensitive information, news articles and transcripts to internal stakeholders.
• Administer and maintain news media monitoring platforms, including communications with suppliers to signal issues, update keywords and search terms, in accordance with the terms of the service agreements.
• Create and submit concise reports and summaries, on key stories, such as incisive assessments and evaluations.
• Consult with internal stakeholders to identify news and media monitoring needs, and provide customized reports and dashboards.
• Provide timely and complete analysis of trends, comments and issues relevant to university business.
• Track and monitor media and social media analytics, analyzing metrics to identify trends and inform decision-making.
• Perform research activities to discover new PR opportunities, and scan the horizon for potential media users.

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree and a minimum of three years experience in a field related to communications, public relations, political science, and/or communications technology.
• Professional experience with digital and social media tools and platforms.
• Knowledge of the public environment, including the media and the political system, and how they function.
• Strong writing skills with the ability to be concise and to write an analysis of news and media coverage.
• Strong digital communications skills, including preparing text and visual content for web and email platforms.
• English language editorial skills.
• Ability to produce results under pressure quickly and reliably.
• Ability to take initiative and to work autonomously.
• Aptitude to learn and keep pace with new web publishing technologies.
• Knowledge of and proficiency with news alerts and media monitoring tools.
• Knowledge of and proficiency with digital and social media tools and platforms.
• Proficiency with online content publishing platforms.
• Proficiency in using Google’s suite of office products.

Preferred Qualifications

• Comprehension of the Canadian post-secondary environment.
• Knowledge and experience navigating U of A Library services.
• Experience building dashboards.
• French language skills.