Marketing & Communications Officer

Brock University is located on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, many of whom continue to live and work here today. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the land protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement.

We are one of Canada’s outstanding comprehensive universities, where excellence and innovation thrive! Brock has been proudly recognized as a Hamilton-Niagara Top Employer for eight consecutive years. Brock continues to earn recognition as one of Canada’s Best Employers and one of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity in 2026. For the second consecutive year, Forbes, in partnership with Statista, also named Brock one of Canada’s Top Employers for Company Culture. At Brock, you will find a welcoming, inclusive community and an exciting range of meaningful career opportunities.

Ignite new possibilities for your career. Break through at Brock.

Post End Date:

Please note: This is a fixed-term contract position that is set to conclude in July 2028.

About the Role:

Working collaboratively with both the University Marketing and Communications team and staff and researchers at the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI), the Marketing & Communications Officer is responsible for planning and successfully executing CCOVI communications and marketing activities to support and enhance the Institute’s reputation and overall media presence. The position plays a key role in communicating the value, outcomes and impact of CCOVI research and innovation to academic, industry, government and public audiences. The Marketing & Communications Officer is also responsible for supporting networks with various media outlets and stakeholders in the grape and wine industry, and for identifying and promoting opportunities to showcase CCOVI research, expertise, programs, partnerships and impact through strategic communications initiatives.

The Marketing & Communications Officer will:

• Write strong, impactful and clear news stories that can be used as media releases and content for Brock web pages, the online Brock News, the quarterly CCOVI News and CCOVI’s Professional and Continuing Education communications that raise the profile of CCOVI, its researchers, programs and impact;
• Proactively pitch story ideas to relevant news media outlets, including grape and wine industry journals and publications;
• Maintain content across CCOVI’s social media and digital communication channels, including content from the CCOVI website, Brock News and quarterly CCOVI News, as well as promotion of CCOVI’s Professional and Continuing Education programming, to strengthen engagement and extend audience reach;
• Write, design and produce strategic communications and marketing materials, including newsletters, reports, brochures, promotional campaigns, digital content and other collateral that enhance CCOVI’s visibility and reputation to industry, government and community stakeholders;
• Steward a network of news media and grape and wine industry contacts, and establish a reputation for pitching stories with journalistic integrity and appeal;
• Attend relevant industry events, tradeshows and workshops to communicate and strengthen relationships with existing and potential partners and identify emerging sector trends, and support CCOVI’s communications and outreach objectives;
• Provide communications and marketing support for CCOVI tours and promote CCOVI to interest groups in the grape and wine industry, as well as governmental agencies and/or politicians;
• Develop strong networks with CCOVI researchers to stay informed of ongoing research activities and identify and communicate stories that showcase the capacities, partnerships and impact of CCOVI, the University and its researchers;
• Provide communication planning and promotion support for CCOVI presentations, outreach initiatives and signature events.

Key Skills and Experience:

• An undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (i.e., Communications, Marketing Research, Journalism or Public Relations);
• A minimum of two (2) years of news media or media relations work experience, preferably in a non-profit environment;
• A valid G class driver’s license and an acceptable driver’s abstract;
• Strong writing and editing skills with demonstrated proficiency in copywriting;
• Experience translating complex scientific, technical or research-based information into engaging content for diverse audiences;
• Sound knowledge of publishing and digital content processes;
• Working competence in editorial-style photography and videography, and in distributing that imagery on websites, through social media and with media releases;
• Advanced understanding of content formats and approaches that relate to the news media’s challenges, preferences and requirements;
• Knowledge of news, issues and trends in the grape and wine industry;
• Strong project management, brand management and marketing research skills;
• Strong understanding of traditional, online and social media, with the ability to stay current on social media trends;
• Solid computer application skills, including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word Processing, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Adobe Acrobat, web applications and social media platforms);
• Excellent production and design skills using Microsoft Office Publisher or Adobe Creative Suite 2 or higher, including Photoshop;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in narrative and/or media styles;
• Solid relationship management skills with the ability to exercise discretion, diplomacy and tact when dealing with internal and external partners;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with a proven ability to multi-task to meet deadlines;
• Extremely adaptable, flexible, nimble and responsive to meet changing demands and conflicting priorities.

Salary and Total Rewards:

• Job Grade [K], Salary Scale ($62,115.00 - 99,384.00);
• Target Hiring Range: $62,115.00 - $67,238.40*;
• This is a fixed-term contract position that includes:
• Health & Dental Benefits: Comprehensive extended health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Pension Plan: Enrolment eligibility in the Brock University Pension Plan.
• Vacation: Up to 3 weeks per year, in addition to University holidays.
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid work schedule available.

*The final salary is based on experience, internal equity, and budget considerations within the target hiring range.

About Us

Brock University is a comprehensive institution with rich academic programs and world-class research activity. Located in Ontario’s scenic Niagara region on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, Brock is situated in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. With nearly 600 full-time faculty members and researchers, Brock's robust academic scope offers more than 70 undergraduate programs and 50 graduate programs in seven dynamic Faculties. The University’s 19,000 students come from across Canada and around the world. Brock’s renowned student experience is enriched by an emphasis on experiential education, as illustrated by community partnerships, volunteerism and one of Ontario's largest and most successful co-op programs.

Learn more at brocku.ca.