Communications Lead

About the Role

Directly supporting the Manager, Innovation Hub, the Communications Lead takes a leadership role in all elements of communications and supports strategic and operational planning for the Innovation Hub. The Communications Lead oversees all graphic design, audiovisual storytelling, UX/UI website development, and the Innovation Hub blog. The Communications lead also develops communications training strategy and materials, meets with project partners, and maintains all Innovation Hub documentation related to communications, ensuring that Innovation Hub procedures and practices are user-friendly, and meet excellent standards. The Communications Lead directly supervises the Graphic Design & Communications Coordinator.

Strategic Leadership

An active member of the core leadership team, directly working with the Manager, Innovation Projects, guiding the strategic and operational decision making at the Innovation Hub
Works closely with the Design Thinking Lead to move all Innovation Hub work forward, and provide strategic leadership
Works hands-on with and directly manages the Graphic Design & Communications Coordinator and communications team

Communications

Manages all communications strategy and materials for Innovation Hub projects
Oversees deliverables and timelines of communications-related work, including graphic design and formatting, website development, content development, audiovisual projects, and Innovation Hub events
Develops resources and workflows for project communications materials
Ensures quality control of all materials, including meeting the brand & vision of the Innovation Hub and that materials are accessible for web, digital, and print
Oversees all Innovation Hub communications including graphic design, websites and web projects, blogs, videography and video projects, photography and videography projects, and other audiovisual storytelling work to ensure work is completed on time to Innovation Hub standards with full accessibility
Leads audiovisual storytelling initiatives, including documentary production and video content creation that showcases Innovation Hub work and impact
Directly manages the Graphic Design & Communications Coordinator and has ultimate oversight of all communications teams
Develops materials outside of the scope of design thinking projects, including presentations, professional development, and conference proposals

Project Management

Oversees the creation and execution of project plans for every initiative at the Innovation Hub, adjusting timelines as necessary
Coordinates with the Manager, Innovation Projects, and Design Thinking Lead on project timelines & needs

Supporting Student Teams & Workplace Support

Supports Leadership team members in supervising, coaching and leading their team members
Designs role-specific training for all teams in collaboration with the Graphic Design & Communications Coordinator
Collaborates with the Design Thinking Lead to manage the Innovation Hub's Process Guides and carries out day-to-day operations in line with Innovation Hub operational standards
Supports the Graphic Design & Communications Coordinator in supervising their work-study team members
Organizes and leads community and/or partner events or initiatives (as needed)

Events & Administration

Collaborates with the Design Thinking Lead in carrying out hiring processes, workflows, and timelines
Takes a leadership role in planning, strategy and execution of Innovation Hub events, orientation and training
Collaborates with the Design Thinking Coordinator on managing the Innovation Hub's SharePoint system for visual design, file and document structures and organization, and MS Teams for team communications, as well as the shared co-workspace

Qualifications

Education & Experience

Must have completed a post-secondary degree or diploma in the past 2 years
Minimum two years of experience in graphic design, with a preference for candidates who have managed graphic design team
Demonstrated leadership experience with diverse populations, including direct management of a team and experience coaching team members

Technical & Professional Skills

Demonstrated experience in graphic design using Adobe Suite, a graphic design portfolio is required in the application
A high-capacity individual who can balance multiple projects and work within tight deadlines – demonstrated ability to organize tasks and balance multiple competing priorities
Exceptional writing skills, including plain-language writing, demonstrated oral communication and presentation skills with diverse audiences
Project management experience, ability to manage conflicting priorities and deadlines
Required Technical Skills: demonstrated graphic design skills, website management, visual media (Familiarity with Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Figma, and WordPress required), Office 365 including strong MS Excel skills
Seasoned graphic design skills, visual media and exemplary MS Office skills
Superior time management and administrative skills and the ability to work with tight deadlines
Aptitude to mentor technical and interpersonal skills for new designers
Flexible and adaptable—is excited by performing a variety of roles and tasks

Mindset & Values

A keen desire to learn and keep up-to-date with the methodologies used in the Innovation Hub (i.e. design thinking, integrative thinking, collaborative methodologies, ethnography, etc.)
An Entrepreneurial spirit—and a desire to work in an ever-changing and dynamic environment
Positive attitude and desire to bring positive change to U of T
Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate in a team which is diverse and interdisciplinary, as well as students from diverse backgrounds, programs & study levels
Strong grounding in principles of equity, diversity & inclusivity
Want to lead teams of students creating change at the University of Toronto
Desire to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment balancing multiple projects
Are a strategic thinker with a creative mind and want to work with likeminded people

Work Style & Collaboration

Highly communicative and comfortable communicating with various stakeholders
Enthusiasm for mentorship and collaborative learning over independent work
Demonstrated ability to receive and implement constructive feedback
Professional boundaries and understanding of appropriate workplace behaviour
Ability to dedicate work hours fully to work responsibilities
Excellent leadership potential—quiet leaders are encouraged to apply!
Have the ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders, work with a team & make decisions
Enjoy working in teams with diverse members & perspectives
Have excellent interpersonal, organizational, conflict mediation, and problem-solving skills
Grounded in principles of equity, diversity & inclusivity

Other Qualifications

The following qualifications are considered an asset in this role:

Strong background in WordPress and website management
Working knowledge of video editing software (PremierePro, AfterEffects, FinalCutPro, etc.), and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.)
Experience with design thinking, integrative thinking and/or qualitative research methodology or a UX background is an asset
Ability to create accessible content and documents (training will be provided)

Learning Experiences

In this role, you'll learn how to be proactive and check in with your team members and keep them motivated. You'll learn how to look ahead at tasks and gain a proactive approach that allows you to take more initiative in the workplace. You'll learn how to become aligned with a brand and develop that brand further, creating content that is brand-aligned. You'll exercise your creativity and learn how to design differently for different audiences. You'll become skilled at leading and facilitating meetings (even if you think you're a shy person), and you'll gain an understanding of optimal workflows for maximum productivity.

You'll learn to be comfortable with not getting things right on the first try—an essential workplace skill. You'll develop resilience in receiving feedback and making revisions. You'll start to see constructive feedback as a gift and develop professional maturity in workplace relationships and boundaries. In this creative leadership role specifically, you'll refine your ability to tell compelling visual stories, learn to balance brand consistency with creative innovation, and develop skills in managing both creative strategy and team supervision.

Application Requirements

When applying, please submit:

One PDF containing both your resume and cover letter
Graphic design portfolio: Include a link to your portfolio in your resume or cover letter. Portfolio must include work samples showing graphic design and other communications work, with explanation of your individual contributions vs. team contributions
Your cover letter should address: your experience with collaborative vs. independent work environments, how you typically respond to constructive feedback, your approach to balancing creative work with administrative tasks, and your experience with audiovisual storytelling or documentary production
Responses should be thoughtful and specific (not generic or AI-generated)
You may be asked to complete additional questions in an application form (approximately 20 minutes)

Job Details

Contract Length: 12 months beginning in April/May 2026
Salary: USW Pay Band 9
Hours per week: 37.5 hours (8:30am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday with a 1-hour unpaid lunch)
This role is a USW Internship Role
100% in-person work at U of T Student Commons – 230 College St. Toronto