Job Description

Date Posted: 04/03/2026
Req ID: 47573
Faculty/Division: Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Department: Emerging & Pandemic Infections Consortum
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00051371
Existing Vacancy: Yes

About us:

Home to over 40 departments and institutes, the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine lies at the heart of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network and is a global leader in ground-breaking research and education, spanning clinical medicine, basic science and the rehabilitation sciences sectors.

Your opportunity:

This position will support strategic activities of the University of Toronto’s Emerging & Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC) and Canadian Hub for Health Intelligence & Innovation in Infectious Diseases (HI3). Bridging the University’s various divisions and hospital partners, EPIC is a collaborative institutional strategic initiative that marshals Toronto’s advanced research infrastructure and collective world-renowned research and training expertise to enable an integrated innovative response to infectious diseases. HI3 is a federally funded hub with over 100 academic, non-for-profit, and private sector members with the mandate to coordinate health emergency readiness and response and increase biomanufacturing capacity across Canada for national health security. These globally leading initiatives and institutions will make a difference in preparing for future health emergencies, strengthening systems to advance resilience, and fostering innovations to help prevent the next pandemic.

As the Research & Communications Specialist you will deliver world class communications content that promote the initiatives, goals, and mandate of EPIC and HI3. Reporting to the Directors of EPIC and HI3, you will develop and adapt strategies, and implement plans that enable the research, partnerships, and operations of the two Initiatives, while communicating these advances to a broader audience of members, stakeholders, and the general public. You will provide external relations and outreach strategies by planning, developing, and implementing an integrated multi-channel communication strategy, including external collaborations and partnerships. You will serve as a key resource for EPIC and HI3 members to help propel their research and impact stories on various platforms, while helping develop science communications skills throughout the EPIC trainee community. You will also develop promotional and marketing materials, and deliver empowering narratives through social, digital, and print media platforms. As an action-oriented, strategic thinker with exemplary writing skills, you will have an ability to build trusting relationships and develop unique, engaging. and compelling content that meets the overall objectives of these two transformative initiatives.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing, adapting, and implementing communication plans to promote programs, events, and initiatives that support strategic goals and objectives
• Writing and communicating stories based on research goals and successes
• Creating and maintaining presence on social media platforms to promote program initiatives and highlight research projects
• Developing content for research communications, promotional materials, and broad impact educational initiatives
• Conceptualizing, organizing, and executing event activities
• Advising on marketing best practices and brand-building opportunities
• Implementing community relations outreach and building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance
• Conducting market research and analysis, and designing surveys to support the evaluation of strategies and objectives

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in science or in a related field or an acceptable combination of equivalent experience
• Minimum five years’ experience in research communications, public relations, or media
• Experience developing, implementing, and contributing to an integrated multi-channel communications strategy with a relevant portfolio of proven outcomes
• Demonstrated experience translating scientific material and writing content, developing themes, and maintaining consistent brand identity for multiple audiences and platforms, including print, online (including digital websites), and social media platforms
• Experience managing social media platforms, including building active engagement, expanding reach, and using analytics and strategy to report on social media effectiveness
• Experience providing strategic and innovative communications recommendations (online and print)
• Experience planning and executing outreach strategies
• Experience maintaining and updating websites
• Experience fostering and sustaining relationships with internal and external contacts
• Experience organizing and executing events and delivering and facilitating presentations
• Experience working in a complex multi-stakeholder environment, supporting multiple projects and priorities
• High level of proficiency with MS Office, CMS (Drupal), WordPress, Adobe Creative suite, InDesign, Canva, Illustrator, Photoshop, LaTex, Mailchimp, ClickUP or equivalent
• Exceptional storytelling and presentation skills
• Ability to assimilate, interpret, translate, and distill scientific research from primary sources into compelling, engaging, and enlightening communications for a variety of audiences
• Superior fact-checking, and proofreading skills with a strong portfolio of writing that is clear, accurate, and compelling
• Strong time management skills to achieve results and to meet critical timelines in collaboration with stakeholders
• Excellent written communications skills with a demonstrated ability to produce a variety of internal and external-facing communications content (presentations, stories, digital newsletters, social media posts etc.)
• Capacity for innovation, idea generation, strategic thinking and business acumen
• Proven organizational skills, ability to adapt to constantly changing priorities, manage multiple projects concurrently, and complete work in required time frames

Assets (Nonessential):

• MSc in a science field
• Photography skills

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Communicator
• Efficient
• Proactive
• Resourceful
• Team player

This is a grant‑funded position, ending in 2031 with the possibility of renewal.

Closing Date: 04/19/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type Grant - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 13 -- $86,340. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $110,415. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Communication/Media/Public Relations
Recruiter: Callum Ferguson

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

A job description is available upon request