Manager, Pension Communications (12-Month Contract)

OUR COMPANY BACKGROUND & CULTURE

UPP is the first pension plan of its kind in Ontario’s university sector, proudly serving over 46,000 members across six universities and nineteen sector organizations. Our purpose is to bring greater retirement peace of mind to the university sector by investing with integrity and serving members with care. As a sector-wide plan designed for growth, our doors are open to all Ontario universities. 

UPP is recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2026. Together, we’re a team of progressive thinkers and agile doers operating within a fast-paced culture of collaboration and respect. We believe in bringing smart and capable people together to create, solve, and grow with a clear shared vision and values of integrity, inclusivity, ingenuity, and impact.

Our culture is intentionally welcoming and purposefully rooted in equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation (EDI&R). We believe diverse teams, perspectives, and lived experiences contribute to better decisions and a better workplace.

As a pension plan, UPP approaches investing through a long-term lens to generate and safeguard value. Our commitment to investing responsibly accounts for material risks that impact our investment portfolio to generate sufficient risk-adjusted returns to meet the pension needs of our members.

Join us in building a bright future for our members, our organization, and each other.

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Director, Pension Communications, the Manager, Pension Communications (12-Month Contract) will lead the creation and implementation of comprehensive communication strategies that engage and inform UPP’s plan members and stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have expertise in strategic communications, content development, and leadership, with the ability to build trust and relationships with diverse audiences.

Key responsibilities include collaborating with internal and external partners to develop high-quality, brand-aligned content; driving innovation and consistency in member communications; and crafting clear, accessible messaging tailored for various platforms. You will distilling complex pension-related information into content suitable for our diverse member base, including university professors, employees, faculty associations, staff unions, and sector associations.

This role is based in downtown Toronto under a hybrid work policy, allowing employees the flexibility to work remotely and in-office (approximately two days per week in-office).

This job is for an existing vacancy. 

SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Communication Development

• Develop and execute comprehensive communication plans, providing strategic advice and guidance to various groups within Pension Services.
• Adopt an audience-focused approach using innovative strategies and tactics to support business objectives and meet audience needs.
• Collaborate closely with other member and stakeholder-facing UPP business units to maintain a consistent organizational voice across all platforms.
• Manage timelines and priorities to ensure effective delivery of communications.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and nurture strong relationships with key business partners and stakeholders, including members, employer administrators, faculty associations, unions, and external partners.
• Serve as a trusted liaison, ensuring consistent and effective communication between UPP and its stakeholders.
• Proactively identify opportunities for stakeholder engagement and communication improvements.

Content Development

• Create engaging content for various platforms, including presentations, newsletters, booklets and other pension communications.
• Use plain, member-friendly language to simplify complex pension-related information.
• Review and edit content for accuracy, style, readability, and adherence to UPP’s brand guidelines.
• Identify and manage opportunities for proactive member and employer communications, ensuring member needs are addressed.

Project Planning and Coordination

• Demonstrate strong project planning and management skills, managing resources and timelines effectively.
• Coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with strategic goals.
• Oversee end-to-end project cycle, from developing comprehensive communication plans to content creation, collaborating with creative and digital teams to ensure high-quality and successful delivery.
• Operate independently and collaboratively, maintaining high productivity and accountability.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in a large, multi-stakeholder organization such as a university, membership association, union, pension plan, or financial institution
• Post-secondary education in communications, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Strong expertise in strategic communication planning and execution
• Experience managing stakeholder relationships in a professional setting
• Proven ability to distill nuanced and complex topics into accessible materials that strengthen relationships with audiences.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work with strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent proofreading capabilities.
• Written and verbal fluency in French is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience in leveraging digital platforms for effective communication.
• Familiarity with the pension or financial services industry is an asset.
• Strong analytical skills to assess communication strategies and make data-driven decisions.

ATTRIBUTES 

• Self-motivated, diplomatic, and professional.
• Strong organizational and planning skills; able to prioritize and deliver on deadlines.
• Collaborative with the ability to build trusting relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Innovative thinker with a passion for clear, effective communication.
• Up to date on industry trends and best practices.

EXPECTED COMPENSATION

The expected compensation for this role is a combination of base salary and variable incentive.

The annualized base salary in the range of $85,600 to $110,600. This range reflects the expected range for new hire base salaries and is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

You may also be eligible for a variable incentive depending on organizational, divisional and personal performance. The final total compensation offered will vary depending on your skills, experience and other factors.

LIFE AT UPP

Do work that matters. We are duty-bound to serve our members’ interests, and it’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly. That’s why we’ve ingrained sustainability in our work from day one—to ensure our members have a resilient future to retire into, both today and for generations to come.

Stronger together. Collaboration is how UPP was born, and it’s how we work with each other and our partners day in, day out. No one at UPP is just a number (even if they are excellent at math) and every win is a shared win.

Grow every day. You’ll have the opportunity to work on unique, once-in-a-career projects that maximize your skill set and probably teach you some new ones—at any stage in your career.

Prioritize wellness. At UPP, wellness takes many forms. Ultimately, it’s about ensuring our people are cared for in the ways that matter to them. Check out some highlights of our inclusive employee-focused benefits program including:

• Defined benefit pension plan
• Flexible hybrid work model
• Paid time off – vacations, personal days and wellness days
• Work remotely up to eight weeks/year
• Comprehensive group benefits including medical, dental, vision, etc.
• Extended paramedical and mental health service coverage
• Health care and lifestyle spending accounts
• Fertility treatments, paid parental leave, and gender affirmation coverage
• Education Assistance program

This posting will remain open for a minimum of seven (7) days and will remain open until a sufficient number of qualified applications are received or finalist candidates have been identified. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to support certain stages of the recruitment process, including sourcing, screening, and assessment. All hiring decisions involve human review and intervention by UPP employees.

UPP enthusiastically welcomes applications from all qualified applicants and especially invites people with lived experience as an Indigenous person, a person with a disability or as a member of another Human Rights Code protected group that faces barriers to employment to apply. Our goal is to create a barrier-free experience for every candidate throughout the recruitment process.

UPP respects your privacy. For information on how UPP handles the personal information you provide during the application process, please see our Job Applicant Privacy Statement.