Assistant Director of Communications

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state’s college access and financial aid agency, has an immediate opening for an experienced communications professional who will focus on strategic communications, executive communications, publications, media relations, and marketing on behalf of the agency. The Assistant Director of Communications plays a crucial role in the development and implementation of the agency’s overall communication strategy, acts in an advisory capacity to the Managing Director, and acts for the Managing Director in their absence.

Reporting to the Managing Director of Communications, this position requires outstanding written and verbal communication skills. The position will support executive communications, will manage and be responsible for developing and implementing an array of agency publications as well as drafting of web content, and will manage media relations – all to support public information strategies that increase awareness of ISAC, enhance the agency’s reputation, and increase participation in its programs and services. Given the relatively small size of the agency’s communication department, the role offers the opportunity to develop and implement communication strategy at a high level, while also requiring the “roll up your sleeves” day-to day-work of writing and editing.

The position is a hybrid position, with limited in office time required, in our Deerfield, IL location. This position will require some (primarily) in-state travel of about 10%.

Our ideal candidate is a leader with management experience; an exceptional writer, with proven editorial skills; a highly articulate professional with strong media relations and spokesperson experience; and an inquisitive and fast learner and self-starter with excellent interpersonal skills. Our candidate is highly organized; project management skills/experience are a plus. Bi-lingual (Spanish) preferred but not required. We seek a strong problem solver: you demonstrate an ability to ask relevant questions, identify important sources of information, and think outside the box as necessary to find answers.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the Director in developing engaging executive communications for internal and external audiences, ensuring consistency of voice and messaging.

• Work in conjunction with the Managing Director to develop media strategy.
• Support agency and divisional staff with media talking points and statements. In collaboration with the Managing Director of Communications, ISAC’s Public Relations and Social Media Manager, and staff from other divisions as needed, develop media strategy and talking points on key issues and programs.
• Serve as alternate media spokesperson for the agency.
• Support crisis communications as needed.
• Collaborate as needed with Public Relations and Social Media Manager in developing agency press releases and media advisories.
• Lead communications support for informational and marketing materials.
• Responsible for annual updates to current agency brochures and other print/online materials, including content drafting, editing, and managing graphic design work and print requirements. Requires ongoing collaboration with agency divisions to provide data, information, and ensure accuracy and appropriate tone of materials. Work with agency graphic designer or external designer to support design, and with external printers.
• Develop new agency print/online materials as needed. Manage the process from start to finish, including creative concept, drafting, editing, design (in conjunction with agency designer) and external print jobs.
• Draft new website content in conjunction with current redesign of agency website. Collaborate with staff from other divisions in developing, editing, and/or reviewing new content for the website as needed. *It is contemplated that this position will manage a website administrator when the position is added.

Because this role requires significant writing and editing at a high level, you will be asked to submit writing samples after the first interview. Candidates in the final round of interviews may be asked to participate in a live, short writing test.

Minimum Acceptable Qualifications

AND

Benefits

• ISAC offers an attractive benefits package including health, vision, and life insurance, State Employees’ Retirement System, educational benefits, and more.
• 25 earned vacation days per year.
• 12 paid sick days.
• 14 paid holidays.
• Tuition waiver at select public Illinois universities and tuition reimbursements for non-public Illinois universities.

Salary Range: $100,000-$120,000

Be part of our great mission helping Illinois students on their path to education after high school! Visit us at www.isac.org.

For consideration, please complete an application at https://recruiter.isac.org.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the US. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment Visas at this time.

The person selected for this position will be required to complete a criminal background check.

ISAC does not discriminate against someone (applicant or employee) because of that person's race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.