Senior Director, Strategic Communications, Marketing, and External Engagement

Department

EPIC - Communications

About The Department

The University of Chicago Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth (ICSG) is a groundbreaking effort uniting faculty from across the university to advance society’s understanding of our energy and climate future. The Institute combines faculty insights in energy markets and policy, climate systems engineering, and energy technology to produce world-changing ideas while also investing in the next generation of energy and climate thinkers, leaders, and innovators through novel educational programs.

Job Summary

The Senior Director of Strategic Communications, Marketing, and External Engagement is a member of the Institute’s senior leadership team. The Senior Director is responsible for producing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive communications, marketing, branding, and constituency-engagement strategy that supports the growth of the Institute as a premier source for climate and energy research, education, and programming globally. The Senior Director manages and mentors a team of communications, marketing, and creative experts working under a shared strategy and vision.

Responsibilities

• Builds strategies, leads campaigns, and develops messaging to an array of constituents, including prospective and current students, alumni, current and future donors, policy and business leaders, major national and international media, stakeholders internal to the University, and the climate-curious public. Collaborates with the Institute’s senior leaders in creating new programs and products, and in fostering the formation, growth and visibility of the Institute and its programs and initiatives. Collaborates with the University's central communications, communications directors at the schools and divisions, admissions, and alumni relations to identify key markets and develop targeted messaging and creative content to drive student recruitment and enrollment, fundraising, and generally increase the Institute’s prominence. Prepares budget projections for the Communications function.
• Prepares talking points, speeches, and op-eds for the Institute Director and other leaders. Works closely with senior staff members to anticipate communications needs, understand various audiences and constituencies, and respond quickly and professionally using the appropriate tone. Strategically advises the Director and other leaders on issues pertaining to messaging, timing, and overall communications.
• Builds and maintains the brand of the Institute, works with a design consultant to form the Institute’s visual identity and identity standards, and ensures all products deliver a consistent brand and message. Develops content including fundraising and promotional documents and other collateral materials (brochures, proposals, newsletters, etc.), and manages content design and distribution. Assesses the effectiveness and impact of communications campaigns through both quantitative and qualitative metrics to enable the ongoing optimization of resources.
• Develops strategies to engage external audiences with the Institute, including by overseeing the development and execution of the Institute's digital marketing efforts such as multiple Institute-owned websites, social media portfolios, and email platforms. Strategically builds and oversees the maintenance of a communications database of contacts that includes, without limitation, students, faculty, alumni, friends of the Institute, media, and other stakeholders. Improves strategies and content through search engine optimization techniques and measures progress by tracking key performance indicators.
• Creates and manages media plans for paid and earned media. Cultivates and maintains relationships with strategically targeted reporters. Identifies newsworthy stories about the Institute, manages the writing of press releases and other public relations materials, and proactively pitches to targeted national and international reporters including print, electronic, radio, and television. Responds to all media and public requests for information in a timely manner. Oversees the monitoring and reporting of media coverage of Institute researchers and issues of topical interest.
• Maintains the media interface, including writing press releases, planning and organizing media coverage for major events, and may respond to requests on sensitive or controversial issues.
• Develops the writing, preparation, and/or delivery of information from or about the unit. Is accountable for maintaining the unit's goals and communications strategy in publications, announcements, and speeches.
• Provides leadership and supervision of communications staff. May manage the communications budget.
• Performs other related work as needed.
  
  

Education:

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, public relations, marketing, English or a related field.
• Master's degree in journalism, public relations, marketing, English or a related field.
  
  

Experience:

• Minimum of 10-15 years of relevant experience, including 5 years in a management position.
• Background developing and supervising staff with an orientation to outcomes and a commitment to excellence, teamwork, and professional growth.
  
  

Technical Skills Or Knowledge:

• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and web-based communication methods and tools such as Mailchimp, Hubspot and WordPress or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of graphic design and/or desktop publishing software.
  
  

Preferred Competencies

• A breadth of communications and marketing expertise, including knowledge of media and public relations, digital marketing, and print publication development.
• Excellent writing and editing skills in a range of applications from formal statements to editorial articles to marketing copy.
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and direct multiple projects and activities with competing priorities and varied deadlines while maintaining professionalism and product quality.
• Demonstrated ability to be a strategic thinker, solve problems and exercise a high degree of judgment and diplomacy and a commitment to confidentiality.
• Navigate a complex environment and anticipate the needs of senior leaders.
• Work independently with a high degree of initiative and as part of a team.
• Collaborate well and work effectively with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse professional environment.
• Knowledge of current trends in information technology and their applications to communication strategies.
  
  

Working Conditions

• This position is remote, with minimal travel to campus or external locations.
  
  

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Three Professional References Contact Information (required)
  
  

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Communications

Role Impact

People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$151,790.78 - $196,435.13

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.