Assistant Director of Communication & Marketing
The University of Chicago

Job Info

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Department

PME Communications

About the Department

The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) was established in May 2019 and evolved from the Institute for Molecular Engineering, which was founded in 2011. The PME integrates science and engineering to address global challenges from the molecular level up. The PME's rigorous academic and research programs are made possible through the University of Chicago's unique partnership with Argonne National Laboratory. The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering is the first new school at the University of Chicago in three decades and the first school in the nation dedicated to molecular engineering. In the next phase of growth as a School, the PME will continue to expand its team of world-class faculty researchers and empower students from diverse backgrounds to collaborate with faculty in cutting-edge facilities. The PME aims to bring solutions for urgent societal problems to the forefront, while training the next generation of scientific leaders and entrepreneurs.

Job Summary

Under the guidance of PME's Strategic Communications and Marketing leadership, the Assistant Director will work with internal and external stakeholders to identify opportunities to elevate UChicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering's public reputation, strategizing around proactive outreach initiatives. This role will help communicate and action these efforts alongside a collaborative team of communications and media professionals at PME and in central media relations, as well as with other communications and media partners at other divisions, schools, and institutions.

The Assistant Director will be responsible for providing strategic thinking, assisting with benchmarking and performance analysis while leveraging industry knowledge and best practices to promote the mission and vision of the University and PME in alignment with overarching communications, enrollment, and fundraising goals. This position will be responsible for helping to develop external outreach strategies, story ideas, and content to amplify PME's reputation and drive interest in academic research, programs, awards, and collaborations as well as philanthropic efforts. The role will help maintain an editorial calendar and collaborate with faculty and members of the PME team. The role also will work directly with central media relations officers assigned to PME to help define and collaboratively execute media distribution strategies and creatively leverage content from PME channels as well as effectively partner with other university-owned channels.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with the Executive Director and Director of Communications to elevate and enhance PME's and the University's public reputation through thought leadership and other public relations initiatives, including secured speaking engagements and award submissions, with measurable KPIs aligned with larger communication efforts and university central communications.
• Collaborates with communications and marketing team members to execute against an editorial calendar, generate ideas, and provide additional relevant opportunities for content initiatives.
• Assists in the development and implementation of strategies to advance and support the priorities and programs at PME, including through communications content, media relations and digital strategies.
• Produces written content for deployment across a variety of channels, including news and feature stories, Q&As with leadership, internal messages, public statements, talking points, FAQs, briefings, and press releases, in support of PME priorities and activities.
• Works with MarComm leadership to develop proactive big-picture strategies to engage media, including the development of content packages; works closely with PME central media reps to help tee up content and stories for proactive pitching to media outlets, working collaboratively with central media relations partners to collectively build relationships and execute outreach.
• Along with MarComm leadership, engages regularly and effectively with central media relations partners to ideate, brainstorm, and target journalists and collaboratively shape PME news outreach and coverage, proactively and reactively.
• Liaise with MarComm leadership and faculty on schedules to proactively identify potential media opportunities coinciding with travel and works with central media relations to help action.
• Oversees social media as related to potential outreach strategies, reputation amplification and media interest and opportunities.
• Collaboratively brainstorms social outreach efforts with team to help drive engagement from general audiences, partners, alumni, donors, and media. Provides regular reporting on outreach efforts and other channels as needed to determine the success of initiatives, identify gaps in content, and presents solutions.
• Supports and collaborates on issues and crisis management related to key University and central administration priorities and units, including coordinating, and collaborating with media relations, digital and content colleagues to develop and implement comprehensive and effective strategies around what are often complex academic and operational matters.
• May represent PME on various cross-University/cross-central administration committees, working groups, task forces, etc., charged with advising and leading communications planning and strategy around priority topics or initiatives.
• Works with the Executive Director and Director and the PME development team to identify, vet, develop and disseminate impactful stories externally that articulate the University's value proposition and help to engage donors and prospective students.
• Develops one or more of the following marketing functions: marketing communications and advertising, web blogs or other digital marketing, and market research. Reviews and updates marketing infrastructure which may include one or more database systems, the intranet, and external web sites.
• Develops marketing communications, advertising, or publicity strategy. Plans and coordinates the development and production of marketing campaigns, ensuring deadlines and budgets are met. Designs, writes, and edits high profile or high visibility marketing materials, which may include press releases, book jacket copy, blogs, or other Web material.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
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Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Degree in English, journalism, communications, marketing, or a related discipline from an accredited institution of higher learning.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in media relations and content development.
• Minimum 5 years of public relations experience in higher education, at a non-profit or marketing and communications agency.
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing media relations strategies with secured placements.
• Establishing contacts and cultivating new media relationships.
• Working cross-functionally within an organization to develop and implement high-impact public relations strategies.
• Writing and editing for media, generating ideas, managing processes, stakeholder input, and content calendars.
• Working with content creators to adapt stories for owned channels.
• Experience in higher education, non-profit, government, or a decentralized organization desired.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficient and functional knowledge of M.S. Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook), along with standard PR measurement tools and analytics.
• Understands media relations cycles and trends to inform external storytelling opportunities.

Preferred Competencies

• Interview, brainstorm, and collaborate, putting quality over quantity and expedience.
• Communications professional with a demonstrated capacity for multi-tasking, with good political judgment, excellent communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving and visioning acumen.
• Solutions-oriented with strong project management skills to effectively manage resources and execute multiple projects on time and within budget.
• Demonstrates an understanding of PME's overall brand vision, and strategy.
• Consistently identify opportunities for improvement and make recommendations based on analytics and observations.
• Proactively identify challenges and barriers to stated objectives and employ assistance in addressing them.
• Strong collaboration acumen and abilities.
• Demonstration of emotional intelligence and professional maturity.
• Strong communication acumen including written, oral, and listening.
• Innovate, think strategically and conceptually, with experience effectively advising senior leaders.
• Extreme high level of professionalism, discretion, sound and mature judgment, and collegiality.
• Proven success in developing collaborative relationships across diverse constituencies.
• Strong project management and organizational skills; and manage multiple priorities in a complex, decentralized environment are needed.
• Effective ability to express oneself in all oral and written communications.
• Exhibits good listening and comprehension skills.
• Keeps others informed, as well as responds in a timely manner.
• Responds with tact, diplomacy, respect, and composure when dealing with others.

Working Conditions

• Given the nature of the 24/7 news and issues cycle, this role sometimes requires availability outside of traditional work hours.

Application Documents

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

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

Job Family

Communications

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

Employees must comply with the University's COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected 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.

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