Associate Director, Development Communications - The College
The University of Chicago

Job Info

---

Department

ARD College Development

About the Department

Alumni Relations & Development (ARD) engages alumni (~190k), current students, parents and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. ARD raises $550 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute. The College Development team advances philanthropic partnerships with key alumni, parents and friends of the College to support the educational goals of its undergraduates. This includes support for financial aid and the Odyssey Scholarship Program, teaching and research, career development, housing, athletics, and international study. This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Job Summary

The Associate Director, Development Communications, will be a senior development writer and key collaborator for the College team in engaging philanthropic prospects and stewarding donors through effective storytelling that conveys the motivations for giving and its impact. The position will research and articulate programs that are College and University fundraising priorities; they will portray key programs, concepts, and academic initiatives in a credible and accessible style.

This position will serve as College Development's primary liaison to the communications teams for ARD and the College and will manage all collaboration between those teams. In addition, this person will be responsible for decanal communications, capturing the distinctive voice of the Dean of the College in remarks and correspondence, and ensuring all development communications align with the Dean's voice and the strategic goals of the College and University.

Responsibilities

• Researches and writes high level campaign materials, compelling proposals, and other fundraising communications for prospective donors to the College.
  
• Serves as a leader in helping to articulate the College's key fundraising priorities.
  
• Serves as the primary liaison for the College team with ARD's communications team.
  
• Possesses an ability to capture the distinctive voice of the Dean of the College in remarks and correspondence and ensures all development communications align with the Dean's voice and the strategic goals of the College and University.
  
• Writes customized acknowledgment and stewardship correspondence signed by the Dean of the College.
  
• Drafts congratulatory greetings, condolence letters, and other special fundraising communications, including donor-focused high-level gift and administrative announcements, from the Dean of the College.
  
• Crafts and assists in creating templates for decanal outreach to be used in donor outreach.
  
• Collaborates with team, University relationship managers, and other staff to draft individualized decanal thank you letters to donors.
  
• Develops and maintains cordial relationships with College leadership and colleagues, in particular working closely with colleagues in the College's Academic Affairs and Communications offices.
  
• Maintains and updates the Dean's style manual and advises on decanal style to others wishing to draft letters for the Dean's signature.
  
• Fulfills other writing, copy-editing, proofreading and editorial duties for the College team as needed.
  
• Manages multiple projects simultaneously and keeps a comprehensive plan of all work in progress.
  
• Seek opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including attending webinars, seminars, building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
  
• Determines, researches, verifies, writes and edits publications, which often includes technical/scientific material for manuals or journals.
  
• Uses broad knowledge of writing to write in-depth pieces relating to specialized field (e.g. scientific writing).
  
• Designs and plans communications strategies.
  
• Performs other related work as needed.
  

Minimum Qualifications

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

---

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree.
  
• Advanced degree.
  

Experience:

• Minimum five years nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, research, communications, public relations or similar work experience.
  
• Relevant professional work experience in writing and editing.
  

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, including the University's donor relationship management system and the Microsoft Office Suite.
  
• Experienced writer who has prepared a variety of high-level communications for an executive or senior leader, including, for example remarks, communications, and correspondence.
  

Preferred Competencies

• Applicants must have superb writing skills, excellent attention to detail, and a commitment to accuracy.
  
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
  
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
  
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
  
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
  
• Self-motivation and the ability to take initiative.
  
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
  

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
  
• Standard office environment.
  
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
  
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
  
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.
  

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
  
• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)
  

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.

This job has expired.