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.

Minimum Qualifications

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