Senior Communications Specialist

Department

ESA Deputy Director - Direct Reports 2

About the Department

Career Advancement serves a student population of approximately 7,000 arts and sciences undergraduate students, in addition to alumni who have graduated within the last five years. Career Advancement plays a vital role in ensuring our students’ success after graduation. Career Advancement offers innovative and comprehensive career development services with a focus on pre-professional preparation, experiential education, and opportunities. Through career advising, programs, and comprehensive resources, Career Advancement supports undergraduate students and alumni as they develop the skills necessary to manage their career development, while working with alumni and employers to provide students with meaningful opportunities. For more information, please visit the Career Advancement website at careeradvancement.uchicago.edu.

Job Summary

The Senior Communications Specialist, Career Advancement will independently lead strategy to create content to keep both internal and external audiences informed of UChicago students’ career success and the University’s leadership in career services. This team member will leverage best practices and deep knowledge of the University to serve as the lead copywriter for the department and contribute to communications across a variety of platforms, including e-mail, print, web, and social media.

The Senior Communications Specialist will work closely with senior leadership and campus partners to recommend best practices to advance strategic goals and ensure a consistent editorial voice across all departmental communications. This position requires creative storytelling skills and the ability to communicate effectively across a range of channels with a highly diverse audiences, including undergraduate students, alumni, parents, staff, and employers. The ideal candidate will be an energetic individual contributor with a record of success in complex and collaborative fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Independently develops strategy for original content for career-related communications, including, memos, agendas, newsletters, web content, presentations, and general email outreach.
• Provides communications support for senior leadership team, recommending best practices to advance strategic goals and solve complex communications challenges.
• Oversees content for 190+ page department website, careeradvancement.uchicago.edu.
• Reviews and edits communications drafted by colleagues, ensuring a consistent brand and voice across the Department.
• Serves as Department liaison with key partner offices, including College Admissions and College Communications.
• Trains new staff on communications best practices.
• Manages University of Chicago Career Advancement LinkedIn account.
• Advises undergraduate students on professional resumes, cover letters, interview preparation, graduate school applications, and general career guidance.
• Supports University fundraising efforts by contributing content on career programs to donor proposals and other communications.
• Acts as a strategist or project lead to plan, develop and disseminate information designed to keep the public informed of the organization's programs, accomplishments, or point of view.
• Solves complex and unique problems related to the writing, preparation, and/or delivery of information from or about the unit.
• 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Expertise in copywriting and editing developed through professional experiences.
• Working in a higher education setting, preferably in strategic communications.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficient with Contentful or a similar web content management system.
• Skilled with LinkedIn or similar social media platforms.
• Familiarity with the University of Chicago.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated initiative, and work both independently and collaboratively, with flexibility and adaptability.
• Deep commitment to customer service, prioritize and balance different work streams,