Associate Dean, Communications, Marketing, and Strategic Planning
The University of Chicago

Job Info

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Department

DIV Divinity: Staff

About the Department

The University of Chicago Divinity School is a space and a community dedicated to some of the most important, most exhilarating, and most humbling questions of humanity. The School is animated by two impulses seldom found together: by the critical study of religious traditions, objects, and ideas, and by the implications of those traditions and ideas for how faith might be practiced, life might be lived, and community might be realized. The conjunction of these approaches in a Divinity School situated at the very center of one of the world's great research universities has produced many scholars, teachers, leaders, and ideas that have had a profound effect upon the possibilities for thinking about religion, and thereby a profound effect upon the world. Read more at https://divinity.uchicago.edu/.

Job Summary

The Associate Dean for Communications, Marketing, and Strategic Planning in the Divinity School reports to the Dean of the Divinity School in the areas of internal and external communications, marketing, press relations, and strategic planning and plays a critical role in decision-making and execution of those decisions. The Associate Dean is the chief communicator for the School who uses specialized knowledge, breadth of expertise, vision, and initiative to plan, develop, design, and implement a communications plan that unifies messaging and enhances the visibility and impact of the School.

Responsibilities

• Leads the development and implementation of a comprehensive communications strategy that consistently conveys the Divinity School's mission, distinctive strengths, and strategic priorities to a broad set of constituents. Advises Divinity School leadership and collaborates with central University Communications to unify messaging and enhance the visibility and impact of the School. Leads collaboration and message unification with units across the University to achieve the School's goal to increase our visibility and presence by helping internal and external constituencies better understand and stay informed on the work of the School.
• Leads the development of the communications strategic plan to ensure the Divinity School is a top-of-mind destination and resource for faculty, students, partners, donors, community members, and others interested in learning more about, and contributing to, the academic study of religion. Advises and collaborates with Divinity School leadership to determine and develop the communications priorities of the Divinity School in concert with fundraising, recruitment, program development, and other central activities of the organization.
• Leads the development and implementation of a program of internal communications for the Divinity School with a focus on purpose-driven, multidirectional messaging which taps into larger context and conversation and makes use of opportunities to ground messages into the School's mission, vision, and values.
• Ensures that key constituencies understand the comprehensiveness, uniqueness, and importance of the work of the Divinity School through well-timed and appropriately frequent outreach and communications.
• Crafts the key messages and languages most important to fostering a shared Divinity School identity and purpose and telling its story. Creates a discipline across the school in using those key messages. Coordinates communications activities across areas of the Divinity School.
• Develops, implements, maintains, and regularly reviews sustainable multi-channel vehicles for communicating. Develops and maintains ownership of a comprehensive shared calendar for the Divinity School.
• Collaborates with the Divinity School's Director of Development and with central Alumni Relations and Development staff to contribute to proposals and marketing materials that inspire philanthropy at the highest level in support of the School's strategic initiatives and the priorities of an upcoming comprehensive capital and endowment campaign.
• Manages the internal and external Divinity School online presence by developing content and organizing and updating information on the Divinity School's website and social media channels as well as the University's website and intranet.
• Collaborates with Divinity School leadership, faculty, staff, and students to coordinate publicity of Divinity School conferences and events. Advises organizers on advertising events and coordinates event publicity, including website updates, poster printing, and press releases.
• Collaborates with Divinity School leadership on, and takes the lead on production of, written communications including print and electronic publications, social media, and ad-hoc messaging from the Dean's office.
• Builds, strengthens, and maintains the relationship between the Divinity School and University Communications. Collaborates with University Communications to find creative solutions to the School's communications needs. Represents the Divinity School as a member of the Campus Communicators group.
• Oversees maintenance of the Divinity School's physical and digital archives of photos, publications, and other digital and printed material. Collaborates with colleagues in the University libraries and special collections department on historical archiving of Divinity School materials. Advises Divinity School leadership on, and directs implementation of, updates to the Divinity School's graphic identity according to University branding guidelines.
• Plans, develops, designs, and implements the strategic and tactical marketing plans for the Divinity School. Provides expertise to marketing communications and 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. Makes high-level contributions to the media interface, including planning and organizing media coverage for major events and crafting responses to sensitive or controversial issues.
• 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.
• Makes high-level contributions to the media interface, including writing press releases, planning and organizing media coverage for major events, and crafting responses to sensitive or controversial issues.
• 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.
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Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Writing and editing for traditional and digital media.
• Demonstrated knowledge of online tools and other metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of communications and engagement efforts.
• Experience as part of a team where partnership occurred with other members of the senior leadership team to understand complex issues and propose appropriate recommendations/solutions.
• Strong familiarity with and/or appreciation for an academic setting or research-driven institution.
• Experience with developing and implementing strategic plans.
• Demonstrated record of managing large, complex initiatives with high-impact results.

Preferred Competencies

• Outstanding communication and listening skills. Proven ability to communicate effectively across disciplinary boundaries and to multiple constituencies, including faculty, students, university administrators, and the public.
• Exceptional interpersonal, organization, and communication skills. Ability to work effectively and collaboratively within a senior leadership team, as well as with colleagues within the Divinity School and across the University. Build trust and consensus, and maintain relationships with a diverse range of people.
• Organized self-starter with and orientation to action, self-motivated and work strategically and independently with a high degree of initiative on projects from conception to completion.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, including developing strategic plans against a vision, translating goals into operational objectives, willingly assuming responsibility, and involving others in the execution.
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills; experience with different types of writing including feature articles, press releases, newsletters, social media content, and other materials. Demonstrated ability to translate complex concepts and terms into simple, compelling story telling for diverse audiences.
• Resourceful problem-solver and critical thinker, able to pivot when needed, and proactive in leveraging opportunities and anticipating and averting problems.
• Handle sensitive and confidential situations and information with discretion and tact.
• Successfully manage a workload that balances long-range planning with the unanticipated daily demands of managing publicly visible projects.
• Prioritize and manage multiple and complex projects simultaneously with a high level of professionalism and organization, excellent time management, and attention to detail; establish and meet internal and external deadlines and budget targets.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• High level of professionalism, tactfulness, judgment, and diplomacy.

Working Conditions

• Work is primarily in-person, with a significant majority of time spent working both collaboratively and independently on campus.
• Some nights or weekend hours on campus and/or on video/phone calls.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressing interest in and qualifications for this specific position (required)
• Writing Sample (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

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.

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