Director, Communications

Department

BSD SUR - OHNS: Thrity Million Words - Curriculum & Communications

About the Department

The TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health at the University of Chicago develops, tests, and implements evidence-based interventions designed to promote very young children's cognitive and social-emotional development, with a priority placed on that of children living in poverty. TMW Center interventions are designed to be overlaid onto existing health, education, and social service systems working at scale in a given community in order to meet families where they already are. The TMW Center has a robust research and development strategy that includes further development and testing of TMW interventions; harnessing technology to support behavior change, intervention engagement, and analysis; and furthering strategies to engage parents in the TMW Center's interventions across the health, early learning, and social service sectors.

Job Summary

The TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health seeks a Director of Communications. Working in close collaboration with the Co-directors and Center leadership, the seasoned communications professional will develop and implement a high-impact communications strategy in support of the TMW Center. This individual will develop all manner of communications collateral, build and lead the organization's web and social media presence, cultivate opportunities to raise the profile of the Center, its senior leadership and work, and, as needed, handle a variety of special communications projects. Candidate must have excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic communications plan in support of the TMW Center's work to ensure alignment with mission including conceptualizing and creating communications collateral, pitching media outlets, cultivating high-profile speaking engagements, leveraging university resources and professionals, overseeing online and social media presence, and more.

• Create and edit communications collateral including press releases, web and social media content, internal- and external-facing newsletters, feature articles, one-pagers, talks, and other materials.

• Lead ongoing management of TMW Center's website and social media presence including regular content updates, functionality and growth as well as building engagement.

• Oversee content calendar for websites, social media platforms and other forms of regular communication.

• Lead relationship cultivation and pitching to media outlets along with liaison for speaking engagements for Co-Directors and other senior leaders to raise the profile of the TMW Center and its senior leadership.

• Support senior leadership with writing and the creation of visual assets for speaking engagements.

• Collaborate with university communications professionals to facilitate leveraging their resources and partners, including online, print and social media, in support of TMW Center's work.

• Oversee the utilization of tools and methodologies, including Google Analytics, to provide analysis on the performance of website and its social media channels with an eye toward improving engagement efforts.

• Oversee delegation of daily media tracking responsibilities for organization and distribute bi-monthly media and social media briefings.

• Manage incoming requests and inquiries from the public, by owning responsibility for TMW Center contact channels and coordinating responses.

• Assess and respond to incoming media requests.

• Serve as a trusted thought partner to TMW Center Director on questions related to TMW Center priorities, staffing, partnerships, etc.

• Craft project proposals and develop detailed nominations for prestigious research awards.

• Play a leading role in designing user experiences related to the TMW Center's new, tech-based resources for parents and caregivers.

• Oversee external contractors and consultants to develop design collateral and key messaging that aligns with the TMW Center's overall mission and creates a cohesive experience for users of all TMW Center resources.

• Acquire and facilitate user feedback by hosting testing sessions, recruiting test parents and educators, etc.

• Identify, vet, and secure opportunities for the TMW Center and its leadership to engage in important and impactful discussions/activities related to public policy.

• Elevates the public profile of the TMW Center and enhances the Center's reputation as a trusted and innovative leader in the field of early childhood development and education.

• 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

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, public relations, marketing, English, or a related field.

Experience:

• Three or more years of writing and editing for digital and traditional media.

• Demonstrated knowledge of online tools and other metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of digital communications and engagement efforts.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Content management systems and social media platforms.

• Knowledge of desktop publishing, Web authoring/design and graphic design software.

• Video production experience.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills; experience with different types of writing including feature articles, press releases, newsletters, social media content, and other materials.

• Knowledge of grammar, punctuation, spelling and style.

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex concepts and terms into simple, compelling story telling for diverse audiences.

• A high level of energy, ambition, and an orientation to action.

• Outstanding communication and listening skills to effectively serve multiple constituencies across the Center.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

• Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be 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

40

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.

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