Communications Specialist
The University of Chicago

Job Info

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Department

Crown NCS Development

About the Department

The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, & Practice (Crown Family School) builds upon a legacy of more than a century of scholarship, education and leadership in social work and social welfare, blending a distinctive interdisciplinary tradition with applied problem-solving to foster innovative solutions to some of society's most pressing social problems. For more information about the Crown School, please visit our website at: https://crownschool.uchicago.edu/.

The University of Chicago Crown Family School is the academic home to the Urban Education Institute (UEI), an internationally and nationally renowned institute addressing educational inequality in urban communities by conducting rigorous research, informing evidence-based policies, and implementing innovative practices to promote educational equity and excellence. Within UEI, the Network for College Success (NCS), housed at the UChicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, ensures college readiness and success for all students by translating research into practice and supporting leaders to organize their schools for improvement. NCS provides professional learning and support to school and district leaders, helping them focus on what matters most for high school students. NCS supports adults within and across schools to build their capacity to lead change, improve instruction, and support student transitions in and out of high school. NCS envisions high schools that continuously cultivate collaboration, powerful learning, and a culture of high achievement to ensure postsecondary success for all students.

Job Summary

The Communications Specialist will build out NCS's brand identity and brand awareness at the University of Chicago, in the city, and throughout the nation. With an intentional focus on racial equity, NCS is committed to spreading impact and innovation to a greater number of schools and districts in order to significantly improve student outcomes. This work will require the Specialist to implement a comprehensive NCS Communications Strategy that will broaden the organization's reach. The position will also develop a process for codifying and disseminating promising practices and tools to better serve schools and educators. The Specialist will coordinate and prepare staff to give presentations to interested stakeholders (funders, educators, policymakers, etc.). The Specialist will facilitate a collaborative process with staff and stakeholders, eliciting diverse perspectives and equitable participation, when designing projects and implementing plans. The Communications Specialist will report to the NCS Director of Development and the position is grant funded.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and monitor NCS Communications Strategy with specific goals, tactics, and measurable results.
  
• Ensure consistency of NCS's message and images across all communications platforms, in accordance with UChicago identity guidelines.
  
• Design effective and appealing marketing materials and professional development tools and resources.
  
• Build a high-quality interactive online presence using various platforms that enables policymakers, funders, and other stakeholders to easily access NCS knowledge and work.
  
• Manage relationships with external partners regarding communications, including website development, graphic design, and photo/video.
  
• Develop systems for gathering insights, data, and stories from NCS staff and school partners.
  
• Develop promotional materials as needed for contract/fee-for-service programming locally, regionally, and nationally.
  
• Develop a process to codify promising practices for schools and districts in collaboration with program staff. Codifications may include: case studies, toolkits, blogs, etc.
  
• Plans, develops and disseminates information designed to keep the public informed of the organization's programs, accomplishments, or point of view, with moderate levels of guidance and direction.
  
• Build capacity of other staff members to present research and effective practice.
  
• Create all preparatory materials when presenting at conferences, speaking to interested stakeholders, including the press.
  
• Coordinate and communicate with University of Chicago staff and represent NCS to stakeholders as needed.
  
• Solves a range of straightforward problems, as work assignments are difficult and broad in nature, usually requiring originality and ingenuity.
  
• Continues to build higher level knowledge of the University, processes and customers.
  
• 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 5-7 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 Communication or related field.
  

Work Experience:

• Experience in communications and various tools needed to implement a strategic communications plan.
  
• Experience promoting education and/or nonprofit messaging and programming to a broad audience.
  
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
  
• Experience with crafting editorial content for a newspaper, magazine, blog, media outlets and other external audiences
  
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite and G-Suite.
  
• Experience in creating and posting engaging content for social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
  
• Experience working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, including educators, researchers, media outlets, funders, and University staff.
  

Preferred Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to communicate in a clear and compelling way, both in oral and written English.
  
• Proficiency in Canva, MailChimp, Adobe and other design software.
  
• A relentless commitment to social justice and public school reform in Chicago.
  
• Ability to effectively collaborate and communicate with colleagues, school participants, and partners.
  
• A commitment to ongoing self-reflection, examination of identity and role in systems of oppression, and challenging inequities.
  
• Willingness to participate in ongoing professional development, team, and self-evaluation.
  
• Ability to integrate and effectively utilize technology for professional productivity.
  
• Ability to respond with flexibility to demands and requirements of the project and to effectively prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
  
• Capable of exercising sound judgment, tact, courteousness, reliability, and employing sound decision-making skills.
  
• Ability to adjust to ambiguous circumstances and change.
  
• Disposition towards finding and cultivating joy in the work.
  
• Basic level proficiency in written and oral Spanish preferred.
  

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work schedule, on-site at the Hyde Park campus in Chicago.
  
• Travel to external stakeholder sites as needed.
  

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
  
• Cover letter (required)
  
• References (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

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.

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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