Senior Communications Associate

Department

EPIC – Communications

About the Department

The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) produces data-driven research that advances society’s understanding of the global energy challenge and translates research insights into real-world impacts through strategic outreach and training for the next generation of global energy leaders. EPIC acts as an interdisciplinary hub for energy and environmental research across the University of Chicago. Combining the insights of economists, policy analysts, and business experts with the technical expertise of engineers and scientists, EPIC’s faculty affiliates work together to bring robust, cross-cutting research to the forefront of the global energy debate.

Job Summary

The Senior Communications Associate will play a central role in executing the Institute’s communications, student engagement, and digital strategy. This work will include leading communications efforts around student engagement, advancing the rapidly expanding digital portfolio of the Institute and its associated programs, and strategically expanding multiple stakeholder and media lists to better target and increase the reach of the Institute’s communications efforts and programming. The Senior Communications Associate will be a self-starter who is able to balance competing priorities.

The Senior Communications Associate will report to the Senior Director of Communications and External Engagement and work closely with the Communications and Digital Marketing and Campus Engagement Managers. The Communications Associate will join a passionate team at an exciting moment of significant growth and development for the Institute.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes communications strategies that support student engagement, in coordination with the Campus Engagement Manager. These activities include maintaining the student and alumni web portals, managing a weekly student newsletter and monthly newsletter highlighting the Institute’s student activities, and writing news stories about students/fellows and their classes and activities, as well as spotlights on alumni.
• Maintains digital communications efforts for the Institute, in coordination with the Communications and Digital Marketing Manager. These activities include managing multiple Institute-run websites, composing and executing social media campaigns, maintaining daily social media activities across the Institute, conducting strategic social media mapping for direct messaging and advertising campaigns, and creating email marketing campaigns to promote Institute research and programming.
• Manages Chicago-based promotion for programming. This includes managing promotional efforts across various mediums, engaging key student groups and other organizations on and off campus, and capturing real-time content for digital applications.
• Conducts strategic stakeholder and media mapping in preparation for new programming or research, with the goal of properly targeting and engaging the most appropriate audiences. This includes a specific focus on developing regional stakeholder and media lists in key countries relevant to the Institute’s strategic goals and those of its associated programs. Maintains robust stakeholder and media lists.
• Manages large mailings of reports and other collaterals, coordinating efforts across the team and with outside vendors to streamline contacts, print materials, and execute the mailing.
• Creates a content calendar and writes news stories and other content under tight deadlines. This includes profiles of researchers and other initiatives.
• Monitors, tracks, and reports on media coverage of the Institute’s scholars and issues of topical interest. Manages daily news digests.
• Monitors the online presence (websites and social media) of associated schools and centers, as well as the University of Chicago’s news pages, for climate-related updates that would be appropriate for cross-promotion.
• Records and monitors monthly analytics for the Institute’s websites, social media, and email marketing accounts. Reports to the communications team with relevant data to inform strategies.
• 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.
• Solves a range of straightforward problems, as work assignments are difficult and broad in nature, usually requiring originality and ingenuity.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in a related field.

Work Experience:

• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

• None required.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field.

Experience:

• Three to five years of experience working in a communications role.
• Managing websites, email marketing, and social media accounts in a professional capacity, as well as maintaining stakeholder/media lists.
• Agency experience highly valued.
• Experience or interest in media relations.
• Background in energy/environmental issues strongly desired and encouraged to apply.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and web-based communication methods and tools such as MailChimp, WordPress, and Google Analytics or similar platforms.

Preferred Competencies

• Knowledge of current trends and best practices in digital engagement and their applications to communication strategies, including through web, email, and social media.
• Some knowledge of working with reporters and within the media landscape.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, working both independently with initiative and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to manage and prioritize diverse job tasks, perform effectively in a fast-paced environment, and meet deadlines in a timely manner while maintaining professionalism and product quality.
• Excellent organizational skills, flexibility, and attention to detail.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)
• Three Professional References Contact Information (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

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 employer 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 the 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 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.