Assistant Director, Communications

UChicago Medicine; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

UChicago Medicine, a world-class academic healthcare system, seeks an Assistant Director of Communications for Operational and Internal Communications. Hybrid role based in the greater Chicagoland area.

The role leads enterprise internal communications, develops strategic plans, and collaborates with operational leaders to enhance readiness and workforce engagement across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• BA or BS in communications, English, journalism, or related field.
• Eight to ten years of internal/organizational communications experience.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and editorial judgment for executive and employee audiences.
• Experience with enterprise platforms (SharePoint, Teams) and analytics.
• Experience managing freelancers, vendors, or external partners.
• Graphic design basics using Canva or Adobe Creative Suite.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute communication strategies supporting priorities and change management.
• Advise leaders on messaging, audience, timing, and channels.
• Plan for major initiatives to ensure communications are integrated early.
• Oversee internal channels, publications, and editorial calendars (newsletters, leader communications, intranet).
• Write and edit executive communications and high-impact content.
• Establish governance, workflows, and publication processes across the enterprise.
• Coordinate freelancers, vendors, and cross-functional projects to ensure timely, high-quality execution.
• Monitor engagement metrics and identify improvement opportunities.
• Develop scalable tools, templates, and best practices for the department.

Skills

Editor/writer

Project management

Strategic thinking

Communication consulting

Editorial governance

Analytics familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, English, marketing, or related field

Tools

SharePoint

Microsoft Teams

Canva

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Join a world-class academic healthcare system, UChicago Medicine, as an Assistant Director, Communications for our Operational and Internal Comms department. This position is hybrid, and you will need to be based in the greater Chicagoland area.

The Assistant Director, Communications serves as a key operational lead for UChicago Medicine's Internal & Operational Communications function. Working closely with the Director of Operational & Internal Communications, this position develops and executes communication strategies that support organizational priorities, operational readiness, workforce engagement, and strategic change across UChicago Medicine and the Biological Sciences Division.

This role oversees enterprise communication channels, editorial operations, communication governance, and publication workflows while serving as a trusted communications consultant to operational leaders. The Assistant Director combines strategic thinking with exceptional writing, editing, and project management skills to deliver timely, high-quality communications and continuously improve how information is shared across the enterprise.

Essential Job Functions

• Partner with the Director, COO's Office, and enterprise leaders to develop and execute communication strategies supporting organizational priorities, operational initiatives, and change management efforts.
• Serve as an internal communications consultant, advising leaders on messaging, audience, timing, and the most effective communication channels.
• Participate in planning for major operational and organizational initiatives to ensure communications are integrated early and support organizational readiness.
• Lead the day-to-day management of enterprise internal communication channels, publications, and editorial calendars, including employee newsletters, leader communications, physician communications, digital monitors, and employee intranet.
• Serve as one of the department's primary writers and editors, developing executive communications, operational updates, FAQs, talking points, newsletters, and other high-impact content.
• Ensure communications consistently reflect strong editorial judgment, clarity, accessibility, and organizational priorities.
• Help establish and maintain communication governance, standards, workflows, and publication processes that improve consistency, coordination, and effectiveness across the enterprise.
• Manage communication calendars, distribution processes, and publication schedules while recommending appropriate channels and communication strategies in partnership with the Director.
• Coordinate freelancers, vendors, and cross-functional communication projects to ensure timely, high-quality execution.
• Monitor communication performance and engagement metrics to evaluate effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Help develop scalable tools, templates, and best practices that strengthen the department's communication infrastructure.
• Serve as a key operational partner and backup to the Director for selected departmental responsibilities.

Required Qualifications

• BA or BS in communications, English, journalism, or related field
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, English, marketing, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience
• Eight to ten years of progressively responsible experience managing internal, organizational, or corporate communications
• Demonstrated success developing and executing communication strategies in a large, complex, highly matrixed organization
• Exceptional writing, editing, and editorial judgment, including experience developing communications for executive and employee audiences
• Proven ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines
• Experience supporting organizational change, operational initiatives, or enterprise-wide communication programs
• Experience in healthcare, academic medicine, higher education, or another similarly complex organization
• Journalism experience or demonstrated newsroom-style writing, reporting, and editing skills
• Experience managing internal communication channels, editorial calendars, and communication governance
• Working knowledge of enterprise communication platforms (e.g., SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, or similar technologies) and familiarity with communication analytics
• Experience managing freelancers, vendors, or external partners
• Basic graphic design experience using Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar tools

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in healthcare, academic medicine, higher education, or another similarly complex organization
• Journalism experience or demonstrated newsroom-style writing, reporting, and editing skills
• Experience managing internal communication channels, editorial calendars, and communication governance
• Working knowledge of enterprise communication platforms (e.g., SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, or similar technologies) and familiarity with communication analytics
• Experience managing freelancers, vendors, or external partners
• Basic graphic design experience using Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar tools

Position Details

• Job Type / FTE: Full Time (1.0 FTE)
• Shift: Days
• Job Location: Hyde Park
• Unit/Department: Operational and Internal Comms – Hyde Park
• CBA Code: Non-Union

• Min Salary 125,100
• Max Salary 146,000

About Us

We’ve been at the forefront of medicine since 1899. We provide superior healthcare with compassion, always mindful that each patient is a person, an individual. To accomplish this, we need employees with passion, talent and commitment with patients and with each other. We’re in this together: working to advance medical innovation, serve the health needs of the community, and move our collective knowledge forward. If you’d like to add enriching human life to your profile, UChicago Medicine is for you. Here at the forefront, we’re doing work that really matters. Join us. Bring your passion.

UChicago Medicine is growing; discover how you can be a part of this pursuit of excellence at: UChicago Medicine Career Opportunities

UChicago Medicine is an equal opportunity employer.We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status and other legally protected characteristics.

As a condition of employment, all employees are required to complete a pre-employment physical, background check, drug screening, and comply with the flu vaccination requirements prior to hire. Medical and religious exemptions will be considered for flu vaccination consistent with applicable law.

Compensation & Benefits Overview

UChicago Medicine is committed to transparency in compensation and benefits.The pay range provided reflects the anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position.

The pay range is based on a full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) and is reflective of current market data, reviewed on an annual basis. Compensation offered at the time of hire will vary based on candidate qualifications and experience and organizational considerations, such as internal equity. Pay ranges for employees subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements are negotiated by the medical center and their respective union.

Review the full complement of benefit options for eligible roles at Benefits - UChicago Medicine.