Associate Director, Communications

The University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is seeking an Associate Director of Communications within the Office of Advancement. You will manage compelling stories and collateral to engage alumni, donors, and volunteers, and oversee content for the biweekly Booth Briefing newsletter.

You will partner with multiple teams to craft messaging, support fundraising initiatives, and apply thoughtful design to materials while maintaining Booth’s branding and standards.

Qualifications

• Education: college or university degree in related field.
• Work Experience: 5–7 years in a related job discipline.
• Preferred: Degree in communication or marketing; experience in higher education or advancement.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the content slate for the biweekly alumni newsletter, the Booth Briefing, and partners with the marketing vertical to adapt content strategy based on performance metrics.
• Creates engagement and fundraising materials, such as one-page overviews, FAQs, and major gift proposals, with light design support.
• Evaluates opportunities to apply AI tools to improve efficiency while preserving accuracy and a human touch.
• Collaborates with colleagues across the school to develop gift announcements and alumni stories to meet program goals.
• Develops and updates campaign messaging and collateral for websites and one-pagers.
• Edits materials for Advancement partners and supports content and messaging development with Marketing and Communications.

Skills

Exceptional writing

Editorial skills

Adobe InDesign

Canva

Marketing communications

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Degree in communication or marketing

Tools

InDesign

Canva

Job description

Department Booth Advancement: Communications 2

About the DepartmentThe University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges. Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment. Chicago Booth is proud to claim: -an unmatched faculty. -degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents. -a global body of nearly 56,000 accomplished alumni. -strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities. As part of the world-renowned University of Chicago, Chicago Booth shares the University's core values that shape the distinctive intellectual culture. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas - the first business school to achieve this accomplishment. For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/.

Job Summary

As a part of the Communications and Marketing team within Chicago Booth's Office of Advancement, the Associate Director, Communications, is responsible for creating, curating, procuring, and tailoring compelling, impact-focused content to activate, motivate, and inspire the department's core audiences (alumni, donors, volunteers) to engage with and invest in Booth. This position oversees the content slate for the biweekly alumni newsletter, the Booth Briefing. It develops engagement and fundraising collateral, including proposals for major gifts, and provides messaging and creative support for campaign initiatives, as well as Advancement-driven events. It also produces stories about alumni, donors, and volunteers, as well as gift announcements. The Associate Director closely collaborates with Communications and Marketing team members, as well as with many partners from Advancement and Chicago Booth Marketing and Communications.This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the content slate for the biweekly alumni newsletter, the Booth Briefing, and partners with the team's marketing vertical to adapt the newsletter content strategy based on performance metrics.
• Partners with the Senior Associate Director, Communications, to create engagement and fundraising materials, such as one-page overviews, gift and program FAQs, and major gift proposals as requested, and provides light design support for said materials.
• Evaluates and leverages appropriate opportunities to apply AI tools to ensure optimal efficiency in producing selected development collateral, while preserving accuracy, quality, and a human touch.
• Works and communicates with colleagues from across the school to develop and deliver products such as gift announcements and stories about alumni, donors, and volunteers to achieve Advancement and Booth's strategic program goals.
• Partners with the Director, Communications and Marketing, and the Senior Associate Director, Communications, to develop and update campaign messaging and collateral, such as on a website or one-pagers.
• Contributes to messaging development for core Advancement-driven events. This involves the development of a broad range of content and assets, such as event recaps, talking points, and marketing copy.
• Works with the Senior Associate Director, Communications, to edit materials for Advancement partners, as assigned.
• Collaborates with Chicago Booth Marketing and Communications as appropriate to make recommendations and support content and messaging development.
• Practices a standard of communication that is uniform and consistent with the school's branding and priorities.
• Develops, plans, and disseminates information designed to keep the public informed of the organization's programs, accomplishments, or point of view.
• Solves moderate to complex 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.

Work Experience:Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:---Preferred QualificationsEducation:Bachelor's degree.Degree in communication or marketing.Experience:Direct experience in a marketing/communications position or in a related job discipline.Background in higher education or advancement.Technical Skills or Knowledge:Knowledge of and moderate skills in InDesign, Canva, or other graphic design software.

Preferred Competencies

Demonstrated experience working with both internal and external partners.

Skills in navigating a fast-paced, deadline-driven, highly collaborative environment.

Self-motivated and work well with colleagues from across a variety of job functions and levels.

Strong attention to detail and editorial skills.

Flexibility and adaptability to work with new programs in an emerging and changing environment.

Outstanding interpersonal, presentation, and communications skills, characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write well, with a strong commitment to customer service.

Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.

Working Conditions

This position is currently expected to work a hybrid schedule.

Drug Test Required

NoHealth Screen Required

NoMotor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

NoPay Rate TypeSalaryFLSA StatusExempt

Application Documents

Resume/CV (required)Cover Letter (required)

Benefits

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Benefits Eligible Yes

Job Family

Job FamilyCommunicationsRole ImpactIndividual ContributorScheduled Weekly Hours37.5Drug Test RequiredNoHealth Screen RequiredNoMotor Vehicle Record Inquiry RequiredNoPay Rate TypeSalaryFLSA StatusExemptPay Range$74,000.00 - $84,000.00The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, 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. 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.