Associate Director, University Communications & Media Relations

University of Illinois Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accommodations for applicants

Job summary

University of Illinois Chicago is seeking an Associate Director, University Communications in Chicago to lead media relations, craft press materials, manage crisis communications, and train spokespersons across health sciences and UI Health partnerships. You will coordinate responses, pitch experts, and collaborate across units to elevate university storytelling.

The role requires a strong background in journalism or public relations, plus experience communicating complex medical research to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Media, Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing, Science, or related field.
• Five (5) years of professional experience in media relations, communications, public relations, journalism, or related field, including issues management, crisis communications, and storytelling.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local healthcare laws and regulatory requirements, including privacy and confidentiality standards for healthcare communications.
• Strong written communication skills, including professional experience writing, editing, and proofreading content for internal, external, media, or public audiences.

Responsibilities

• Seek, prepare, write, review, and disseminate media relations and crisis/issues management content.
• Function as key contact for hospital and health sciences colleges, facilitating external news contacts and collaborations.
• Develop and maintain connections with media sources, faculty, staff and students; pitch experts for news stories.
• Advise leadership on media responses and strategies; provide crisis communications support and media training.
• Plan and prepare stories; coordinate with video, design, and digital media teams for multiplatform storytelling.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis communications

Storytelling

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

University of Illinois Chicago is seeking an Associate Director, University Communications in Chicago to lead media relations, craft press materials, manage crisis communications, and train spokespersons across health sciences and UI Health partnerships. You will coordinate responses, pitch experts, and collaborate across units to elevate university storytelling.

The role requires a strong background in journalism or public relations, plus experience communicating complex medical research to