Senior Assistant Director, Development Communications

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Chicago is seeking a skilled writer to create a variety of communications for medicine and biological sciences development. The role involves researching, composing, and editing high-level materials with complex subject matter for donors and stakeholders.

Under moderate guidance, you will manage timelines and coordinate with cross-functional teams to produce proposals, reports, and publications. A bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, or communications is preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• 2–5 years of work experience in a related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Writes fundraising materials for diverse audiences including donors and foundations.
• Researches, composes, and edits high-level communications and reports.
• Manages timelines and coordinates with MBSD teams on design and content.
• Assists with planning and execution of communications strategies.
• Monitors deliverables such as letters, briefings, reports, and proposals.
• Supports internal meetings and donor visits to advance prospect strategy.
• Verifies content accuracy and adheres to established guidelines.

Skills

Excellent writing

Editing and proofreading

Project coordination

Research and fact checking

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism, English, communications or a relevant field

Job description

Department

BSD DEV - Individual Giving - NOCO

About the Department

Medicine and Biological Sciences Development’s mission is to inspire and facilitate philanthropy at the University of Chicago Medicine by building relationships with those who share its goals of advancing excellence in research, education, community, and patient care. We accomplish this mission through expertise, integrity, creativity, and collaboration.

Job Summary

This position writes a variety of communications for the University. Works with moderate guidance to research, compose, and edit high-level communications, publications and/or reports with complex and specialized subject matter.

Responsibilities

• Writes a broad spectrum of fundraising materials created for a specific audience such as a prospective donor, family foundation, corporation, or volunteer solicitor.
• Takes comprehensive responsibility for the materials such as, but not limited to: building a persuasive case for each written piece; considering the specific audience; identifying influential facts or statistics; fact checking; and establishing, monitoring, and executing a timeline.
• Responsible for written materials and projects such as proposals; correspondence that includes acknowledgement letters; cultivation visits/meetings; stewardship reports; Power Point presentations; and conceptualization of a stewardship meeting.
• Project manages the team’s activity and implements tactical next steps to ensure goals and objectives are met. As such, closely monitors team activity and anticipates and tracks deliverables, including letters, briefings, reports, presentations, and proposals.
• Facilitates internal meetings and fundraiser visits with donors and prospective donors to advance prospect strategy.
• Researches, writes, and edits a variety of communications, publications and/or reports.
• Writes analytic, interpretive, or highly individualized features utilizing personal subject matter expertise.
• Determines, researches, verifies, writes and edits content material.
• Coordinates efforts and collaborates with other teams at MBSD such as Communications, including graphic design and the Senior Writers; Protocol; Events; Strategic Research and Analysis.
• Under supervision, may assist with writing and/or editing technical/scientific material for manuals or journals.
• From time to time, may be asked to take on a project that requires project management or analytical skills. Examples include budget analysis and prospect portfolio analysis.
• Researches, verifies, writes and edits publications, which can include technical/scientific material for manuals or journals.
• Participates in the design and planning of communications strategies.
• 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 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications

—

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in journalism, English, communications or a relevant field.

Experience

• Background in a university setting or a similarly complex institution.
• Familiar with writing in a scientific field or a complex subject material.
• Background in a large or complex organization or subject matter.

Preferred Competencies

• Proven expertise taking complicated information from various sources and synthesizing it to identify and clarify key issues and opportunities, as well as developing a compelling message.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Manage multiple details while adhering to a broader concept or purpose.
• Understand finance and quantitative documents.
• Capacity for identifying and evaluating basic issues, for bringing together information from a variety of sources, and for selecting appropriate analytical and creative approaches in dealing with immediate responsibilities.

Working Conditions

• Office environment.
• Hybrid schedule, 3 days in-office, 2 days remote.

Job Family

Communications

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$70,000.00 - $90,000.00

The 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.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

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 Benefits Guidebook.

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.

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.

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.