at University of Chicago
Job Description
DepartmentLaw Communications
About the Department
The University of Chicago Law School occupies a unique niche among this country's premier law schools. Located on a residential campus in one of America's great cities, UChicago Law offers a rigorous and interdisciplinary professional education that blends the study of law with the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. Students, faculty, and staff form a small, tightly knit community devoted to the life of the mind. The University of Chicago Law School is seeking an Associate Director of Content to join its Communications Office. The Communications Office manages all communications of the Law School, including materials for the Admissions office, Student Affairs, External Affairs, and the Office of Career Services, as well as numerous faculty projects and conferences and work for student groups. The Office works with the entire Law School community to lead communication projects, and to manage them successfully to completion.
Job Summary
The Associate Director of Content is the primary architect of the Law School's content strategy for all internal clients and geared towards all audiences. This role is a key participant in developing branding and messaging for the Law School, and a primary content creator for print and web projects to support all facets of the Law School's mission. Managing projects for all types of communications materials (both print and electronic), the Associate Director of Content works with other members of the Communications Office, including the Manager of Digital Communications, to provide excellent customer service to all parts of the Law School requiring assistance with print and electronic communications.
Responsibilities
- Builds and executes long term communications strategy with faculty and staff to promote the Law School projects and individual faculty work.
- Reads faculty materials and attends workshops and conferences to support the creation of communications content.
- Writes stories for the Law School alumni magazine and development publications, admissions projects, and other publications.
- Seeks out, researches, and writes stories and content for the Law School website.
- Drafts letters and other materials for the Dean and External Affairs.
- Plans and creates original content for major media announcements.
- Supervises content creators, including but not limited to, in-house writers, student writers, interns, and freelancers to create a cohesive content structure and style.
- Collaborates with the Manager of Digital Communications to produce audio, video, and social media content.
- Manages communications calendar across print and digital platforms.
- Assesses new platforms and methods of communication and, where desirable, integrates them into communications plan.
- Develops and enforces style guides and tone of voice for Law School.
- Stays current with University communications-related developments.
- Facilitates communications needs of school constituent groups such as student organizations and alumni groups.
- Assists with special projects such as memorials, visual displays, and historical research.
- Makes contributions to the media interface, including writing press releases, planning and organizing media coverage for major events, and crafting responses to sensitive or controversial issues.
- Develops, plans, and disseminates information designed to keep the public informed of the organization's programs, accomplishments, or point of view.
- 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 Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications or a related field strongly preferred.
Experience:
- Experience in higher education or similar setting strongly preferred.
Preferred Competencies
- Ability to independently lead projects through design, writing, and printing process.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Ability to work effectively and collegially with little supervision or as member of a team.
- Ability to react effectively, quickly, calmly, and rationally during conflicts and emergencies.
- Strong attention to detail and editorial skills.
- Ability to handle sensitive matters with tact and discretion.
- Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
Working Conditions
- This position is available for partially remote work based on business needs of the Law School.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter (required)
When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe 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
Employees must comply with the University's COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward.
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 identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected 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 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 (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.
