Communications Manager
The University of Chicago

Job Info

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Department

UL Inclusive Economy Lab

About the Department

For generations, government policies and institutional choices have excluded many Americans from opportunities for education, employment, and wealth creation. Ending intergenerational poverty and building an inclusive economy-one that provides real economic opportunities for all communities-requires collaboration across sectors, as well as scientific evidence about what works and what doesn't. Traditional research can take years, and the results often don't reach those who need the information most-the people living with and working on these issues. The University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab solves this by working with policymakers, organizations, and communities to identify their most urgent and pressing challenges, co-generate evidence about what works, and translate that evidence into real policy changes that expand economic opportunity and improve lives.

Founded in 2015, The University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab conducts rigorous research that expands economic opportunity for people harmed by discrimination, disinvestment, and segregation. One of five Urban Labs based at the Harris School of Public Policy, the Inclusive Economy Lab is led by Pritzker Director Marianne Bertrand, Chris P. Dialynas Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the Booth School of Business.

We partner with policymakers, community-based organizations and others to identify their most urgent and pressing challenges, co-generate evidence about what works, and translate findings into policy changes that end intergenerational poverty. By identifying barriers to social mobility and racial equity and highlighting the programs and policies that have the most positive impact, our work creates aims to create greater economic opportunity. We specialize in evaluating programs with the potential to improve lives in four main areas: College and Career Success, Housing Stability, Financial Security, and Quality Jobs.

Job Summary

The Communications Manager works with the Executive Director, Faculty Director, and Leadership Team to craft communications strategies; academia, non-profit and community-based organizations, and other community groups; and identify and implement externally facing opportunities and initiatives to enhance the impact of the Inclusive Economy Lab's work. The Manager has primary responsibility for the external positioning of the Inclusive Economy Lab brand, including having key input on messaging, media relations, non-profit, community, and other partners, as well as management and implementation of the external relations plans for the lab. The Director leads and manages the responsibilities dedicated to external relations and communications work as well as any external resources and is the primary liaison with Harris School of Public Policy and University of Chicago communications, and civic engagement teams.

Responsibilities

• Ensures that external relations strategies are communicated effectively to appropriate stakeholders both inside and outside the organization.
  
• Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with University communications, civic engagement, and federal relations staff in support of the Lab's goals.
  
• Develops and manages a communications budget and oversees a stable of communications freelancers to support and execute on communications plans.
  
• Serves as executive editor for the organization's website, blog, and social media. Ensures consistent voice across internal- and external-facing documents and program descriptions, including project two-pagers, presentation decks. Manages the Lab's external relations calendar and coordinates internal and external newsletters.
  
• Supports the Lab's recruiting and fundraising goals in partnership with the Executive Director, People Operations Manager, Program Directors and University of Chicago Alumni Relations and Development staff. Develops customized donor engagement and recruitment materials, including annual/impact reports and customized thank you materials.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
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Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree.
  

Experience:

• 5-7 years of external relations, public affairs, communications, and/or media experience in the public policy, political, research or non-profit sector.
  

Preferred Competencies

• Ability to engage thoughtfully with issues related to race, identity, and equity and work across difference.
  
• Demonstrated experience working with communities that have experienced segregation and disinvestment.
  
• Experience developing, managing, and improving external relations or communications plans.
  
• Keen understanding of traditional, digital, and social media outlets and their audiences and reach, and the ability to adapt organizations' key messages to those formats.
  
• Strong track record of positioning an organization to achieve tangible outcomes in a competitive communications environment.
  
• Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects with tight deadlines, including flexibly and quickly responding to unanticipated external relations and communications issues.
  
• Superior written and verbal communications skills.
  
• Ability to coach and support senior leaders as spokespersons.
  
• Experience working with electronic databases and communication systems (CMS and MailChimp).
  
• Knowledge of graphic design.
  
• Ability to work a hybrid schedule both virtual and in-person.
  

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

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, 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.

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.

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