Job Description:

• Collaborates with colleagues to create and execute short- and long-term communications or promotional plans.
• Creates, writes, and edits print materials, website content, social media posts, fact sheets, knowledge articles, and other collateral to support IT projects and strategic initiatives.
• Researches, writes, and edites stories and topic summaries for publishing in University newsletters and websites.
• Researches, writes, and edits announcements designed to keep the University informed regarding important and/or timely IT issues.
• Writes, formats, and sends email communications to targeted mailing lists using the Universityâ™s mass email tool.
• Collaborates with team members and customers to identify intended audiences, goals, and needs, requesting and offering input as appropriate.
• Supports online and in-person meetings by drafting invitations, managing registration lists, and presenting slides.
• Collects, writes, and edits content for IT Services staff announcements and promotes via email and Microsoft Teams.
• Collects, researches, writes, and edits content for reports, summaries, and other executive communications.
• Works with leadership and designers to develop the vision, brand, voice, and tone of each project.
• Guides the Departmentâ™s written and visual communications; coaches team members and other staff to follow brand guidelines and University and IT Services editorial style guidelines.
• Accomplishes assigned duties through two or more of the following: written communications; visual/graphic media, which may include Web site development and maintenance; speeches and personal contact. The incumbent is still acquiring higher-level knowledge and skills.
• Continues to build higher level knowledge of the University, processes and customers.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelorâ™s degree in communications, journalism, or liberal arts field.
• Advanced degree.

Experience:

• Prior experience writing and editing content, including emails, news articles, fact sheets, executive reports, and promotional campaigns within higher education, nonprofit, or information technology organizations.
• Background managing communications projects and efforts including those requiring routine publishing on schedule.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Collaborative online tools such as Microsoft Teams, Box, Zoom, etc.
• Style guides, preferably the Chicago Manual of Style and the Universityâ™s editorial standards.
• Outlook and mass mailing tools, such as MailChimp.

Preferred Competencies

• Exhibit exceptional written and verbal/presentation communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret technical terminology and concepts, and to present information to non-technical audiences.
• Highly accountable, interactive, and responsive to email and online chat as much of the work is done remotely and through video conferencing.
• Exhibit exceptional customer relationship skills and establish effective, collaborative working relationships at all levels of a diverse and distributed organization.
• Interact effectively and respectfully with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students, both in person and online.
• Work under short timelines and frequently changing deadlines to write, edit, and produce communications media.
• Perform duties with minimum supervision with confidence while working concurrently on multiple projects and tasks.
• Problem solver, results driven, and set priorities independently to meet assignments as they are difficult and broad in nature, usually requiring originality and ingenuity.
• Understand and maximize the nuances of different forms of communication.
• Entrepreneurial, enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives.
• Demonstrable skill in website content creation and editing.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

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 the Applicant Inquiry Form.

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: 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.

About University of Chicago (UC)

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