Job Description:

• Collaborates with the Executive Director and Director of Communications to elevate and enhance PMEâ™s and the Universityâ™s public reputation through thought leadership and other public relations initiatives, including secured speaking engagements and award submissions, with measurable KPIs aligned with larger communication efforts and university central communications.
• Collaborates with communications and marketing team members to execute against an editorial calendar, generate ideas, and provide additional relevant opportunities for content initiatives.
• Assists in the development and implementation of strategies to advance and support the priorities and programs at PME, including through communications content, media relations and digital strategies.
• Produces written content for deployment across a variety of channels, including news and feature stories, Q&As with leadership, internal messages, public statements, talking points, FAQs, briefings, and press releases, in support of PME priorities and activities.
• Works with MarComm leadership to develop proactive big-picture strategies to engage media, including the development of content packages; works closely with PME central media reps to help tee up content and stories for proactive pitching to media outlets, working collaboratively with central media relations partners to collectively build relationships and execute outreach.
• Along with MarComm leadership, engages regularly and effectively with central media relations partners to ideate, brainstorm, and target journalists and collaboratively shape PME news outreach and coverage, proactively and reactively.
• Liaise with MarComm leadership and faculty on schedules to proactively identify potential media opportunities coinciding with travel and works with central media relations to help action.
• Oversees social media as related to potential outreach strategies, reputation amplification and media interest and opportunities.
• Collaboratively brainstorms social outreach efforts with team to help drive engagement from general audiences, partners, alumni, donors, and media. Provides regular reporting on outreach efforts and other channels as needed to determine the success of initiatives, identify gaps in content, and presents solutions.
• Supports and collaborates on issues and crisis management related to key University and central administration priorities and units, including coordinating, and collaborating with media relations, digital and content colleagues to develop and implement comprehensive and effective strategies around what are often complex academic and operational matters.
• May represent PME on various cross-University/cross-central administration committees, working groups, task forces, etc., charged with advising and leading communications planning and strategy around priority topics or initiatives.
• Works with the Executive Director and Director and the PME development team to identify, vet, develop and disseminate impactful stories externally that articulate the Universityâ™s value proposition and help to engage donors and prospective students.
• Develops one or more of the following marketing functions: marketing communications and advertising, web blogs or other digital marketing, and market research. Reviews and updates marketing infrastructure which may include one or more database systems, the intranet, and external web sites.
• Develops marketing communications, advertising, or publicity strategy. Plans and coordinates the development and production of marketing campaigns, ensuring deadlines and budgets are met. Designs, writes, and edits high profile or high visibility marketing materials, which may include press releases, book jacket copy, blogs, or other Web material.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Degree in English, journalism, communications, marketing, or a related discipline from an accredited institution of higher learning.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in media relations and content development.
• Minimum 5 years of public relations experience in higher education, at a non-profit or marketing and communications agency.
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing media relations strategies with secured placements.
• Establishing contacts and cultivating new media relationships.
• Working cross-functionally within an organization to develop and implement high-impact public relations strategies.
• Writing and editing for media, generating ideas, managing processes, stakeholder input, and content calendars.
• Working with content creators to adapt stories for owned channels.
• Experience in higher education, non-profit, government, or a decentralized organization desired.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficient and functional knowledge of M.S. Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook), along with standard PR measurement tools and analytics.
• Understands media relations cycles and trends to inform external storytelling opportunities.

Preferred Competencies

• Interview, brainstorm, and collaborate, putting quality over quantity and expedience.
• Communications professional with a demonstrated capacity for multi-tasking, with good political judgment, excellent communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving and visioning acumen.
• Solutions-oriented with strong project management skills to effectively manage resources and execute multiple projects on time and within budget.
• Demonstrates an understanding of PMEâ™s overall brand vision, and strategy.
• Consistently identify opportunities for improvement and make recommendations based on analytics and observations.
• Proactively identify challenges and barriers to stated objectives and employ assistance in addressing them.
• Strong collaboration acumen and abilities.
• Demonstration of emotional intelligence and professional maturity.
• Strong communication acumen including written, oral, and listening.
• Innovate, think strategically and conceptually, with experience effectively advising senior leaders.
• Extreme high level of professionalism, discretion, sound and mature judgment, and collegiality.
• Proven success in developing collaborative relationships across diverse constituencies. 
• Strong project management and organizational skills; and manage multiple priorities in a complex, decentralized environment are needed. 
• Effective ability to express oneself in all oral and written communications.
• Exhibits good listening and comprehension skills.
• Keeps others informed, as well as responds in a timely manner.
• Responds with tact, diplomacy, respect, and composure when dealing with others.

Working Conditions

• Given the nature of the 24/7 news and issues cycle, this role sometimes requires availability outside of traditional work hours.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Writing Sample (required)
• Three Professional References Contact Information (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.

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