Assistant Dean for Communications
The University of Chicago

Job Info

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Department

University of Chicago Law School

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.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Dean of the University of Chicago Law School, the Assistant Dean for Communications serves as the senior strategic communications and marketing leader for the Law School. As the senior advisor to the Dean, the school's faculty, and administrative leadership on all communications and marketing matters for the school, the Assistant Dean is a dynamic leader who oversees an integrated function that encompasses institutional brand management, leadership communications, content marketing, digital engagement, media relations, and public affairs. This 5-person Communications team supports the Law School of roughly 680 students, 70 faculty and academics, and 100 staff.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for all aspects of internal and external Law School communications, including marketing, press relations, creative editorial and design services, and internal communications.
  
• Serves as a member of the Dean's senior administrative team, playing a key role in developing the school's strategic plan and serving as the expert on Communications and Marketing.
  
• Leads the development and implementation of short-and long-range strategic communication and marketing plans that build awareness of and advocacy for the school, its mission, and impact among key stakeholders.
  
• Oversees the design and implementation of strategic and tactical communication and marketing plans related to various school announcements and initiatives, working with Law School colleagues, University Communications, and external vendors, to build awareness and support for strategic priorities.
  
• Develops and implements state-of-the-art tools and metrics to track, measure, and optimize the effectiveness of communication and marketing strategies and executed plans.
  
• Supervises communications staff, including hiring and managing independent contractors.
  
• Serves as a senior spokesperson in representing the Law School to external constituents in the social policy, media, and academic spheres.
  
• Stewards the management of the Law School communications channels ensuring they are optimized as part of a modern integrated communications and marketing approach and digital content strategy.
  
• Leads the planning and execution of major strategic announcements and new initiatives.
  
• Directs the content, design and production of all Law School publications, the web page, blogs, social media, podcasting/webcasting, and overall design services.
  
• Develops and implements standards for print and digital media communications.
  
• Establishes databases and other types of storage media to house current and historical communications materials.
  
• Manages the media interface, including writing press releases, planning and organizing media coverage for major events, and responding to requests on sensitive or controversial issues.
  
• Develops and manages the communications budget.
  
• 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 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 in marketing, communications or a related field.
  
• Advanced degree.
  

Experience:

• Supervisory experience.
  
• Experience in higher education or similar setting.
  

Preferred Competencies

• Superb writing and editing experience.
  
• Strategic leadership skills.
  
• Supervisory skills.
  
• Project management skills.
  
• Budget management skills.
  
• Knowledge of English language grammar, punctuation, spelling, and style.
  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  
• Create and deliver presentations.
  
• Develop and manage interpersonal relationships.
  
• Problem-solving skills.
  
• Decision-making skills.
  
• Work effectively and collegially with little supervision or as member of a team.
  
• React effectively, quickly, calmly, and rationally during conflicts and emergencies.
  
• Attention to detail.
  
• Organizational skills.
  
• Exercise absolute discretion regarding confidential matters.
  
• Handle sensitive matters with tact and discretion.
  
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
  
• Knowledge of current trends in information technology and their applications to communication strategies.
  

Working Conditions

• Evening and weekend hours are required for admitted student events, orientation, and other events.
  
• Availability during off-hours is necessary and expected during times of managing emergent issues.
  

Application Documents

• Resume (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

People Manager

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.

This job has expired.