Advise the University's President and other senior officers on a broad range of internal and external communications, both proactive and reactive.
Drive the development of proactive strategic communications plans on matters of institutional importance; working with deans, faculty, and other University leaders to develop and execute on plans over a sustained period of time while measuring impact and adjusting plans as needed.
Create and cultivate pathways for UChicago expertise to contribute to national conversations, whether in economics, international affairs, the arts, biomedical science, artificial intelligence, and beyond.
Monitor scholarly activities across the University and identify progress, breakthroughs, and achievements to surface through various communications platforms for academic and general audiences.
Lead teams to develop and execute on plans to tell the stories of the University in creative and connected ways so that the stories of the University reach important audiences in different areas, including locally in Chicago.
Engage a variety of external communication tools, evolving strategy, and techniques for the current and future of how society engages with information. Innovate and be willing to try new things.
Authentically champion the distinctive voice of the University of Chicago in ways that are credible internally and externally.
Collaborate with the Office of the President to support opportunities for presidential communications that advance institutional priorities.
Act as a steward of the brand, ensuring consistent application of standards across a complex organization.
Serve as primary leader and advisor on issues management, leading crisis communications, and providing strategic advice and guidance on brand and reputational risk.
Work closely with academic deans and officers to coordinate and integrate communications across the University, including advancement activities, alumni and community engagement, institutional partnerships, and the recruitment of students, faculty, and staff.
Inspire, lead, and
Additional Information
Department
President University Leadership
About the Department
The Office of the President supports the work of President Paul Alivisatos, providing leadership, coordination, and administrative support to strategic initiatives, programs, and activities that advance the mission and eminence of the University of Chicago. The Office also undertakes a broad range of activities that support the ongoing work of the president. Information about the Office of the President is available at this link: https://president.uchicago.edu/about-the-office.
Job Information
Job Summary:
The University of Chicago, a global leader in research and education, seeks a mission-aligned, strategic, and engaged leader to serve as the Chief Communications Officer. This is a critical time for higher education, and this position offers a significant opportunity to be part of a dynamic leadership team that advances the University of Chicago as a premier institution for research and education into the future.
The Chief Communications Officer will serve as the head of communications, leading the University's central communications office and working in collaboration with academic and administrative leaders across the University. Serving as a key member of the President's leadership team and reporting to the President, the Chief Communications Officer will advance the University's mission, values, and principles by providing expertise, strategic guidance, and day-to-day leadership.
The successful candidate will create and cultivate the pathways for the expertise, mission, values, and activities of the University to reach diverse audiences through a variety of engagement tools. Working collaboratively across campus, this leader will navigate different types of engagement internally and externally with authenticity and ambition, bringing forward the best that the University has to offer to important societal conversations.
This search is being led by Heyman Associates . For more information, please contact Stephanie Elmessaoudi and Alexandra Dodge at Uchicago@heymanassociates.com. Confidential review of applications, nominations and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue until filled.