Director of Communications

Director Of CommunicationsThe Director of Communications leads efforts to highlight groundbreaking research, partnerships, and educational programs in data science and AI, expanding the visibility of the Data Science Institute (DSI) and continuing to develop the brand and reputation of the Institute. Reporting to the Senior Director of Partnerships and Chief of Staff, the Director of Communications oversees the development and optimization of internal and external communication mechanisms and infrastructure within DSI to improve capabilities and brand alignment across a variety of programs, events, initiatives, and teams. Executes a strategic plan that incorporates all DSI programming and ensures goals align across distinct areas.Responsibilities include managing DSI's communications staff, leading the continued development of the DSI brand and messaging, overseeing the DSI website, driving strategy and content creation for DSI's channels, providing communications trainings for DSI staff and researchers, creating communications plans for internal and external announcements, crafting internal and external messages on behalf of the Faculty Directors and Executive Director, writing articles and releases as needed, creating and cultivating pathways for UChicago expertise in data science and AI to contribute to national conversations, building communications plans for research initiatives and graduate programs, coordinating with counterparts to achieve consensus for major news releases, analyzing data to assess the effectiveness of communication strategies and developing plans for improvement, assisting the program directors with marketing of graduate programs through the development of campaigns and creation of collateral to ensure brand alignment, serving as project manager for other communications projects, hiring and managing contractors as needed, assisting in the creation and promotion of campaigns that cultivate an environment of belonging for DSI constituents, collaborating with University's central media relations and news teams to disseminate information designed to keep the public informed and maximize outreach efforts, making high-level contributions to the media interface, solving complex and unique problems related to the writing, preparation, and/or delivery of information from or about the unit, developing the writing, preparation, and/or delivery of information from or about the unit, providing leadership and supervision of communications staff, and performing other related work as needed.Minimum qualifications include a college or university degree in a related field and 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline. Preferred qualifications include a graduate degree in a related field, experience working in higher education or data science organizations, experience working with researchers, experience with public relations, journalism, marketing, content marketing, digital storytelling, website management, and/or social media, experience with developing recruitment marketing strategies to enhance student enrollment, experience with strategic planning, strong computer skills including knowledge of email distribution software, Adobe Creative Suite and/or similar applications, advanced skills in WordPress, Google Analytics or similar platforms; CSS/HTML a plus, experience using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint, an understanding of and passion for data science and AI, ability to develop strategic communications for a large organization, excellent written and spoken communications skills (including knowledge of correct English usage, Chicago and AP style guides), effective strategic professional who can clearly communicate complex issues to a variety of audiences, ability to handle confidential information with discretion, organized self-starter, able to work strategically and independently, effective bridge-builder, able to work across communities, ability to successfully manage a workload that balances long-range planning with the unanticipated daily demands of managing publicly visible projects, must be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment, demonstrated success in building collaborative relationships with diverse constituencies, able to work with a diverse workforce in a complex decentralized environment, exceptional organizational skills, a resourceful problem-solver and critical thinker, able to be proactive in leveraging opportunities and anticipating and averting problems.