Director of Marketing & Strategic Communications

Chicago, IL (On-site)

$125K/yr – $135K/yrDirector/Executive7+ years expFull time

Posted 2 days ago

Job Summary

Owns the end-to-end marketing and strategic communications program for the Chicago Forum, leading integrated campaigns, brand governance, audience segmentation, content delivery, stakeholder partnerships, crisis communications, donor materials, and editorial strategy while guiding a multidisciplinary team.

  • Own integrated marketing campaigns across multiple platforms
  • Lead development of strategy, brand identity, and cross-functional collaboration

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • - Develop and lead integrated marketing campaigns and engagement initiatives to build brand awareness and advance the Forum’s mission across multiple platforms.
  • - Design and implement a comprehensive annual marketing strategy, ensuring consistent messaging and high-quality execution across all channels.
  • - Craft and uphold a unified brand identity—establishing visual identity, tone, and positioning for the Chicago Forum.
  • - Create and manage audience segmentation strategies to deliver personalized and relevant communications throughout the engagement lifecycle.
  • - Oversee the production and delivery of impactful content, including video, audio, and written materials, tailored for diverse audiences.
  • - Cultivate and maintain strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including University of Chicago marketing and communications teams.
  • - Lead the development and execution of crisis communication protocols and response strategies.
  • - Guide preparation of donor communications and promotional materials, including the annual report.
  • - Direct editorial strategy to promote content in all medium generated within and beyond the University, amplifying the Forum’s thought leadership.
  • - Supervise, mentor, and inspire a team that includes the Digital Marketing & Communications Manager as well as professional and student employees.

Requirements

  • Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
  • Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
  • ---

Preferred

  • 2 years in a senior leadership marketing role.
  • Demonstrated success developing and executing integrated marketing and engagement strategies.
  • Proven success in communications and/or public relations.
  • Demonstrated experience managing crisis communications.
  • Extensive experience in campaign strategy, public relations, and team leadership.
  • Track record of managing communications and marketing teams in academic or mission-driven environments.
  • Technical Skills or Knowledge: Proficiency in marketing automation and CRM platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo, Salesforce Marketing Cloud).
  • Familiarity with website management (e.g. Drupal or similar).
  • Strong familiarity with business social media platforms and analytics tools (Google Analytics, Facebook Analytics).
  • Preferred Competencies: Effective advisor to senior leadership; strong executive presence.

Benefits

  • The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
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University of Chicago

One of the world’s great intellectual destinations, the University of Chicago empowers scholars and students to ask tough questions, cross disciplinary boundaries, and challenge conventional thinking to enrich human life around the globe. http://www.uchicago.edu/about/

Chicago, Illinois, USA
18K employees (570 in marketing)

Salaries

Posted range

$125K/yr – $135K/yr

Taken straight from the job posting.

See all University of Chicago salaries

Funding

Total Funding
$203.6M
Last Raise
$4M
Grant, 6 months ago

Funding History

  • Sep 2025
    Grant • $4M
  • Oct 2024
    Grant
  • Jun 2024
    Grant • $1.8M

Traffic Signals

Monthly Visitors
8.6M
Monthly Google Ads Budget
$590.1K
Traffic Source Mix
Search
47.7%
Direct
41.5%
Referral
9.4%
Social
0.7%
Paid
0.4%

Headcount Trend

Current headcount: ~17.9K

Recent News

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Director of Marketing & Strategic Communications

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · On-site