5 months ago
Communications Manager, Client Services & External Affairs - Hybrid Chicago Loop Office
NORC at the University of Chicago
Chicago, IL (Hybrid)Full time$98K/yr – $120K/yr
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Communications Manager, Client Services & External Affairs - Hybrid Chicago Loop Office
Chicago, IL (Hybrid)
$98K/yr – $120K/yrMid Level5+ years expFull time
Posted 5 months ago
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Job Summary
NORC's external affairs leadership focuses on media strategy, crisis support, and thoughtful use of AI to enhance communications. The role requires a bachelor's degree and 5+ years in communications, with strong writing, project management, and media-relations skills. Collaboration and alignment with NORC’s nonpartisan, mission-driven research are emphasized.
Job Description
Responsibilities
- Lead NORC’s external affairs work as the primary media contact by developing and executing an ongoing media strategy; triaging and coordinating responses to inbound media inquiries; and supporting staff who will be speaking to media.
- Provide crisis communications and reputation/risk support to help protect NORC’s brand as an objective, nonpartisan research organization.
- Draft, edit, and distribute press releases and other external-facing media materials, applying strong editorial judgment to ensure accuracy, plain language, and alignment with NORC’s brand voice and editorial standards before release.
- Maintain External Affairs systems and infrastructure by managing NORC’s PR firm; monitoring the media landscape and identifying opportunities; building media relationships; developing and refining media lists; supporting thought leadership efforts; and producing monthly media reports and timely media alerts for senior leadership and key stakeholders.
- Project manage select external-facing corporate initiatives and client-funded projects (particularly those with a media component) by supporting intake and requirements gathering, contributing to dissemination planning, coordinating resources, and using project management tools to track timelines, owners, progress, and communications from kickoff through completion.
- Use AI tools thoughtfully and strategically to enhance media backgrounders, writing and planning, and press list generation, while maintaining human quality control and accountability.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, English, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- At least 5 years of relevant communications, PR, marketing, or agency experience (including internships).
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, solve problems, and coordinate cross-functional stakeholders (including senior leaders) to meet deadlines and handle shifting priorities.
- Experience handling media relations, press outreach, and/or reputation communications with strong judgment and discretion.
- Strong writing and editing skills, especially for press releases, spokesperson support materials, and executive-ready messaging.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including clear, professional communication and a strong client-service mindset.
- Team-oriented approach and commitment to a collaborative work environment, both virtually and in person.
- High attention to detail, especially for accuracy, formatting consistency, and alignment with NORC’s visual brand and messaging standards.
- Experience in media monitoring, media list development, and coverage reporting tools (MuckRack or similar).
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint).
Preferred
- Experience in a project management platform (Wrike or similar).
- Familiarity with SharePoint and Microsoft Teams.
- Interest in and commitment to social science research and mission-driven work.
- Comfort using AI tools (such as ChatGPT or Claude) to support writing and planning, with strong editorial judgment.
Benefits
- This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC’s comprehensive benefits program.
- Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment
- Dental and vision insurance
- A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program
- Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance
- Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- NORC publishes salary ranges and benefit information for every job. The listed hiring range reflects what we, in good faith, expect to pay at the time of posting, though actual compensation may vary and may be adjusted over time. A candidate’s placement within the range depends on factors such as competencies, education, qualifications, experience, skills, performance, and organizational needs.
- This role is bonus eligible. Bonus payment is contingent upon program terms and individual performance.
NORC at the University of Chicago
Together, We Find Evidence for a Better World.NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, nonpartisan research organization that partners with government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world to inform the critical decisions facing society.For more than 80 years, NORC has used proven methods and pioneered new techniques to study the broad spectrum of human experience. We have explored the structural and personal factors that contribute to health and well-being, examined how we best learn at different stages of development, and how education systems contribute to positive and negative outcomes.NORC has charted the nature of employment and work and created deep knowledge about the state of the national economy and our relationship with money and income. We have helped governments around the world design, implement, and evaluate programs to improve the human condition. And we have probed the heart of the American psyche to understand the sometimes-conflicting views that will shape the future of the country.We now look to the future in a context of accelerating change within the industry, growing amounts and types of data, dramatic technological shifts, a dynamic population, and a growing and diversifying set of players in the research and data industries. In this environment, we must chart a course of evolutionary yet bold change that will build upon our traditional strengths to ensure our relevance, impact, and long-term sustainability.
Traffic Signals
Monthly Visitors
172.4K
Monthly Google Ads Budget
$42
Traffic Source Mix
Search
42.9%
Direct
47.3%
Referral
7.8%
Social
1.3%
Paid
0.5%
Headcount Trend
Current headcount: ~2.3K
Marketing Team
Marketing Team Size
57 (2% of company)