Director of Marketing and Communications

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) School of Public Health (SPH) is seeking a dynamic and innovative professional to fill the role of Director of Marketing and Communications. This position provides leadership and oversight for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a strategic communications, marketing, and public relations program that will strengthen the reputation, brand, and identity of the SPH in the state, region, and nation among its constituents. Potential targets for the communications and marketing activities include current and prospective students, faculty, staff, external partners, and the general public. This includes creating communication tools, mechanisms and strategies to enhance and increase student and faculty recruitment and public relations. Work closely with international, national, regional and local media, as well as campus and university Marketing and Public Relations staff to promote the School of Public Health's strengths in teaching, research, clinical practice, public service and economic development, while ensuring that privacy and disclosure laws affecting stakeholders are followed.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Formulate and develop a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy and plan, providing ongoing, consistent and coordinated communications support for recruitment and public relations.
• Work with the Marketing Associate to generate and oversee the SPH website and social media content, identifying strategies and best practices for increasing traffic and engaging targeted audiences.
• Coordinate, create, write and edit publications, web, social media and multimedia content, and marketing materials for student and faculty recruitment.
• Ensure quality and consistency of messages and appearance through a variety of channels including: e-communications, web strategies, social media and student and faculty recruitment materials.
• Oversee the development and distribution of the School’s premier annual print and electronic publication, Healthviews.
• Responsible for publicity and public relations to build brand recognition and increase student enrollment, and general public recognition and good will. Develop and coordinate principal media strategy and tactics.
• Review and analyze SEO and Google Analytics data to inform marketing strategy and present and distribute reports upon request.
• Develop new ideas and initiatives to recognize and promote the work of UIC SPH faculty, students and staff.
• Serve as the primary source of information on college accomplishments, awards and research activities. Identify and publicize events or activities that are newsworthy to key audiences, including current and prospective students, Illinois citizens, elected officials, visitors and international and national public health colleagues.
• Develop and maintain media relations. Work with campus units and researchers in planning news coverage of events so that external and internal publicity goals can be met. Host press conferences for events that require media coverage. Conduct and/or coordinate media training for SPH leadership and faculty.
• Research and publicize news supporting the SPH’s mission and teaching, research and practice objectives.
• Establish and maintain ongoing relationships with local, national, and international public health communication outlets, as well as faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners to identify and execute opportunities for reputation building.
• Serve as spokesperson for the SPH in collaboration with the Office of the Dean and the University's Office of University Communications.
• Serve as the college liaison with the Offices of Strategic Marketing and Communications and University Communications to ensure the coordination and consistency of messaging and content.
• Research advertising placement and rates and coordinate/create content. Research, coordinate and purchase web and media monitoring, research, and distribution services.
• Coordinate with city and county local health departments on major communication projects related to respective health atlases.
• Oversee and coordinate the relationships between the college and freelance and/or contractual writers, designers, photographers and other vendors as appropriate.
• Develop, implement, and regularly communicate clear policies, procedures, channels and best practices for disseminating content and executing marketing strategy.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Marketing, English, Political Science or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in communications, marketing, branding, public relations or a related field.
• Excellent journalistic writing, communication, presentation, organization and computer skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including: Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel, along with other related software such as Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and other design platforms. Proficiency in video conferencing software such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
• Knowledge of the various techniques for successfully disseminating information to the public and targeted audiences through various channels of communication including: print, website management, email and social media.
• Demonstrated experience with social media management.
• Experience in editing and analyzing the materials prepared by others to ensure they are consistent in communicating the organization’s message.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience with dynamic multimedia content production and editing techniques.
• Prior experience in a large complex higher education or health care organization.
• FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) training.
• Management of staff and leadership skills.

Application Process: Applicants must submit an online application using the link provided below. Please upload a cover letter, resume and contact information for three references. For fullest consideration, all requested information must be submitted by April 1, 2024.  

Application Link: https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/8841?c=uic

UIC SPH is one of 16 colleges at UIC, and part of the 7-college health sciences campus. For more than 50 years, the school has prepared public health practitioners, researchers, academic faculty, policymakers, and activists. The UIC SPH is organized into four academic divisions: Community Health Sciences, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Health Policy and Administration. The School was recently reaccredited through 2030 by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH) for its seven public health degree programs, including the BA and BS in public health, MPH, MS, MHA, PhD, and DrPH in Leadership. SPH also offers 7 joint or dual MPH degrees, an MD/MS in Clinical and Translational Science, and an MD/PhD dual degree. UIC SPH is the only public health school in Illinois that is fully accredited by CEPH.

UIC SPH was ranked 17th in the 2023 national ranking by the U.S. News & World Report. The student body of approximately 900 students is diverse, with a demographic profile of individuals who self-identify as 18% Hispanic/Latinx, 14% as Black/African American, 17% as Asian, and 3.8% as multi-race, reflecting UIC SPH’s commitment to inclusion and diversity. 
 
Located in one of the world’s greatest cities, the UIC, is located just west of Chicago’s loop, integrated into historic residential neighborhoods and the urban environment. UIC is Chicago’s largest university and its only public research institution. Its 16 academic colleges serve nearly 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation, and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI), and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). 

UIC is also among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, designated as a Carnegie RU/VH research institution. During fiscal year 2023, UIC received $509 million in research funding, with almost three-quarters of the funding coming from federal sources, including $202 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). UIC SPH received the second most research funding of all UIC colleges, with $54 million in funding fiscal year 2023. Nearly $38.9 million of that funding came from federal sources, primarily the NIH. 

The University of Illinois Chicago is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity and is particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.