Associate Director, Digital Marketing and Communications

GENERAL SUMMARY: As a member of the Polsky Center’s Marketing and Communications team, the Associate Director, Digital Marketing and Communications is responsible for driving digital strategy and bringing external awareness to the Polsky Center’s programs, startups, and mission. The position employs a range of marketing strategies—leveraging new and existing technologies—to achieve the Center’s goals for events and programs across a range of audiences. This includes University of Chicago alumni, students, faculty, staff, community-based entrepreneurs, and external partners. The role collaborates closely with the Chicago Booth Entrepreneurial Programs team, the Polsky Deep Tech Ventures team, the Polsky Exchange, the Polsky Science and Technology Commercialization team, and other University of Chicago communicators across campus.

Important components of this position include executing best-in-class digital marketing communications, leveraging data and analytics to drive event and program goals, raising general awareness of the Polsky Center, and achieving larger business goals. This position will also collaborate with the team to develop dynamic visuals, print materials, and any other communications necessary to bring the Polsky Center brand to life consistently across various channels.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Email Marketing (30%)

• Manage and deploy Polsky Center email marketing campaigns and audience-based newsletters related to specific programs, events, and other offerings (MailChimp and internal listservs)
• Monitor performance and key metrics to continuously improve messaging, engagement, and targeting to improve outcomes, such as open rates, click-through rates, etc.
• Coordinate with other campus communicators, ecosystem partners, and others to ensure key information is included in external marketing campaigns
• Champion new digital marketing initiatives to increase audience size for various newsletters

Social Media Marketing (30%)

• Maintain the Polsky Center’s social media channels, including LinkedIn, X, and Instagram
• Recommend, design, and execute various social media campaigns, including paid advertising, to support event registrations, audience development, awareness and engagement, sales and marketing, and other activities
• Coordinate real-time coverage for both virtual and in-person events and programs, including photography and video as needed

Website Management (30%)

• Maintain the Polsky Center’s website (WordPress) in collaboration with external vendors
• Work with program managers to ensure timely updates to program pages, event calendars, and registration pages

Other (10%)

• Maintain brand consistency, including visual identity and voice, across all communications
• Help lead workshops and trainings for Polsky staff, faculty, startup teams, and other constituents who want to increase the effectiveness of their social media marketing efforts or who want to build a stronger company or personal presence on social media
• Create PowerPoints for the Polsky Center and play an active role in managing the Polsky Marketing Toolkit, ensuring participation and usage across the organization, and equipping team members with the most relevant talking points, slides, and presentations
• Propose and develop new strategies for Polsky Center’s storytelling, including innovative ways to create and promote podcast episodes, original content, infographics, and other thought leadership across a variety of channels
• Be a willing resource to support ad hoc requests related to programs, events, and non-marketing Polsky Center projects, as needed

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

1. Bachelor's degree required
2. A minimum of three years of public relations, marketing, sales, journalism, digital storytelling, website management, or social media experience required
3. Experience representing a brand via social channels, including LinkedIn, X, and Instagram required
4. Experience creating and overseeing paid social media advertising campaigns for targeted audiences, with an understanding of targeting, split testing, and different ad formats preferred
5. Prior experience working with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or other graphic design programs preferred
6. Experience with digital storytelling such as podcasts and willingness to adopt new technologies for digital marketing success preferred
7. Photography and video experience preferred
8. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) required
9. Excellent written and verbal communication skills required
10. Resourcefulness, creativity, detail orientation, and the ability to work independently required
11. Ability to effectively multi-task under deadlines and ask questions required
12. Ability to work effectively and collaboratively across all levels of the organization required
13. Demonstrated excellent customer service skills required
14. Willingness to take on additional duties, as assigned, required
15. Understanding of the Polsky Center’s programs, resources, mission, and goals preferred
16. Ability to travel between Hyde Park locations, downtown Chicago, and flexibility to occasionally work late or start early for the Polsky Center events required

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information, please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination. Academic job seekers in need of reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5671 or email ACOppAdministrator@uchicago.edu with their request. Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-834-1841 or email talentacquisition@uchicago.edu with their request.