Associate Director of Internal Communications and Change Management

About the Department

The Strategic Initiatives team is located within the Office of the CFO in the Finance and Administrative Division. The team aims to ensure the Division is strategically and organizationally equipped to provide outstanding service to the University's mission, vision, and distinctive strengths. We deliver this outcome through ongoing operational support, continuous improvement and managing projects or strategic initiatives.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Finance and Administration (F&A) Division Chief of Staff, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the University’s Office of Communications Executive Director of Communications Strategy, the Associate Director of Internal Communication and Change Management (Associate Director) is responsible for developing and implementing internal communications and change management campaigns for the F&A Division Office and Departments. The role serves as the key liaison with the central University’s Office of Communications. The Associate Director’s core responsibility is to improve effective communication between the service areas within F&A and with the internal campus community. This position will develop and implement internal communications strategies and programs within each service area that improve sharing of information. These communication strategies support the strategic and operational goals of the F&A division. The Associate Director will work to promote a culture of collaboration across all F&A service areas and, as appropriate, work in partnership with other campus units.

Responsibilities
  • Collaborates with Finance and Administration (F&A) Division leadership to develop communications strategies that embody the Division’s core values and aligns communication responsibilities to meet the organization’s operational goals.
  • Provides ongoing communications and change management advisory services to F&A Division leadership to ensure internal messaging is focused, consistent, and aligned to overall University priorities and standards of communication.
  • Creates sustainable multi-channel vehicles for communicating the full spectrum of programs and services offered by F&A in support of the University departments, divisions, and schools; helps frame and distribute important announcements and updates.
  • Cultivates partnerships with the University’s Office of Communications, colleague organizations on campus, and external partners.
  • Manages strategic communications planning, execution (i.e., timeline and goals development and measurement), and resource allocation for the service areas within F&A and manages approval processes for communications strategies and materials with University Communications leadership.
  • Serves as a primary source of content development for materials, such as briefing documents, talking points, brochures, FAQs, fact sheets, and web site content where appropriate to the success of operational and strategic initiatives.
  • Oversees the development and coordination of communication and change management project activities as needed related to F&A technology, organization, policy, and processes enhancements.
  • Measures and monitors the ongoing effectiveness of communication and change management strategies through qualitative and quantitative measures.
  • Works collaboratively with the F&A Chief of Staff in the design and development of materials and content for meetings and presentations to a variety of audiences.
  • Assists in the research, compilation and preparation of background materials on various strategic topics as requested for review, discussion and/or presentation to University senior leadership.
  • Serves as primary support for the planning and execution of major events hosted by the Office of the CFO and provides advisory and project management support for events hosted by units within Finance and Administration.
  • Serves as the major source of content, information design, and structure of F&A web presence, including accurate links to other departments and administrative resources and act as liaison to other University departments to ensure Finance and Administration information is current.
  • Acts as a strategist or project lead to plan, develop and disseminate information designed to keep the public informed of the organization's programs, accomplishments, or point of view.
  • Solves complex and unique problems related to the writing, preparation, and/or delivery of information from or about the unit.
  • Performs other related work as needed.


Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:


Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:


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Preferred Qualifications

Education:
  • Bachelor's degree.


Experience:
  • A minimum of 7+ years of experience preferred in communications, marketing or related field with demonstrated negotiating and influencing skills.
  • Experience in planning and executing in-person, hybrid, and remote programming events.
  • Experience in higher education industry highly preferred.


Technical Skills or Knowledge:
  • Knowledge of Finance, Procurement, Human Resources, and/or Information Technology functions strongly desired.
  • Experience with Sitecore or related content management systems.


Preferred Competencies
  • Translate complex concepts into easily understood messages that target specific audiences’ need and/or perspective.
  • Acute business acumen and understanding of organizational issues and challenges.
  • Outstanding written, verbal, and visual presentation skills.
  • Manage individual and team assignments to deliver a defined outcome.
  • Strong project management and communication skills with experience presenting recommendations to senior management.
  • Expertise effectively managing work and/or excising influence across a matrix and decentralized environment.
  • Experience supporting projects from conception through successful conclusion in a communication or change management role.
  • Flexible and adaptable; able to work in ambiguous situations.
  • Proven success working with senior leadership teams.


Application Documents
  • Resume/CV (required)
  • Cover Letter (preferred)
  • References Contact Information (3)(required)


When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of 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.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.