Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Communications & Marketing

• Oversees and directs copywriting, editing, design, layout, and production of all print and video promotional materials, social media, and the University Housing website. Writes, directs, develops, edits, reviews, prioritizes, and publishes a broad-based series of departmental communications to include print materials, multi-media, social media, and web pages for various audiences, including parents, prospective students, residents, and University staff.
• Leads the strategic and operational communications and marketing responsibilities for University Housing. Works with University Housing staff and units to achieve the communication goals set in their action plans and the University Housing strategic plan.
• Establishes comprehensive marketing goals and develops and executes marketing action plans to achieve marketing objectives for both short and long-range strategic, revenue, and occupancy goals.
• Serves as the brand manager for University Housing, maintaining and enforcing departmental graphic and identity standards, editorial style guidelines, and brand compliance protocols in conjunction with University of Illinois Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing.
• Conducts strategic marketing research to determine the demand for services, monitors trends, and identifies the potential need for new services offered by University Housing. Ensures the timely adjustment of marketing strategies and plans to meet changing market and competitive conditions. Makes data driven decisions via strategic assessment (e.g. focus groups, surveys).
• Cultivates and maintains relationships across divisions at the University of Illinois.
• Assists the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Auxiliary Health & Wellbeing and Executive Director of University Housing in researching and drafting talking points, arranging interviews, and maintaining other forms of public contact.

Leadership

• As a member of the Executive Team, contributes significantly to strategic planning, priority project management, and public relations and brand management for University Housing by directing, implementing, and evaluating strategic housing initiatives.
• Provides professional direction to staff members, provides training and offers development opportunities, and conducts annual performance evaluations with on-going supervision for all aspects of the creative team including writing, graphic design, video, photography, social media, search engine optimization, and web analytics.
• Serves as the chief communications officer for University Housing in partnership with the Director of Housing Information & Marketing.
• Engages in and implement University Housing’s inclusion, culture, and climate initiatives.

Operational Communications & Marketing

• Coordinates and manages a portion of the unit’s budget related to communications and marketing initiatives.
• Supports the Director of Housing Information & Marketing and the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Auxiliary Health & Wellbeing and Executive Director of University Housing in media relations by coordinating public relations responses and preparing communications materials.
• Directs crisis communications strategy and messaging. Serves as point of contact for media inquiries. Manages training and participation of University Housing staff in interviews with the press or other external entities.
• Assists in various special projects as assigned by the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Auxiliary, Health & Wellbeing and Executive Director of University Housing or the Director of Housing Information and Marketing for University Housing.
• Represent University Housing and HI&M at outreach events, in meetings or on committees to cultivate positive public relations with campus and community partners.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration, communications, public relations, or a closely related field.
• Five (5) years of professional work experience in marketing, public relations, communications, brand management, or a related professional area.
• Demonstrated experience supervising or managing staff.

(Note: Master’s degree in an area consistent with the duties of the position may be substituted for one (1) year (12 months) of work experience.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Experience in strategic communications and marketing including leading and managing marketing campaigns.
• Experience with copywriting, editing, and digital storytelling.
• Experience managing, mentoring and developing high-performing communications and marketing teams, including coaching, professional development and performance management.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong relationship management skills and ability to work with a variety of senior leaders and partners. Ability to develop strong and effective working relationships with staff, students, residents, families and campus partners.
• Mastery of grammar, punctuation and spelling, a high degree of attention to detail, and error-free, clear, compelling language. A working knowledge of the AP Style Guide.
• Strong communication skills including delivering public presentations.
• Detail-oriented, excellent organizational skills, ability to work independently and as a team, and exercise good judgment.
• Ability to organize, analyze and derive insights from data to inform decisions.
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong technical skills using various types of software applications and databases to increase efficiency.