Department
Harris School Communications and Events
About the Department
Why policy? For a better world. Why Harris Public Policy? Because when it comes to better policymaking, evidence matters. We work at the frontiers of data collection and analysis, using the latest technology and social science methods to design policies that work for society. We conduct rigorous inquiry in an environment of innovation and risk taking, fearlessly questioning the status quo. We collaborate across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, adopting new methodologies to drive better solutions. We engage with our city, our world, and our leaders every day to evaluate and test our ideas. And we lead with our passion for driving social change, knowing that passion alone does not equal impact. With passion and precision, we figure out what’s best for society—and get it done. This is Harris Public Policy: Social impact, down to a science.
Job Summary
The Director of Marketing will serve as the strategic and creative leader responsible for guiding and implementing a dynamic, multi-platform marketing strategy that enhances the visibility, reach, and reputation the Harris School of Public Policy. Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean of Communications and Marketing, the Director will oversee a high-performing marketing team and external vendors, manage core digital platforms, and lead school-wide marketing initiatives that support brand-building and visibility, student recruitment, and fundraising goals.
This role requires both strategic thinking and hands-on implementation, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and accountability. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned marketer with a strong foundation in digital marketing, campaign management, brand strategy, and analytics, capable of guiding the organization’s marketing evolution while managing day-to-day priorities with excellence.
Responsibilities
- Develops and implements integrated marketing strategies across digital, print, and multimedia platforms to support institutional visibility, enrollment, and advancement.
- Oversees and manages the organization’s web and email platforms, including content strategy, user experience, SEO, accessibility, and performance analytics.
- Leads the execution of multi-channel campaigns using HubSpot and other CRM tools, including automated drip/nurture journeys, segmentation, and ROI tracking.
- Ensures a cohesive brand identity across all marketing materials, internal units, and external vendors through governance, training, and resources.
- Produces and oversees high-quality marketing content, including web pages, digital ads, email campaigns, print material (brochures, banners, swag, etc.), social media, photography, and videos.
- Serves as day-to-day marketing liaison to internal stakeholders, ensuring projects align with institutional goals and audience needs.
- Partners with faculty, staff, students, and alumni to elevate storytelling and enhance marketing reach.
- Tracks budgets, performance data, and campaign metrics to evaluate success and inform future strategies.
- Manages vendor relationships, including agencies, designers, developers, and freelance creatives.
- Leads, mentors, and develops a high-performing marketing team, fostering creativity, collaboration, and accountability.
- Supervises staff in product planning activities, prioritizing product opportunities to maximize sales and profits.
- May assist in designing and implementing strategic and tactical marketing plans for a department or program. May monitor and evaluate marketing communication and research programs.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, public policy, or a related field.
Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in marketing, with at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.
- Developing and executing integrated marketing campaigns in complex, mission-driven organizations.
- Higher education experience a plus.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
- Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, HTML/CSS, and marketing analytics platforms.
- Familiarity with accessibility standards, copyright/privacy regulations, and digital governance best practices.
- Deep knowledge of digital marketing platforms including HubSpot, Google Analytics 4, SEO/SEM, social media ad platforms, such as Meta, LinkedIn, etc., and CRM tools such as Salesforce or Slate, and CMS tools including Drupal or WordPress.
- Comfortable interpreting and communicating data, including developing dashboards and KPIs.
Preferred Competencies
- Strategic mindset with the ability to develop and execute data-driven marketing plans.
- Exceptional writing and editorial skills across formats and audiences.
- Strong visual and design sensibility with familiarity in design platforms and asset development.
- Demonstrated success managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
- Collaborative and solutions-oriented; thrive in fast-paced, team-based environments.
- Lead with influence and drive cross-functional alignment.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter (preferred)
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Communications
Role Impact
People Manager
Scheduled Weekly Hours
37.5
Drug Test Required
No
Health Screen Required
No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No
Pay Rate Type
Salary
FLSA Status
Exempt
Pay Range
$92,000.00 - $102,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in theBenefits Guidebook.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
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.
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.
The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.
