Marketing Strategist

Department

ADV Marketing Strategies

About the Department

The Advancement Office engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. Advancement raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

Marketing and Communications partners with colleagues within Advancement and across the University to advance ambitious goals in fundraising and constituent engagement. The marketing and communications team produces several print and electronic publications, creates donor-facing propositions for both individuals and large audiences, and will be a key partner in creating and executing the upcoming campaign’s messaging, creative approach, and positioning.

Job Summary

The Marketing Strategist supports the planning, development, and implementation of marketing initiatives for a variety of departmental programs, campaigns, and events. Working as part of the marketing strategy team and in collaboration with campus partners and colleagues across Advancement, this role assists in executing integrated marketing plans that strengthen the University of Chicago’s brand, engage alumni, and advance philanthropic goals.

The Marketing Strategist contributes to market research, campaign execution, and performance tracking, ensuring that marketing efforts are audience-focused, on-brand, and results-oriented. This position also plays an active role in ideation, project coordination, and maintaining marketing tools and resources. By supporting both strategic planning and day-to-day marketing operations, the Marketing Strategist helps enhance the effectiveness and reach of Advancement’s marketing and communications efforts. This role designs and develops marketing plans for a department, program, product or business with moderate guidance and direction from others. Coordinates and evaluates the production of marketing communication and research programs, using existing procedures to solve routine problems that may arise.

Responsibilities

• Supports the development and execution of integrated marketing strategies in collaboration with cross-functional teams, including communications, design, media, social media, web, annual giving, and alumni volunteer engagement, to advance organizational goals and engage target audiences.
• Assists in creating marketing plans for various initiatives, ensuring alignment with project objectives, brand guidelines, and audience needs, while incorporating feedback from senior team members.
• Contributes to market and audience research, gathering insights on trends, industry developments, and competitor activities to inform campaign planning.
• Helps track and analyze marketing performance data, preparing reports and recommendations for optimization in partnership with senior staff.
• Coordinates timelines, deliverables, and resources across multiple projects to ensure deadlines are met and campaigns launch successfully.
• Works closely with internal teams and external partners to execute marketing tactics, such as digital campaigns, print collateral, email communications, and event promotions.
• Participates in content creation and updates for marketing channels, which may include email, websites, social media, and other digital platforms.
• Maintains marketing tools and infrastructure, including databases, digital asset libraries, and project management systems.
• May participate in developing new products and services and determining new markets. May attend trade shows as needed.
• Assists with the planning and promotion of events, programs, and initiatives, ensuring consistent messaging and brand representation.
• May assist managing relationships with external sales agencies.
• Seeks opportunities for professional growth by attending webinars, trainings, and networking events within the University and with peer institutions.
• Develops marketing communications, advertising, or publicity materials with a moderate level of guidance from others. Develops, plans, and coordinates the development and production of marketing and publicity materials and campaigns, ensuring deadlines and budgets are met.
• Performs one or more of the following marketing functions: marketing communications /advertising; Web blogs or digital marketing; market research; development or review and update of the marketing infrastructure and management of external sales agency relationships.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

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

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree.

Experience:

• Minimum two years of professional experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar field.
• Background with data analysis and communicating complex topics to non-technical people.
• Managing cross-team projects.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to Advancement, including Phoenix, the University's Donor Relationship Management System.
• Proficient in Microsoft Windows computer environment, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

Preferred Competencies

• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively. Explain complex ideas clearly and simply.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Self-motivated and take initiative.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressed to the Hiring Committee (preferred)

Job Family

Communications

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$63,750.00 - $75,000.00

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 the Benefits 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.

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