Assistant Director - Storytelling and Content Strategy - Strategic Marketing & Communications

The Assistant Director is part of the Storytelling and Content Strategy team within UIC''s central communications unit, Strategic Marketing and Communications (SMC), and is responsible for finding, developing and promoting great stories about UIC, its programs and its students, faculty, staff and alumni. Story development includes all steps from inception to distribution, including discovery, ideation, conducting interviews, writing, fact-checking and proofing, coordinating with the Creative Communications team for photography and video shoots, preparing stories for publication, and developing plans for dissemination and promotion. The position will primarily cover student and academic stories, representing UIC''s 16 colleges and schools, for today.uic.edu, UIC''s news website, and will help to promote the stories to key UIC audiences, including current students, prospective students, faculty, community/business leaders, alumni and donors.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Uncover, write, publish and promote stories and content aligned with team content strategies and university priorities to drive awareness, interest and engagement among targeted audiences.
• Collaborate with multimedia producers on audio and video components of stories, helping to set vision, interview subjects and provide feedback as needed.
• Develop and maintain relationships with deans, college communicators, advancement and alumni relations, key faculty and administrators, and other contacts to mine and produce distinct and interesting content. Work with partners to cross promote stories on college and unit specific channels.
• Participate in weekly content meetings and represent SMC and Storytelling and Content Strategy teams in campus or project meetings as needed.
• Contribute to strategic content and editorial planning, ensuring campus stories are adequately covered and optimized for impact among audiences.
• Participate in social media brainstorming sessions and ideate/draft social-friendly content for sharing stories.
• Collaborate with all teams of Strategic Marketing and Communications to expand the reach and influence of UIC stories
• Evaluate and assess content and content packaging for diverse audiences.
• Evaluate and assess content for SEO, GEO and AIO best practices.
• Regularly review website content for accuracy and relevance.
• Contribute to copy writing, fact-checking and proofing for marketing collateral, talking points, scripts and other various communication materials as needed.
• Performs other duties as they emerge in an ever-evolving communications and marketing landscape.