Associate Director for Marketing and Strategic Partnerships

Job Summary:
The Chemistry of Life Processes Institute (CLP) is Northwestern University’s premier transdisciplinary institute using team science to generate and translate high impact biomedical innovations. The Associate Director for Marketing and Strategic Partnerships promotes the groundbreaking scientific discoveries and internationally renowned expertise of our faculty and staff.  The Institute seeks an accomplished communications professional with a demonstrated record of success. We are looking for a highly-motivated and creative communicator – ideally with a background in science or health-related communications – to help promote the work and activities of CLP to diverse audiences. 

Reporting to the Institute’s Senior Director, and serving as an integral member of the senior management team, this position will be responsible for bringing greater visibility to the Institute, its 4 affiliated university research centers and 8 core facilities. The incumbent, will have primary responsibility for building a brand identity around CLP in cooperation with the CLP director, program leadership and other faculty and staff. This responsibility is critical to enhancing our ability to attract and maintain industry partnerships, enhance local and regional economic development, build engagement, elevate the reputation of our scientists, enhance personnel recruiting and retention, inspire donations, and increase funding support by national agencies and foundations. 
Working Conditions: This position will require occasional evening and weekend work. 
Specific Responsibilities: 

• Lead CLP Communications Strategy and Vision
• Design and implement an integrated strategic communications plan to advance CLP’s brand identity; 
• Broaden awareness of CLP programs and priorities; 
• Increase the visibility of CLP programs and accomplishments across key stakeholder audiences; 
• Identify challenges and emerging issues faced by the Institute; 
• Work with leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions, and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them;  
• Identify resources from other administrative units as necessary;
• Define timeframes, key activities/ deliverables and budget, as well as outcomes and metrics that will be used to measure results.
• Provide strategic communication counsel and support to senior leaders including, but not limited to CLP center and core facility faculty directors.
• Work in partnership with leaders to ensure communications achieve desired outcomes.
• Establish an authentic and sustainable brand for CLP and engage members of internal and external communities to help bring the brand to life; 
• Build out local and regional community relations programs in order to further elevate brand and CLP awareness;
• Develop messages, content and materials to support overall communications strategy, as well as key Institute and affiliated centers’ projects and programs. 
• Tailor messages and select channels for use across audiences and to promote message consistency. 
• Connect the mission, goals, priorities, products, programs courses and accomplishments of CLP to the Northwestern University brand as well as both internal and external audiences using various methods of print and/or electronic media. 
• Manage related budgets.
• Implement and Oversee Communications Operations to Achieve Strategic Objectives
• Manage the creation, production and distribution of CLP marketing/ communications collateral for CLP and its Centers and programs (web/landing pages, social media sites, direct mail, email, annual reports, and other distribution channels) from planning and budgeting through design and printing to public release. 
• Manage relationships with associated vendors.  
• Work in collaboration with the University’s Global Marketing office to assure alignment and compliance with university standards. 
• Measure impact of digital marketing via surveys and Google Analytics.
• Oversee and ensure the integration of the brand promise, vision, and position into all forms of marketing and communications. 
• Oversee strategic planning, execution and maintenance of effective communication efforts with units to reinforce and enhance brand awareness.
• Actively engage, cultivate, and manage internal and external press relationships to ensure coverage surrounding CLP programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects. 
• Serve as a spokesperson and lead point person on media interactions that help promote and/or impact the Institute. 
• Prioritize media opportunities, and prepare talking points, speeches, presentations and other supporting material as needed. 
• Partner with NU Global Marketing to increase penetrance of relevant news articles in local and national media outlets.
• Identify and execute community building communications for CLP faculty, staff, and students; 
• Represent CLP communications areas on relevant university-wide committees.
• Develop targeted communications and outreach for external stakeholders, including foundations, corporate partners, and key federal agencies. 
• Collaborate with the CLP program coordinators and other staff regarding special events and VIP tours to provide high quality experiences for visitors. 
• Work with staff to develop content for public displays representing CLP at external events.
• Provide vision and direction to staff regarding communications and outreach.
• Miscellaneous 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree.
• Minimum 6 years’ experience in a communications management role, either in-house or with an agency.
• Demonstrated experience and leadership in managing a comprehensive strategic communications, media relations, and marketing program to advance an organization’s mission and goals.
• Demonstrated experience in communicating with a variety of audiences, e.g., faculty, staff, students, alumni, public.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional team members to ensure information is shared, projects are completed on time, and goals are reached.

Minimum Competencies:

• Skill in evaluating newsworthiness, messages, target audiences and dissemination strategies.
• Ability to present ideas clearly and concisely and create enthusiasm among stakeholders.
• Extensive successful writing and editing experience with a variety of print and online communications media.
• Creative and thoughtful approaches on utilization of new media technologies.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in planning, writing, editing, and production of newsletters, press releases, annual reports, marketing literature, and other print publications and directories
• Innovative thinker, with a track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and output
• Ability to influence and engage indirect reports and peers
• Strong collaboration skills that will enable the candidate to work in consultation with the CLP Executive Advisory Board and CLP administrative team on marketing and branding efforts.
• Self-reliant, good problem solver, results oriented
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with: senior management; CLP faculty, students and staff; CLP’s Executive Advisory Board, and the offices for Alumni Relations & Development, Global Marketing, Foundation Relations, and Corporate Relations.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Eight years in an integrated marketing communications role.
• A strong science background or work experience within a field of science or medicine with a strong communications background.
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with the media.
• Experience interpreting complex scientific research results for diverse audiences of varying levels of scientific understanding.

Preferred Competencies: 

• Knowledge of best practices in message development, storytelling, media relations, graphic design, video, websites, social media, print publications, event planning and use of market research.
• Video production/editing and graphic design skills, including familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud software.
• Effective communication skills, both up and down the management chain.
• Experience managing, maintaining, and updating a public-facing website.
• Experience with market research and data analysis.
• Adherence to journalistic standards for fact-finding, research, verification, and style.
• Experience authoring and executing advertising and outreach campaigns using a variety of platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
• Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with top tier reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements.
• Ability to customize communications to audiences having different levels of comprehension, professional audiences or points of view.

As per Northwestern University policy, this position requires a criminal background check.  Successful applicants will need to submit to a criminal background check prior to employment.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.