The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) produces data-driven research that advances society’s understanding of the global energy challenge and translates research insights into real-world impacts through strategic outreach and training for the next generation of global energy leaders.

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Focus: Mitigation or Adaptation

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Driving global energy solutions through research, outreach, and training for future energy leaders.

The Communications Specialist, Climate Systems Engineering initiative, will manage communications channels, messaging, and the daily execution of the communications strategy for the Climate Systems Engineering initiative. This work includes managing campaign launches of new research; maintaining digital presence through web, social and email marketing; creating content and materials (reports, promotional materials, newsletter); and, acting as CSEi’s central liaison to the communications team of the climate and energy Institute that the CSEi will be part of. Climate systems engineering is a new and controversial field, requiring a deft hand in crafting accurate, accessible information that resonates with a range of viewpoints. Designing communications campaigns for the CSEi will require nuanced strategy, writing and content production flair, strong organizational skills, and digital savvy. The Communications Specialist, CSEi, will report to the Executive Director of the Climate Systems Engineering initiative, with dotted line reporting to the Senior Director of Communications and External Engagement at the climate and energy Institute. The position will work closely with CSEi staff, faculty (including CSEi Director David Keith), and consultants, as well as with the Institute’s communications team, and teams at central University Communications and partners across campus. The role will collaborate with and have access to the resources of the Institute communications team, including its designers, media relations, digital marketing, social media, and web mangers. The Communications Specialist will join a passionate team at an exciting moment of significant growth and development for the CSEi, the Institute, and the nascent field of climate systems engineering.Responsibilities<ul><li>Writes content and drafts news stories under tight deadlines, including writing profiles of researchers and other programming.</li><li>Manages campaign launches for the release of new research, in coordination with the Institute communications team and communications staff in relevant schools and divisions. This includes writing research summaries, news releases, social media campaigns, and other content to promote CSEi research.</li><li>Maintains daily digital communications for CSEi. This includes drafting social media and email marketing campaigns, as well as content showcasing the latest research, news, and events for CSEi’s website.</li><li>Coordinates CSEi media relations, including developing and maintaining media lists and creating pitch materials, as well as monitoring, tracking, and reporting on media activities and coverage.</li><li>Develops strategies to build CSEi stakeholder engagement, including, but not limited to, conducting stakeholder mapping, and maintaining lists.</li><li>Manages the promotion and assists in execution of programs, including overseeing the creation and distribution of advertising materials, assisting in carrying out programs, and creating content to summarize programs.</li><li>Records and monitors analytics for the CSEi website, social media, and email marketing accounts, and shares relevant data with the Institute communications team to inform and coordinate strategies.</li><li>Develops, plans, and disseminates information designed to keep the public informed of the organization's programs, accomplishments, or point of view.</li><li>Solves moderate to complex problems related to the writing, preparation, and/or delivery of information from or about the unit.</li><li>Performs other related work as needed.</li></ul> Minimum Qualifications &nbsp;Education:Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.--- Work Experience:Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.--- Certifications:---Preferred QualificationsEducation:<ul><li>Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing or a related field.</li></ul>Experience:<ul><li>Five to seven years of experience working in a communications or science writing role.</li><li>Highly experienced in writing about complex climate, science, and/or technology issues, including research.</li><li>Managing websites, email marketing and social media accounts in a professional capacity, as well as maintaining stakeholder/media lists.</li><li>Experience or interest in media relations.</li></ul>Technical Skills or Knowledge:<ul><li>Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and web-based communication methods and tools such as MailChimp, Hubspot, WordPress, and Google Analytics (or similar platforms).</li><li>Knowledge of best practices in digital engagement and their applications to communication strategies, including through web, email, and social media.</li><li>Knowledge of working with reporters and within the media landscape.</li><li>Knowledge of climate/environmental research, policy, and issues.</li></ul>Preferred Competencies<ul><li>Strong writer who can digest and translate complex subjects for a general audience.</li><li>Exceptional interpersonal skills and work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.</li><li>Manage and prioritize diverse job tasks, perform effectively in a fast-paced environment, and meet deadlines in a timely manner while maintaining professionalism and product quality.</li><li>Excellent organizational skills, flexibility, and attention to detail. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>

Communications Specialist, Climate Systems Engineering initiative

Job Summary
The Senior Communications Associate will play a central role in executing the Institute&rsquo;s communications and digital strategy. This work will include advancing the rapidly expanding digital portfolio of the Institute and its associated programs and expanding its stakeholder reach.&nbsp;
Responsibilities
<ul>
<li>Maintains digital communications efforts for the Institute, in coordination with the Communications and Digital Marketing Manager. These activities include managing multiple Institute-run websites; composing and executing social media campaigns and maintaining daily social media activities across the Institute; conducting strategic social media mapping for direct messaging and advertising campaigns; and creating email marketing campaigns to promote Institute research and programming.</li>
<li>Conducts strategic stakeholder and media mapping in preparation for new programming or research with the goal of properly targeting and engaging the most appropriate audiences. This includes a specific focus on developing regional stakeholder and media lists in key countries relevant to the Institute&rsquo;s strategic goals and those of its associated programs. Maintains robust stakeholder and media lists.</li>
<li>Manages large mailings of reports and other collaterals, which involves coordinating efforts across the team and with outside vendors to streamline contacts, print materials, and execute the mailing.</li>
<li>Creates a content calendar and writes news stories and other content under tight deadlines.&nbsp;&nbsp;This includes profiles of researchers and other initiatives.</li>
<li>Monitors, tracks and reports on media coverage of the Institute&rsquo;s scholars and issues of topical interest. Manages daily news digests.</li>
<li>Records and monitors monthly analytics for the Institute&rsquo;s websites, social media and email marketing accounts. Reports to the communications team with relevant data to inform strategies.</li>
</ul>
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
<ul>
<li>Bachelor&rsquo;s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing or a related field.</li>
</ul>
Experience:
<ul>
<li>Three to five years of experience working in a communications role.</li>
<li>Managing websites, email marketing and social media accounts in a professional capacity, as well as maintaining stakeholder/media lists.</li>
<li>Agency experience highly valued.</li>
<li>Experience or interest in media relations.</li>
<li>Background in energy/environmental issues strongly desired and encouraged to apply.</li>
</ul>
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
<ul>
<li>Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and web-based communication methods and tools such as MailChimp, WordPress, and Google Analytics or similar platforms.</li>
</ul>
Preferred Competencies
<ul>
<li>Knowledge of current trends and best practices in digital engagement and their applications to communication strategies, including through web, email and social media.</li>
<li>Some knowledge in working with reporters and within the media landscape.</li>
<li>Exceptional interpersonal skills, and work both independently with initiative and collaboratively as part of a team.</li>
<li>Manage and prioritize diverse job tasks, perform effectively in a fast-paced environment, and meet deadlines in a timely manner while maintaining professionalism and product quality.</li>
<li>Excellent organizational skills, flexibility and attention to detail.</li>
</ul>

Senior Communications Associate

Job Summary
The Data Journalism/Multimedia Designer will lead in the conceptualization, design, and production of all visual content for the Institute, including data visualizations, videos, and other visual communication products for our web, email, social media, and print platforms. As the visual and graphic design lead on the communications team, the Data Journalism/Multimedia Designer will work with the team to develop visual and multimedia strategies and work to build brand awareness and maintain brand consistency through all products. Successful candidates will excel at using data, design, and multimedia to explain complex concepts and tell compelling stories. The ideal candidate will have a combination of creative, technical, and strategic communication skills and experience, as well as an eye for detail and aesthetics.
Responsibilities
<ul>
<li>Conceptualizes, leads, and carries out the visual strategy for the Institute by building and maintaining a compelling and consistent visual brand and identifying concepts and stories best told through visual, interactive, and multimedia products.</li>
<li>Translates complex research and data into compelling visual stories and interactives. This could include producing individual charts, maps or infographics, as well as visual stories and features or interactive dashboards. The visualizations could come in the form of web pages, social graphics/videos, presentations, interactive reports, etc.</li>
<li>Leads in the design, development, and production of digital and print materials. This includes marketing and fundraising resources, reports, research briefs, program collateral, promotional flyers, social graphics/videos, and other assets. Coordinates with external printers.</li>
<li>Produces compelling and professional highlight videos of the Institute&rsquo;s research, education, and outreach efforts. Leads the start-to-end production of video content, including developing content ideas, coordinating, conducting and taping interviews with an eye towards staging, and artfully incorporating appropriate B-roll and visual elements.</li>
<li>Coordinates with the communications and research teams to identify and comprehend relevant data and facilitates conversations to develop visual stories. Provides visual, technical, and editorial guidance and support.</li>
<li>Contracts, manages and provides technical and aesthetic oversight of audio, video, livestream, lighting and photography vendors that may be needed for Institute events or other projects, working in coordination with the Events and Operations Manager. Video records full events and produces highlight reels.</li>
<li>Manages the Institute&rsquo;s digital asset library, providing an organization system for easily accessing assets through multiple online systems and cloud-based platforms for the team&rsquo;s use.</li>
<li>Advises on new software and online platforms to best produce cutting-edge and customizable visual materials.</li>
<li>Oversees the Institute&rsquo;s multimedia equipment, ensuring its proper maintenance, care, and repair. Advises on updated equipment as needed.</li>
</ul>
Preferred Qualification
Education:
<ul>
<li>Bachelor&rsquo;s degree in communications, journalism, graphic design, or a related field.</li>
</ul>
Experience:
<ul>
<li>Background in data, visual or multimedia journalism, in a multifaceted position as part of a creative agency, strategic communications firm or digital news media outlet, or a related role.</li>
<li>Producing professional data visualizations and videos with a strong design aesthetic.</li>
<li>Professional graphic design experience.</li>
<li>Those with some knowledge or interest in climate change, energy and environmental topics encouraged to apply.</li>
</ul>
Technical Skills or Knowledge
<ul>
<li>Proficiency in Canva, Adobe Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, and Premiere), and data visualization tools such as Flourish and Datawrapper.</li>
<li>Experience or familiarity with front-end web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Svelte or other development frameworks), cartography (QGIS, Mapbox, etc.), and data science programming (R, Python, etc.).</li>
<li>Knowledge of current trends and best practices in data visualization techniques, video production, and graphic design.</li>
</ul>
Preferred Competencies
<ul>
<li>Exceptional visual skills, including demonstrable design knowledge (layout, typography, color, interaction design, etc.).</li>
<li>Highly skilled at using and translating complex data into visual forms.</li>
<li>Quickly learn, comprehend, and translate complex ideas into compelling visual content.</li>
<li>Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work both independently with a high degree of initiative and collaboratively as part of a team.</li>
<li>Manage and prioritize job tasks, perform effectively in a fast-paced environment, and meet deadlines in a timely manner while maintaining professionalism and product quality.</li>
<li>Strategic and creative thinking, project management, and planning skills.</li>
<li>Excellent organizational, problem-solving and decision-making skills, creativity, flexibility and attention to detail.</li>
</ul>

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Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago

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