Vice President, Communications

THE ROLE

The Vice President of Communications plays a central, strategic role in advancing the Council's mission of elevating knowledge and increasing engagement in global affairs. This is an opportunity to help shape the next chapter of an institution with a remarkable legacy. The leader who steps into this role will help strengthen and amplify the Council's voice across local, national, and global platforms. They will expand the Council's network of media relationships, cultivate new partnerships across press and digital channels, and help the Council engage global experts, civic leaders, members, and the public in ways that expand the Council's reach at a critical time. They will help define how the Council communicates to meet the current moment, advising on how to scale media relations and editorial ideas to extend its influence in Chicago, the Midwest, and beyond.

The VP, Communications' primary responsibility is to enhance the Council's public image and reputation through expert-based editorial content and strategic media engagement that foster relationships with local, national, and global press and influencers. The VP, Communications is also responsible for the Council's brand identity and ensures alignment of the organization's messaging and the look and feel of its varied communications and marketing products and services including digital communications. This is a management role with supervision of communications, marketing, and editorial positions.

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  Create and execute on a communications strategy, including innovative approaches and tactics to advance the Council's mission and position as an active and authoritative voice shaping global policy dialogue and elevating the caliber of public and expert debate on America's role in the world.

  
  

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  Anticipate and proactively address emerging world events and issues that the Council should respond to immediately through digital editorial content and media relations.

  
  

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  Actively engage and imbed themselves in Chicago, national and international media networks and promote Council experts to media including the CEO, senior researchers and fellows.

  
  

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  Track ongoing and developing media narratives and breaking news on all channels (traditional, distributed, etc.) and recommend ways for the Council to enter and drive the conversation in dynamic ways.

  
  

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  Develop strategies for building audiences, both in-person and online.

  
  

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  Offer strategic communications counsel and support to the President and CEO and the wider leadership team to support organizational goals and priorities.

  
  

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  Work across teams to help set the Council's strategic direction and organizational priorities, including the evaluation of new ideas and opportunities.

  
  

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  Manage, recruit, and mentor staff to ensure integration and alignment across the communications team and promote a culture of high performance, innovation, continuous improvement, and accountability. Communications functions include:

  
  
  
  
  • Media relations, which develops relationships with local, national, and global media covering US foreign policy and global affairs, seeks opportunities to elevate the Council as a leading global affairs think tank and deploys social channels to promote its experts, public opinion research, expert analysis, and events.
  • Editorial, which works with Council fellows, experts, and a network of associated authors to solicit, edit, and distribute relevant, timely expert analysis of global issues driving the news.
  • Marketing, which maintains and oversees the Council's brand identity and assets, elevates the Council's web presence, and manages paid media and email marketing.
  
  
  
  
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  Work with other executives, especially those leading programming and events, public opinion research, and leadership development programs to co-develop comprehensive strategies and plans for maximum impact around organizational priorities.

  
  

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  Represent the Council with media and partners.

  
  

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  Recruit and engage with outside vendors where necessary (e.g. web, design, branding, multimedia production).

  
  

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  Provide ongoing analysis of the Council's communications impact, utilizing digital analytics and other measures and suggesting revisions to strategy as needed.

  
  

The Ideal Candidate

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  Is an innovative, strategic thinker who knows how a good communications strategy can complement other organizational strategies to achieve real outcomes that advance the Council's position as an active and authoritative voice shaping global policy?dialogue and?elevating the caliber of public and expert debate on America's role in the world.

  
  

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  Understands how to think creatively about the impact of a communications strategy in the current policy environment

  
  

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  Likes a fast-paced, always-on environment that requires responding to breaking and emerging news.

  
  

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  Values nimbleness and dynamism and is comfortable navigating volatility and shifting priorities to capitalize on opportunities.

  
  

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  Is excited to develop and test a range of new, creative tactics to break through in an evolving media environment.

  
  

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  Enjoys working across silos to develop integrated approaches to achieving outcomes.

  
  

QUALIFICATIONS

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  Bachelor's degree required.

  
  

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  At least 10+ years relevant communications and people management experience. Journalism experience, especially in foreign policy and global affairs, is a plus.

  
  

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  Proven expertise in communications strategy, public relations, brand management, and media relations, with experience in organizational communications at a national or medium-large scale level.

  
  

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  Proven leadership skills in fostering a creative work environment and working collaboratively across a complex organization to ensure effective integration and alignment of resources and programs.

  
  

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  Demonstrated experience and success in pitching media; building relationships in media; strong familiarity/ relationships with Chicago, New York, DC, and other national and global press.

  
  

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  Proven track record of success implementing creative media and digital engagement strategies in the face of constantly shifting priorities.

  
  

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  Excellent project management skills, including projects with external vendors (e.g. design, web, branding); proven ability to juggle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously - doing and delegating - while delivering products on deadline.

  
  

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  Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills.

  
  

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  Messaging and branding expertise.

  
  

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  Strong people skills; can work well with a variety of stakeholders and is naturally inclined towards a problem-solving orientation to challenges.

  
  

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  Demonstrated ability to adapt quickly and evolve to unique opportunities to expand an organization's reach.

  
  

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  Experience collaborating with teams across an organization to develop and implement successful communication strategies.

  
  

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  Proven ability to harness, strategize around, and report on metrics.

  
  

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  Skilled at communicating strategy to colleagues and stakeholders.

  
  
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  Willingness to be based in Chicago. This is not a remote position. Council staff are in the office three days a week, Mondays, Thursdays, and one additional day of your choice.