Strategic Initiatives Communicator

Join the Office of the Chief Information Officer at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in a strategic communications role with the opportunity to shape how significant technology initiatives are understood, experienced, and adopted across campus. You'll partner with leaders and teams on high-impact efforts such as cybersecurity, digital accessibility, generative AI and other priorities that affect students, faculty, and staff throughout the university. We're seeking a collaborative, creative, and forward-thinking communicator who can translate complex topics into compelling, audience-centered communications and provide strategic guidance from early planning through implementation. The ideal candidate brings exceptional writing and planning skills, sound judgment, curiosity, adaptability, and a desire to make a meaningful impact at one of the nation's leading public research universities. Hybrid work options
may be available for this position, with the ability to be on-site at the
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus as needed per
the University's Workplace Flexibility policy. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available
for this position.

Why Work at Technology Services?

Highlights of Employee Benefits

Content Development, Editing, and Plain-Language Translation

• Research, write, edit, and produce briefs, presentations, announcements, FAQs, web content, newsletters, articles, toolkits, talking-point drafts, and other project materials.
• Translate complex technical, policy, legal, compliance, and organizational information into concise, accurate, audience-centered language.
• Adapt content for campuswide, senior, technical and targeted audiences while maintaining message consistency, appropriate tone, accessibility, and university standards.
• Draft or package supporting materials for high-level audiences when assigned. Executive communications, executive-office messages, and direct executive relationships are directed and approved by Communications & Marketing leadership.

Assigned Communications Planning

• Develop and implement integrated communication plans for assigned strategic initiatives within Office of the CIO communications strategy, standards, and priorities.
• Define project communications objectives, audiences, messages, channels, milestones, dependencies, approval paths, risks, and success measures.
• Recommend project-level approaches to initiative leaders and Communications & Marketing leadership; identify issues requiring broader portfolio alignment, executive involvement, or escalation.
• Participate as the communications representative on assigned initiative teams and maintain alignment with related Office of the CIO and university efforts.

Project Stakeholder Coordination and Engagement

• Develop and implement integrated communications plans for assigned strategic initiatives within Office of the CIO communications strategy, standards, and priorities.
• Define project communications objectives, audiences, messages, channels, milestones, dependencies, approval paths, risks, and success measures.
• Recommend project-level approaches to initiative leaders and Communications & Marketing leadership; identify issues requiring broader portfolio alignment, executive involvement, or escalation.
• Participate as the communications representative on assigned initiative teams and maintain alignment with related Office of the CIO and university efforts.

Project stakeholder coordination and engagement

• Coordinate day-to-day communications work with project leaders, subject-matter experts, unit communicators, faculty and staff partners, vendors, and other contributors.
• Support stakeholder mapping, listening activities, feedback collection, leader and communicator toolkits, events, and adoption communications for assigned initiatives.
• Serve as a responsive communications contact for assigned projects, documenting decisions and maintaining feedback loops while escalating sensitive, high-risk, or cross-portfolio matters.
• Support defined campus IT initiatives or broader institutional strategic priorities, including assigned milestones, content, events, or workstreams, under the direction of Communications & Marrketing leadership; do not independently set the overall narrative or engagement strategy for those initiatives.

Channel, Content, and Project Delivery Management

• Manage project editorial calendars, work plans, routine approvals, contributors, vendors, dependencies, and deadlines.
• Manage assigned web and digital content on an ongoing basis, including content planning, information organization, publishing coordination, and accessible content practices.
• Coordinate design, multimedia, print, web-development, or other external services as needed; recommend options that address project and stakeholder needs.
• Prepare strategically significant, campuswide, high-risk, or executive-facing items for Communications & Marketing leadership review and approval.

Team collaboration, support, professional development

• Collaborate with Communications & Marketing team members to brainstorm, solve problems, and advance shared priorities.
• Provide hands-on support for team projects, tasks, and high-demand periods.
• Share knowledge, document useful practices, and cross-train with colleagues.
• Pursue professional development through training, job shadowing, and stretch assignments.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support team and Office of the CIO priorities.

Measurement and Continuous Improvement

• Establish project communications measures aligned with stated objectives and available evidence.
• Monitor quantitative and qualitative feedback, engagement, understanding, and adoption indicators; report findings and recommend project-level adjustments.
• Document lessons learned and reusable practices that strengthen future strategic-project communications.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in marketing, business administration, communications, public relations, or a closely related field.
2. Six years of professional work experience in marketing, public relations, communications, brand management, or a related professional area. Note: Master's Degree in an area consistent with the duties of the position may be substituted for one(1) year (12 months) of work experience.
3. Demonstrated experience of progressively responsible professional communications experience, including substantial responsibiiity for communications supporting complex, cross-functional initiatives or organizational change.
4. Demonstrated experience developing and implementing project communications plans.
5. Demonstrated experience writing and editing finalized and accurate materials for senior, institution-wide, and varied audiences.
6. Demonstrated experience translating technical, policy, legal, compliance, or organizational complexity into plain language.
7. Demonstrated experience managing multiple visible projects, stakeholders, approvals, and deadlines with substantial independence and sound escalation judgment.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience in higher education, government, a large research organization, or another complex and decentralized institution.
2. Demonstrated experience supporting technology, digital accessibility, cybersecurity and privacy, enterprise transformation, change management, or public-sector compliance initiatives.
3. Demonstrated experience convening distributed communications partners and influencing outcomes without direct authority.
4. Demonstrated experience using qualitative and quantitative evidence to improve communications.
5. Demonstrated experience leveraging generative AI tools to ideate, develop content, perform research and analysis, and gain workflow efficiencies with appropriate attention to accuracy, privacy transparency, and human review.
6. Relevant training or certification in change management project management, digital accessibility, content strategy, or communications measurement.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Writes and edits publication-ready content-including briefs, FAQs, web copy, presentations, and executive-support materials-that meets Office of the CIO accessibility, brand, style, and quality standards without additional substantive editing.
2. Translates technical, policy, legal, or compliance information into plain-language content for nontechnical audiences while preserving accuracy, context, and appropriate nuance.
3. Builds communications plans that define audiences, messages, channels, timelines, approval paths, risks, and success measures for a cross-functional initiative.
4. Manages multiple concurrent project timelines, approvals, dependencies, and contributors to meet deadlines without missed communications milestones.
5. Coordinates communications work with initiative leaders and stakeholders outside a direct reporting line and identifies when an issue requires escalation to Communications & Marketing leadership.
6. Distinguishes project-level communications decisions from portfolio-level, campuswide, high-risk, or executive-facing decisions requiring leadership review and approval.
7. Applies content governance, accessible and inclusive communications practices, web content strategy, and communications measurement methods to evaluate and report on project communications performance.
8. Handles confidential, sensitive, or not-yet-announced information about initiatives, personnel, or decisions with discretion appropriate to the information's risk level.
9. Models collaborative, solutions-focused behavior; navigates stakeholder disagreement without escalating conflict; and gives and receives direct feedback in ways that maintain productive working relationships.

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 5004 - Marketing Associate position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after closing date. The budgeted salary range for this position is $65,000 to $75,000. Salary is commensurate with experience.

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx.

Applications must be received by 11:59pm (Central Time) on October 16, 2026. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. For further information about this specific position, please contact Kari Thompson at kathomp@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - the state's flagship public university and one of the world's leading research institutions - every staff member helps shape what's next. Founded in 1867, Illinois is home to a vibrant community of 59,000 students from all 50 states and 129 countries, supported by 15 colleges and instructional units, more than 20 research institutes, and one of the most comprehensive student service ecosystems in the nation. Whether you're empowering first-generation students, fueling breakthrough innovation, or strengthening communities across Illinois and beyond, your work here has a far-reaching and deeply meaningful impact. The university offers a highly competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and financial security. Join a top 10 public university that has launched over 330 startups and continues to redefine excellence - where the Illinois Value Proposition ensures that your contributions are recognized, your potential is nurtured, and your career can thrive.

Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID: 1038331

Job Category: Professional and Administrative

Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu