Director of Communications

The Opportunity

Chicago Public Media is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Communications to lead external communications for our portfolio of trusted local media brands, including WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, chicago.com, and Vocalo.

Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing & Communications, the Director of Communications will develop and execute a proactive communications strategy that advances the reputation, visibility, and influence of Chicago Public Media and its brands. Through earned media, executive communications, thought leadership, and strategic storytelling, this role will shape how the organization, its journalism, and its leaders are understood by audiences, partners, and stakeholders locally and nationally.

The Director of Communications is both a strategist and an executor. They will develop communications strategy while personally writing, pitching, and executing high-impact communications initiatives. They will cultivate relationships with journalists, position our reporters and leaders as trusted voices, and advise senior leadership on messaging and reputation. Working closely with colleagues across the organization, they will help ensure that Chicago Public Media tells a clear, compelling, and consistent story about its mission, journalism, and impact.

Responsibilities

Communications Strategy

• Develop and execute a comprehensive external communications strategy that advances the reputation, visibility, and influence of Chicago Public Media and its portfolio of brands.
• Partner with Marketing & Communications leadership to develop and maintain a clear, compelling, and consistent narrative across all external communications.
• Develop communications strategies for major organizational initiatives, partnerships, fundraising campaigns, product launches, and other strategic priorities.
• Establish goals, key performance indicators, and reporting to measure the effectiveness of communications efforts and continually refine strategy based on results.

Media Relations & Storytelling

• Serve as the primary point of contact for media inquiries and cultivate strong relationships with local, national, and industry reporters, editors, producers, and influencers.
• Lead proactive media outreach that elevates Chicago Public Media, its brands, its journalism, and its civic impact.
• Identify and secure opportunities for Chicago Public Media journalists, editors, and executives to appear in broadcast, print, digital, podcast, and live media.
• Write and distribute press releases, media advisories, statements, talking points, FAQs, and other external communications materials.
• Monitor media coverage and identify opportunities to amplify organizational priorities, respond to emerging issues, and strengthen the organization's public profile.

Executive Communications & Thought Leadership

• Partner with executive leadership to strengthen the organization's public profile through strategic communications and thought leadership.
• Collaborate on developing speeches, talking points, opinion pieces, award nominations, executive messaging, and other communications materials as needed
• Identify and secure speaking engagements, interviews, conferences, awards, and other opportunities that position organizational leaders as trusted voices on journalism, civic engagement, and the future of local media.
• Prepare executives for media interviews and public appearances through message development and media coaching.

Reputation Management

• Advise senior leadership on communications strategy and messaging during sensitive organizational issues.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the organization's external crisis communications consultant, coordinating planning, messaging, and response efforts as needed.
• Support communications planning and execution during high-profile or time-sensitive situations, ensuring alignment among leadership and external communications partners.
• Consult on sensitive internal communications to help ensure alignment between internal and external messaging.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner closely with colleagues across marketing, editorial, development, legal, human resources, and executive leadership to ensure coordinated and effective communications.
• Provide strategic communications counsel on messaging, positioning, and audience impact across the organization.
• Represent communications in cross-functional planning for major organizational initiatives and announcements.

Qualifications

• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into clear, compelling communications for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated success securing earned media coverage and building strong relationships with journalists and media outlets.
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies that strengthen organizational reputation and visibility.
• Strong executive communications experience, including speechwriting, messaging, media preparation, and thought leadership.
• Experience supporting organizations through high-profile or sensitive communications challenges.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly collaborative, with the ability to build trusted relationships across departments and with senior leaders.
• Passion for local journalism, civic engagement, and the mission of public service media.

Compensation

The expected pay range for this position is $104,000 to $130,000 per ANNUM.

Chicago Public Media provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the organization reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographical location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.