The Chicago Academy for the Arts
Communications Associate
The Chicago Academy for the Arts, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Position Title: Communications Associate
Department: Advancement, Communications
Reports to: Director of Advancement
Anticipated Salary Range: $42,000 - $50,000, commensurate with experience
The Communications Associate is responsible for leading and organizing the ideation, development & design, production, and delivery of communications materials in support of academic and administrative operations, special events & activities, and other related duties as assigned. The Associate will also be responsible for managing The Academy’s social media channels, website, and general copywriting needs. This position is expected to be a self‑starting and self‑guiding professional with the capacity to operate independently with minimal supervision.
This position description describes the most common duties, responsibilities, and accountabilities and is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities.
Primary Accountabilities Communications Materials Management
Maintain The Academy’s brand standards across all channels, ensuring visual and narrative consistency. Update and enforce the brand style guide and templates
Academic information that may include department descriptions, admissions & recruiting information, course catalogs, course schedules, and promotional items
Building signage, notifications, directories, and similar operations-related materials
Management of collateral and supply inventories, such as stationery, envelopes, business cards, etc.
Academy annual report, viewbook, and other academic-related materials
Special event and show signage, playbills, programs, and related materials
Serving as The Academy’s primary point of contact for internal resources and external vendors used in the production of communications materials
Communications Planning & Management
Production, formatting, sending, and reporting of data for electronic newsletters, daily and weekly email notes for families and faculty/staff, donor-specific communication touchpoints, and similar communication pieces
Maintenance of an active and engaging social media presence for The Academy
Maintenance of an accurate and current Academy website
Maintain and optimize the Academy’s digital presence through SEO, social media advertising, and analytics tracking to ensure increased visibility and engagement
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for digital communications and campaigns; track analytics for social media, website, and email communications to assess and refine effectiveness
Collaborate with the Advancement and Admissions teams to create targeted campaigns that drive enrollment, donor engagement, and community visibility
Audience Services
Create and manage promotional campaigns for The Academy events, including digital announcements, print collateral, photography coordination, and post-event content sharing
Box office management and show ticketing
Process credit card payments and report sales to the Director of Advancement and Business Office
Coordination of concessions sales at events
Schedule and train volunteers for events
Provide on-site and day‑of support for events, programs, and activities
Merchandise
Oversee sales or distribution of branded merchandise at all Academy events, and reporting sales to the Director of Advancement and Business Office
Report on current branded merchandise inventory
Coordinate the ordering/reordering of branded merchandise with external vendors
Administrative Support, Advancement Department
Provide administrative assistance to the Advancement Department that will include, but is not limited to, the preparation and distribution of meeting agendas, minutes/notes, electronic and hardcopy file management
Maintain, inventory, and reorder office and printing supplies for the department
Provide phone and email support for all Department communications
Attend departmental and other meetings as requested by the Director of Advancement
Meet with Academy faculty and staff, as needed, to address any communications requests
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in communications, graphic design, marketing, or similar relevant field
Minimum of two (2) years’ previous experience as a communications assistant/associate, marketing assistant/associate, graphic design assistant/associate, or similar relevant position
Demonstrated proficiency in Adobe Suite products, Google Workplace products, Microsoft Office products required
Experience with email marketing products, ticket sales & box office services, web CMS, Veracross, and Salesforce (or similar CRM) preferred
Demonstrated knowledge of email campaign management platforms
Demonstrated experience in event planning and management, especially donor engagement and prospecting events
Experience working in an educational environment with faculty and students
This position requires occasional evening and weekend work to support events and performances. The role involves extended periods at a computer and may include light physical tasks such as event setup
Characteristics
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication abilities
Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities
Strong ability to work independently, sometimes under pressure and without direct supervision
Ability to make sound decisions based on available information and best practices
A success-oriented attitude and outlook
An accountability-focused approach to scheduling, prioritizing, and managing individual and team workflows
Understanding and appreciation that the work cannot always be done between regular business hours
Seniority level Entry level
Employment type Full-time
Job function Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
Industries Education Administration Programs
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Department: Advancement, Communications
Reports to: Director of Advancement
Anticipated Salary Range: $42,000 - $50,000, commensurate with experience
The Communications Associate is responsible for leading and organizing the ideation, development & design, production, and delivery of communications materials in support of academic and administrative operations, special events & activities, and other related duties as assigned. The Associate will also be responsible for managing The Academy’s social media channels, website, and general copywriting needs. This position is expected to be a self‑starting and self‑guiding professional with the capacity to operate independently with minimal supervision.
This position description describes the most common duties, responsibilities, and accountabilities and is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities.
Primary Accountabilities Communications Materials Management
Maintain The Academy’s brand standards across all channels, ensuring visual and narrative consistency. Update and enforce the brand style guide and templates
Academic information that may include department descriptions, admissions & recruiting information, course catalogs, course schedules, and promotional items
Building signage, notifications, directories, and similar operations-related materials
Management of collateral and supply inventories, such as stationery, envelopes, business cards, etc.
Academy annual report, viewbook, and other academic-related materials
Special event and show signage, playbills, programs, and related materials
Serving as The Academy’s primary point of contact for internal resources and external vendors used in the production of communications materials
Communications Planning & Management
Production, formatting, sending, and reporting of data for electronic newsletters, daily and weekly email notes for families and faculty/staff, donor-specific communication touchpoints, and similar communication pieces
Maintenance of an active and engaging social media presence for The Academy
Maintenance of an accurate and current Academy website
Maintain and optimize the Academy’s digital presence through SEO, social media advertising, and analytics tracking to ensure increased visibility and engagement
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for digital communications and campaigns; track analytics for social media, website, and email communications to assess and refine effectiveness
Collaborate with the Advancement and Admissions teams to create targeted campaigns that drive enrollment, donor engagement, and community visibility
Audience Services
Create and manage promotional campaigns for The Academy events, including digital announcements, print collateral, photography coordination, and post-event content sharing
Box office management and show ticketing
Process credit card payments and report sales to the Director of Advancement and Business Office
Coordination of concessions sales at events
Schedule and train volunteers for events
Provide on-site and day‑of support for events, programs, and activities
Merchandise
Oversee sales or distribution of branded merchandise at all Academy events, and reporting sales to the Director of Advancement and Business Office
Report on current branded merchandise inventory
Coordinate the ordering/reordering of branded merchandise with external vendors
Administrative Support, Advancement Department
Provide administrative assistance to the Advancement Department that will include, but is not limited to, the preparation and distribution of meeting agendas, minutes/notes, electronic and hardcopy file management
Maintain, inventory, and reorder office and printing supplies for the department
Provide phone and email support for all Department communications
Attend departmental and other meetings as requested by the Director of Advancement
Meet with Academy faculty and staff, as needed, to address any communications requests
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in communications, graphic design, marketing, or similar relevant field
Minimum of two (2) years’ previous experience as a communications assistant/associate, marketing assistant/associate, graphic design assistant/associate, or similar relevant position
Demonstrated proficiency in Adobe Suite products, Google Workplace products, Microsoft Office products required
Experience with email marketing products, ticket sales & box office services, web CMS, Veracross, and Salesforce (or similar CRM) preferred
Demonstrated knowledge of email campaign management platforms
Demonstrated experience in event planning and management, especially donor engagement and prospecting events
Experience working in an educational environment with faculty and students
This position requires occasional evening and weekend work to support events and performances. The role involves extended periods at a computer and may include light physical tasks such as event setup
Characteristics
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication abilities
Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities
Strong ability to work independently, sometimes under pressure and without direct supervision
Ability to make sound decisions based on available information and best practices
A success-oriented attitude and outlook
An accountability-focused approach to scheduling, prioritizing, and managing individual and team workflows
Understanding and appreciation that the work cannot always be done between regular business hours
Seniority level Entry level
Employment type Full-time
Job function Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
Industries Education Administration Programs
#J-18808-Ljbffr