Executive Director, Brand

University of Chicago Medicine•Chicago, IL

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

Join a world-class academic healthcare system, UChicago Medicine , as our next Executive Director, Brand . We are seeking a progressive visionary with a high degree of professional energy and a proven track record. This role requires a dynamic leader to spearhead UChicago Medicine's comprehensive brand strategy efforts, ensuring a consistent, impactful voice that reinforces the organization's mission and values. This role will oversee all external campaigns, driving innovative initiatives to strengthen brand awareness, enhance stakeholder engagement, and position UCM as a leader in healthcare innovation. Partnering closely with leadership across departments, this role will craft narratives that highlight UCM’s commitment to high-quality Patient care, Research, Education, Community, and People while ensuring alignment with organizational goals. The successful candidate will leverage data-driven insights, foster continuous team development, and build strong relationships with key stakeholders to achieve outstanding marketing performance. Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, this role will be an innovative partner, leveraging market insights, storytelling, and performance metrics, the Executive Director will ensure that brand strategies effectively reach diverse audiences, elevate UCM’s reputation, and contribute to measurable growth in patient and provider acquisition. This position is based in Chicago with the expectation that you will have an onsite presence at least 2 days per week, sometimes more often, given meetings and organizational priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or Business required.
10+ years of progressive experience with a notable record of results while working as a leader in brand strategy, communications, and public relations.
Proven track record in developing and executing comprehensive marketing and communication strategies.
Strong storytelling, public relations, and campaign development expertise.
Ability to analyze information, present data, and draw conclusions by applying analysis techniques, using data to drive positive performance in a highly matrixed organization.
Bold, creative, courageous, and innovative mindset who is able to inspire and motivate others; well versed in operating in a very competitive marketplace.
Solid reputation as an individual who can provide sound leadership and build effective teams to maximize organizational growth and success.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Experience from a highly complex healthcare or hospital organization is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a cohesive brand strategy that strengthens UChicago Medicine’s identity as a trusted leader in healthcare.
Drive storytelling initiatives that resonate emotionally and strategically with patients, providers, and key stakeholders.
Oversee the creation and enforcement of brand guidelines to maintain consistency across all communication channels.
Lead the development and execution of multi-channel campaigns, including digital, traditional, and earned media in accordance with priorities and playbooks.
Ensure alignment between internal and external communications, supporting strategic objectives and organizational priorities.
Craft messaging for high-profile multi-geography brand campaigns, announcements, and partnerships in collaboration with senior executives.
Manage creative agency relationship and be held accountable for agency performance and budget.
Demonstrate effective ROI and performance metrics by leveraging data-driven insights to measure the effectiveness of campaigns.
Monitor brand health metrics, public relations impact, and KPIs, providing actionable recommendations to leadership.
Manage budgets effectively to achieve communication objectives within financial constraints.
Build, inspire, and manage a high-performing brand and creative team through effective coaching and development for long-term success.
Foster continuous learning withing the team through regular communications, meetings, training, and professional development plans.
Partner with the Growth Marketing, Performance Marketing, Communications and Marketing Ops teams to align branding and growth strategies, creating a unified product performance narrative.
Collaborate with Physician Relations, Operations, Clinical leadership, and other teams to ensure messaging supports organizational priorities and provider engagement efforts.
Foster efforts to positively impact the organization’s visibility, image, and relationship with its surrounding community.
As part of the leadership team, this position will be instrumental in reinforcing and sustaining UCM’s E4 Leadership Culture.