📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Events & Marketing Specialist
🔹 Company: Chicago Public Media
🔹 Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid workplace)
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Marketing & Events
🔹 Date Posted: May 7, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (on-site and remote work)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Planning and executing live events for Chicago Public Media and supporting brand activations at partner events.
- Developing and implementing event marketing campaigns across various channels to drive audience engagement and ticket sales.
- Collaborating with internal teams and external partners to ensure event success and consistent branding.
- Managing event logistics, staffing, and on-site execution, while maintaining workflows and tracking systems.
- Analyzing KPIs and providing post-event reports to stakeholders.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of creative marketing strategies and meticulous event planning, with a focus on driving audience growth and revenue.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Plan, promote, and execute a diverse range of live events, including ticketed events produced by Chicago Public Media and brand activations at partner events.
✅ Coordinate event logistics, including talent and venue booking, staffing, volunteer coordination, and on-site execution.
✅ Support the Senior Producer in maintaining workflows, production protocols, and tracking systems across all events.
✅ Develop and execute comprehensive marketing strategies for events across email, social, digital, on-air, and external partnerships.
✅ Oversee the creation of marketing assets, ensuring consistency in messaging, visuals, and branding.
✅ Collaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment in event communications and promotion.
✅ Track and measure KPIs including ticket sales, audience engagement, and campaign performance, providing post-event reports and insights to stakeholders.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively under tight deadlines and in high-pressure environments.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Event Management, or a related field.
Experience: Some experience planning and managing live events, including working with venues and high-profile talent. Proven experience executing marketing campaigns across digital and traditional channels.
Required Skills:
- Proven event planning and management skills, with a calm and problem-solving approach under pressure.
- Ability to develop and implement marketing strategies that drive engagement and increase audience reach.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience in drafting copy.
- Highly organized with excellent time management skills and a keen attention to detail.
- Resourceful and proactive, with the ability to anticipate needs and solve challenges efficiently in high-pressure, live-event environments.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with CRM software and marketing automation tools.
- Fluency in Spanish or other languages.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong understanding of the Chicago market and its cultural landscape, as well as familiarity with the Chicago Public Media brand and its events.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $50,000 to $55,000 per year. 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 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.
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Vacation, holidays, and commuter benefits
- Life insurance and disability coverage
- Retirement savings plan
Working Hours: Full-time position with flexible hours, including evenings and weekends to support event production.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate and may vary based on the factors mentioned above.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Chicago Public Media is a non-profit organization focused on independent journalism, serving as the largest local non-profit news organization in the country. It operates WBEZ, Chicago's NPR member station, and the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago's oldest continuously published daily newspaper.
Company Size: Chicago Public Media has 189 employees, making it a mid-sized organization with a significant impact on the Chicago community.
Founded: Chicago Public Media was founded in 1990, with a mission to create diverse, compelling content that informs, inspires, and enriches its audiences.
Company Description:
- Home to WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Public Media serves more than 2 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms.
- WBEZ is home to local and national news programming, as well as a growing portfolio of popular podcasts, serving the community with fact-based, objective news and information.
- The Chicago Sun-Times is known for its hard-hitting investigative reporting, in-depth political coverage, timely behind-the-scenes sports analysis, and insightful entertainment and cultural coverage.
Company Specialties:
- Public media
- Radio
- Documentary
- News
- Public affairs reporting
- Podcast
- Chicago
- Journalist
- NRP
- and public radio
Company Website: chicagopublicmedia.org
ASSUMPTION: Chicago Public Media's mission-driven approach to journalism and its commitment to independent, fact-based reporting make it an attractive employer for individuals passionate about news and information.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is suitable for early to mid-career marketing and events professionals seeking to grow their skills and make a significant impact on an organization's audience growth and revenue.
Reporting Structure: The Events & Marketing Specialist reports directly to the Senior Producer and collaborates with various internal teams and external partners.
Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid role, with a combination of on-site and remote work. The Events & Marketing Specialist is expected to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends to support event production.
Growth Opportunities:
- Expanding event portfolio and marketing strategies to drive audience engagement and revenue.
- Developing leadership skills through managing event staff and coordinating with internal teams and external partners.
- Gaining experience in various aspects of event planning and marketing, with potential for career progression within the organization.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to make a substantial impact on Chicago Public Media's events and marketing efforts.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Chicago Public Media's headquarters is located at Navy Pier in Chicago, IL, with a hybrid work arrangement that combines on-site and remote work.
Office Location(s): 848 E. Grand Ave., Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 60611, US
Geographic Context:
- Chicago is the third most populous city in the United States, with a diverse cultural landscape and a vibrant arts and entertainment scene.
- The Chicago area is home to numerous museums, theaters, music venues, and cultural institutions, providing ample opportunities for event planning and marketing.
- Chicago Public Media's location at Navy Pier offers easy access to public transportation and nearby amenities.
Work Schedule: Full-time position with flexible hours, including evenings and weekends to support event production.
ASSUMPTION: Chicago Public Media's hybrid work arrangement and central location at Navy Pier provide employees with a flexible and convenient work environment.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume submission
- Phone or video screening with the Senior Producer
- In-person or virtual interview with the Senior Producer and other team members
- Final interview with the Director of Events and Marketing
- Background check and reference check
- Job offer and onboarding
Key Assessment Areas:
- Event planning and management skills
- Marketing campaign development and execution
- Communication and collaboration skills
- Problem-solving and adaptability in high-pressure environments
- Alignment with Chicago Public Media's mission and values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant event planning and marketing experience, as well as your familiarity with the Chicago market and Chicago Public Media's brand.
- Demonstrate your ability to develop and implement creative marketing strategies and manage event logistics effectively.
- Showcase your strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners.
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, adaptability, and ability to work under pressure.
ATS Keywords: Event Planning, Marketing Campaigns, Logistics Coordination, Communication, Time Management, Problem Solving, Collaboration, Audience Engagement, Chicago, Public Media, Hybrid Work, Event Marketing, Ticket Sales, KPI Tracking
ASSUMPTION: Chicago Public Media's interview process is designed to assess candidates' skills and cultural fit, with a focus on their ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Marketing automation tools (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact)
- Event planning and management software (e.g., Eventbrite, Cvent)
- Social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
- Email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact)
- Graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva)
ASSUMPTION: Chicago Public Media uses a variety of tools and technologies to streamline event planning and marketing efforts, with a focus on efficiency and data-driven decision-making.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Independence and integrity in journalism
- Collaboration and innovation in content creation
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workforce and programming
- Accountability and transparency in our operations
- Excellence in all that we do
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and responsive to change
- Data-driven and results-focused
- Creative and innovative in problem-solving
- Committed to continuous learning and professional development
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Chicago Public Media's commitment to independent, fact-based journalism?
- Describe your experience working collaboratively with diverse teams and external partners to achieve shared goals.
- How do you approach continuous learning and professional development in a fast-paced, evolving work environment?
ASSUMPTION: Chicago Public Media values employees who are passionate about its mission, committed to its values, and eager to contribute to its ongoing success.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple events and marketing campaigns simultaneously, requiring strong organizational skills and time management.
- Working flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to support event production and marketing efforts.
- Navigating a fast-paced, dynamic work environment with frequent changes and tight deadlines.
- Balancing the creative aspects of event planning and marketing with the analytical requirements of KPI tracking and data-driven decision-making.
ASSUMPTION: Chicago Public Media's Events & Marketing Specialist role offers a unique blend of creative and analytical challenges, requiring a well-rounded skill set and adaptability.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike traditional marketing roles, this position requires a strong focus on event planning and management, with a significant portion of the role dedicated to on-site event execution.
- Chicago Public Media's commitment to independent journalism and its diverse event portfolio set this role apart from marketing positions in other industries.
- Career progression in this role may involve moving into a senior event planning or marketing management position within the organization, with potential opportunities to expand the event portfolio and drive audience growth.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of marketing and event planning experience, with the potential for significant career growth within the organization.
📝 Sample Projects
- Planning and executing a large-scale fundraising event, including securing high-profile talent, managing logistics, and developing a comprehensive marketing campaign to drive ticket sales and donations.
- Creating and implementing a targeted social media marketing campaign to promote an upcoming event series, with a focus on increasing audience engagement and driving ticket sales.
- Developing and executing a strategic partnership with a local cultural institution to co-host an event, leveraging both organizations' resources and audiences to maximize event success.
ASSUMPTION: Chicago Public Media's Events & Marketing Specialist role offers a diverse range of projects, with ample opportunities for creativity, collaboration, and strategic thinking.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the organization's long-term goals for audience growth and revenue generation?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the events and marketing team in the next 12-24 months, and how can this role help address them?
- How does Chicago Public Media support the professional development and growth of its employees, particularly in the events and marketing department?
- What are the key priorities for the Events & Marketing Specialist in the first 30-60-90 days in the role?
- How does Chicago Public Media measure the success of its events and marketing campaigns, and how can this role contribute to improving those metrics?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful, insightful questions during the interview process demonstrates your interest in the role and your commitment to contributing to Chicago Public Media's ongoing success.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant event planning and marketing experience, as well as your familiarity with the Chicago market and Chicago Public Media's brand.
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, adaptability, and ability to work under pressure.
- If selected for an interview, be prepared to discuss your approach to event planning, marketing strategy development, and collaboration with internal teams and external partners.
- Follow up with the hiring manager within one week of your interview to express your continued interest in the role.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
