Director of Marketing and Communications

Job Summary

Reporting to the Head of School, the Director of Marketing and Communications is responsible for designing and implementing strategies and tactics aimed at enhancing the reputation and visibility—both externally and internally—of the school. The Director of Marketing and Communications works in close collaboration with the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid and the Director of Advancement. The Director of Marketing and Communications is expected to be “on call” to address critical questions or problems on weekends and/or evenings.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

The Director of Marketing and Communications will:

1. Supervise the Associate Director, Marketing and Communications and a part-time Digital Content Producer.
2. Support the public communications needs of the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and senior WIS administrators. These include: writing speeches and correspondence; drafting content for publications, the website and messages to the community; developing presentations for special events/meetings; and other projects as needed.
3. Serve as School spokesperson in the Head’s absence.
4. Work with the Head of School, Board of Trustees and members of the senior management team to execute the School’s Strategic Plan.
5. Partner with the Admissions team to plan and execute marketing strategies in support of enrollment goals.
6. Oversee development of the WIS academic calendar.
7. Provide editorial/proofreading and writing support to the WIS administrative team.
8. Establish and maintain a visual identity and graphic standard for WIS.
9. Consult with members of the WIS Parent Association Board to understand WISPA priorities and plans, and to support all parents’ information needs.
10. Create and send routine and “emergency” broadcast communications to community members.
11. Manage the editorial process for WIS’s print publications (admissions materials, handbooks, brochures, impact report, flyers, invitations, WIS magazine, etc.) including writing and editing text. Ensure the look of these publications is consistent with the WIS brand and tells the WIS story.
12. Work with the Associate Director of Communications and Marketing to plan content for @WIS, the school’s electronic newsletter.
13. Create website content that is strategic and SEO-driven, using concepts derived from inbound marketing and other best practices in marketing. Refine website content to meet community needs.
14. Conceive and produce (with support of staff or consultants) video content for the website and other purposes.
15. Choose social media channels and oversee ADMC’s development of content for these channels.
16. Conceive and execute research projects in order to achieve enrollment goals and gauge satisfaction with WIS programs, as well as to meet the information needs of the greater WIS community.
17. Work with team members to develop strategies and tactics for outreach to external and internal audiences. This includes earned media placements and responses to media inquiries.
18. Assist Advancement team in creating campaign and fundraising strategies, as well as materials to support these efforts.
19. Manage the Marketing and Communications budget.
20. Execute work online when directed and needed to include deliverables: meeting and collaborating online with team members and supervisor(s), fulfilling duties and responsibilities via approved online platforms, meeting assignment goals in a timely fashion, and maintaining a positive online presence in representing the School.
21. Undertake other tasks and duties as assigned by the Head of School.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, English, or journalism; advanced degree is a plus.
• Five to eight years’ experience in organizational communications.
• Prior experience working with a website CMS (UBIQ, Finalsite, Blackbaud, etc.).
• Prior experience working for non-profit organizations and/or independent schools is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Superior writing skills, including the ability to write in multiple “voices”
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Expertise in Word (including advanced formatting) and facility with Excel
• Facility with Photoshop, InDesign
• Familiarity with inbound marketing and SEO
• Digital photography/videography skills
• Willingness to learn computer applications
• Ability to multitask and prioritize
• Knowledge of French, Spanish or Chinese is useful, but not essential
• Flexibility and a sense of humor

Working Conditions

Work primarily in a climate-controlled office environment within a school.

Physical Requirements

To perform the duties of this job, the employee must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to enter data into a computer; to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; hear and understand speech at normal levels, outdoors and on the telephone; speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly, outdoors and on the telephone; physical agility to lift up to 35 pounds; and to bend, stoop, climb stairs, and reach overhead.

Direct Reports

Associate Director of Marketing and Communications and a part-time Digital Content Producer

We have a competitive benefits package including a generous retirement match.