Collegiate School seeks a Director of Strategic Communications who will have primary responsibility for the development of the School’s marketing and communications strategy and will supervise its implementation. Additionally, the Director will provide organizational leadership with marketing and communications operations and staff development for cohesive teaming for a fully integrated plan. Working in a joyful, energizing and collaborative environment, this position is a part of the senior leadership team and oversees a team of professionals, while working closely with other external and internal offices of the School.
Given the extraordinary possibilities born of the School, this position represents a singular opportunity for a strategic communications professional to help the School be its most dynamic. We seek a leader with experience building and nurturing a professional marketing and communications team and supporting their development as strategic communicators through mentorship and professional development. Under the Director’s leadership, the team will be responsible for carrying out a comprehensive, sophisticated, and complex multi-channel marketing plan, as well as the day to day communications functions of the School’s complex organization and engaged constituent base.
We expect the initiatives listed below will have priority within the School’s marketing and communications strategy:
Positioning
Building internal and external awareness and understanding of the School and of the unique student opportunities resulting from the experiences through the design and production of multimedia communications. Key audiences will include the School’s faculty and staff, alumni, parents (prospective and current), and enrollment influencers in the Richmond community. We expect that the Director will work closely with senior staff and industry specialists to develop and implement this plan.
Philanthropy
Developing a communications strategy or strategies that support the School’s on-going philanthropic initiatives, priorities and upcoming advancement efforts. The Director will work closely with the School’s leadership to develop and implement integrated and compelling communications strategies that serve Collegiate’s short- and long-term philanthropic goals.
Identity
Exploring a visual identity/system and messaging platform that serves the School in applications such as its Website and in coordinated marketing efforts, video, social, sports information, weekly newsletters, magazine and more to ensure consistency of strategic messaging. Note: The School will be developing a cohesive narrative about the distinctive advantages offered by Collegiate.
Enrollment
Oversee the development of a multi-plank communication strategy for enrollment and retention to inform day to day and strategic initiatives of the office and talent therein.
Other Duties:
- Lead, inspire, grow and manage the Communications team by providing clear vision, objectives and timely and relevant feedback regarding expectations of work performance that support the Communications office and its activities in meeting defined goals. From magazine publications, weekly newsletters, push pages, crisis communications, collaborating on speeches, interviews, interfacing with media outlets, PR experts and locating storytelling opportunities, this position has a variety of responsibilities and oversight roles.
- Serves as a visible and known presence in the life of the School, managing and enforcing brand standards.
- Identifies storytelling opportunities, throughlines and delegates to a cross functional team, while deciding which type of collateral best achieves the communications goals, both short- and long-term for differentiated audiences, by generation and school relationship.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for crisis communications to ensure rapid and timely response as situations arise.
Required Commitment to the School’s Core Values and Mission
HONOR
Personal integrity and devotion to the truth, which make one trustworthy, forthright, responsible and fair.
LOVE OF LEARNING
A creative spirit that promotes intellectual and personal growth through exploration, inquiry and openness to change.
EXCELLENCE
A sustained commitment to meeting high standards of character, achievement and personal accountability.
RESPECT
Fundamental regard for the dignity and worth of each individual.
COMMUNITY
A commitment to responsive and compassionate citizenship and service on campus, in the local community and in the broader world.
Required Competencies:
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate and succinctly present the School’s shared purpose; builds trust among colleagues; is accountable; lives up to commitments
- Proven cross cultural competency skills demonstrating self awareness, awareness of others and the ability to adopt inclusive perspectives, attitudes and behaviors to drive inclusion and belonging in the ongoing development and maintenance of an inclusive campus community
- Understands the big picture and handles areas of responsibility in a manner consistent with the School’s mission and values and offers assistance within the office especially during busy times
- Relates to the Collegiate community including faculty, staff, students, parents and applicants in a cooperative, enthusiastic, professional and inclusive manner
- Meets deadlines, demonstrates effective use of time and handles multiple assignments simultaneously
- Understands the need for growth and is receptive to constructive feedback
- Maintains confidentiality at all times
Required Skills and Qualifications:
- An understanding of how cross-cultural competencies relate to communications strategies and an ability to work with multiple constituencies to deploy different styles in communication based upon intended goals and audiences
- Fluency in cross-platform communications and technology to support the mediums of communication
- Ability to problem solve and consider multiple outcomes when building strategies and making decisions to best serve the School
- Proven organizational leadership and success in a marketing communications environment and experience with educational communities
- Superior written and verbal communication skills, coupled with highly developed interpersonal skills
- Creative mindset, application of emotion in storytelling mediums and is perceptive about audiences and goals to be achieved with each communication from the School
- Flexible mindset and a desire to learn, build energy and create opportunities for a shared vision and message
- Understands the distinct benefits and network of independent schools, ranging from the joy of children engaged in learning to crisis communications in unexpected moments
- Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s degree preferred)
- Over 10 years of experience of managing and leading
- Portfolio of work and examples of professional accomplishments to share
Who we are
Collegiate School is a co-educational, independent day school located within 20 minutes of downtown Richmond, Virginia, for students in Junior Kindergarten through 12th grade. For more than 100 years, Collegiate has nurtured inquisitive thinkers, responsible citizens, and compassionate leaders. Grounded in the values that have sustained it over the course of more than a century, Collegiate provides its nearly 1,700 students with an engaging academic environment dedicated to preparing them for a globally connected and changing world.
The essence of Collegiate School is the richness of relationships among students, faculty, parents, administrators, and alumni in a dynamic learning community with high personal and academic expectations. This exceptional educational environment enables students to develop their potential for intellectual growth, leadership, and service.
Why Collegiate?
Collegiate School is well-regarded for developing students into citizens who lead, serve and shape the world. We do so with the help of a caring faculty and staff who also have opportunities to lead, serve and shape the world, through the young lives they touch.
Below are just a few examples of some of the great advantages of working at Collegiate:
- Excellent professional development opportunities for faculty and staff
- Collaborative working environment
- A rich employee benefits package (which includes free lunch!)
- Opportunities for growth and leadership
- An environment that fosters creative and innovative instruction
The School is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender (including pregnancy), age, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or military status, marital status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law. Employment decisions at the School are based on merit, qualifications and skills.