Communications Specialist

Communications Specialist reports to Director of Communications and Partnerships

with potential to become Director of Communications and Partnerships in July 2013

Major responsibilities:

• Creates high quality content under deadline for print, electronic, social, and broadcast media - writes, researches, and interviews for content.
• Assists director with administration and management of integrated communication programs that advance the school system as a leader in the state in student achievement
• Develops and maintains news/story opportunities and in consultation with the Executive Director, conceives, designs, write and posts interesting and timely news, features and photos about events and life in the GSCS
• Supports the school media liaisons and school web managers
• Serves as web content manager for the school system web site
• Serves as social media content manager
• Serves as web content manager for Partners in Education web site
• Writes and distributes weekly electronic newsletter for staff
• Prepares and distributes any additional publications for internal and external audiences
• Supports crisis team with communications
• Provides customer service according to best practices
• Monitors and reviews online, broadcast, and print school and school system presence
• Creates and maintains databases and data collection systems
• Creates and distributes surveys to collect data for school system initiatives
• Serves as ex-officio member and record-keeper for the Partners in Education, Inc. Board of Directors
• Provides data to support overall operations
• Creates and maintains on-going student and staff recognition programs
• Supports the management of vendors including graphic designers and printers
• Serves as system photographer
• Manages recognition of students and stakeholders supports system wide events with information
• Operates office and assumes responsibilities of executive director during absences

 Director of Communications and Partnerships

Reports to Superintendent

Major responsibilities:

• Creates and directs the school system’s overall internal and external communications strategy  for multiple stakeholder groups through results-driven approaches
• Meets weekly and works collaboratively with senior leadership to research, plan, develop, implement, and measure communication strategies to broaden reach and the impact of the GSCS mission, programs, plans, services, and messaging.
• Plans, organizes and manages all communications - print, electronic, broadcast, and web-based.
• Directs school system graphic identity program to ensure consistency in visual image and vision
• Manages media relations
• Produces weekly radio broadcast
• Serves as media spokesman
• Manages stakeholder engagement initiatives
• Serves as executive director of Griffin-Spalding Partners in Education, 501 (c) 3organization with multi-member board of directors and budget of $390,800
• Secures resources to meet program needs of school system and Partners in Education including writing grants
• Develops and conducts training for multiple stakeholder groups on communications, mass media, crisis communications, school councils, partnerships
• Maintains relationships with key communicator groups including parents of students, school council members, realtors, legislators, business, senior adults, civic club members, faith-based organizations, chamber of commerce members among others
• Serves as superintendent’s designee to Chamber of Commerce and local realtors association
• Leads information campaigns in referendums
• Presents programs and makes presentations to stakeholder groups
• Plans, develops and coordinates school system and Partners in Education events including fund-raisers, symposia, back to school assemblies, receptions, presentations by external stakeholders
• Manages issues of importance to school district
• Consults with schools on community relations, communications issues and concerns, crisis plans
• Creates opportunities for staff and community collaboration
• Serves as public information liaison during emergency situations
• Establishes opportunities for board of education and senior leadership to interact with external stakeholders
• Serves as liaison to the board of education for training, recognition, and credentialing opportunities
• Conducts focus groups, workshops for data gathering and analysis and recommendations
• Develops budgets
• Recruits Partners in Education and volunteers for school system
• Advises superintendent in overall development of communication strategies to market the school system through various media
• Supervises, evaluates and coaches staff members

 Minimum qualifications

• Bachelors degree in public relations, communications, marketing, journalism, or similar required.
• Minimum of five years experience in communications with demonstrated successes
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Basic photography and document lay-out and design skills
• Ability to organize multiple projects simultaneously with great attention to details and sensitivity to deadlines, priorities, and confidentiality   
• Ability to work collaboratively
• Strong knowledge and experience in webpage design
• Experience in event coordination
• Strong customer service orientation
• Proficient in MS Office

Preferred experience

• Seven  years of consistently increasing administrative experience in communications and PR that includes a blend of public relations, communications, public speaking, presentations, marketing, advocacy
• Extensive work in media relations
• Experience in and understanding of non-pro?t or public education setting  and working with volunteers
• Accreditation in Public Relations
• Masters degree in leadership, management, administration or communication
• Training/facilitator skills
• Ability to understand and communicate complex legislative and policy issues
• Ability to develop and interpret statistical information
• Excellent judgment in prioritizing and project planning
• Superior leadership, planning and communication skills
• Development of marketing, promotional and educational campaigns

Work Schedule: 225 days/8hrs per day

Salary Range:  $35,460-$51,804