Communications and Marketing Director - Academy of the Holy Cross - Kensington Maryland

POSITION SUMMARY:

Responsible for implementing and executing a strategic communication and marketing plan to advance The Academy of the Holy Cross and position the school for admissions and philanthropy. The Director will oversee and actively participate in the creation, design, budget and production of school publications; manage the content of the school’s social media presence; administer the content of the school website; coordinate all advertising, publicity, and public relations; serve as the school’s spokesperson when so designated by the President; and supervise the crisis communications planning and implementation when necessary.

MISSION AND CORE VALUES:

The Academy of the Holy Cross, a Catholic College preparatory school sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross since 1868, is dedicated to educating young women in a Christ-centered community which values diversity. The Academy is committed to developing women of courage, compassion and scholarship who responsibly embrace the social, spiritual and intellectual challenges of the world.

All faculty and staff must demonstrate a commitment to the Core Values of the Academy: community, Catholic identity, academic excellence, educating the whole person, tradition, diversity, leadership, education for girls, environment, and communication.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure brand and messaging quality and consistency and establish guidelines to apply across all departments, activities and events at the school and among professional and volunteer leadership
• Plan for, create and deploy digital activities: website, online campaigns, email marketing, social media and digital content production
• Manage all aspects of the school’s print and digital communications, ensuring the continuity of the school’s brand and logo. Oversee the work of graphic designers and print vendors in production of printed materials and website visuals
• Support the President as a key member of the President’s Strategy Team
• Collaborate with administrative departments in articulating their purpose and ongoing work. Specifically, this includes the President, Advancement, Admissions, and Academic Divisions
• Review, revise, and update as necessary the school’s crisis communication plan
• Provide editorial and proofreading assistance for the Holy Cross community as needed
• Publicize events, programs, points of view and achievement to the media
• Cultivate and maintain media contacts
• Field and direct media-related inquiries
• Attend Academy and other community events to meet members of the community and develop a presence
• Stay current with school/organizations communication vehicles/strategies
• Photograph or manage photographers at relevant events
• Engage actively in professional development in order to remain current in best practices related to independent school communications, emerging social media, and effective marketing and advertising strategies
• Manage and plan department budget including all advertising expenses
• Perform other related duties as needed

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

EXPERIENCE:

• Must have a minimum 3 years of experience in Communications or Marketing, preferably in a non-profit or educational environment
• Must have a bachelor’s degree in Communications/Marketing or related field
• Must have experience supporting the development and execution of a marketing and communications plan, employing strategic decision-making skills.
• Must have broad-based knowledge of design and production in a variety of media (print, digital, etc.)
• Must have demonstrated experience working with, cultivating and maintaining media contacts

SKILLS:

• Must be a team player and a “doer” who can also set strategic goals
• Must have excellent oral, written, and presentation skills
• Must have demonstrated success in social media and digital marketing including planning campaigns, message development, analyzing metrics, and identifying trends
• Must have exceptional organizational and time management skills
• Must have working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Workspace Suite
• Must have experience using marketing platforms such as Constant Contact, EventBrite, and CRM’s
• Must be able to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Must be a self-starter who can work both independently and collaboratively
• Must have flexibility in assuming additional responsibilities
• Must have exceptional organizational and time management skills
• Must have a sense of humor

The salary for this role is $75,000 - $95,000