Communications Manager

West Bend School District

Preparing All Students for College Readiness AND Career Success.

http://west-bend.k12.wi.us/District/


Position Details

Communications Manager
Job
Full-time
9/8/2017
Southeast Wisconsin
West Bend, WI

The Communications Manager will lead development and implementation of a strategic communications responsive to the diverse needs of District stakeholders, manage and lead daily communications, and possess intellectual curiosity and professional maturity knowing when to grow professionally.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

  1. Lead the development, implementation and application of a District Communications Strategy responsive to stakeholder requirements
  2. Establish a communications dashboard designed to inform effectiveness of communications
  3. Develop and produce external print and electronic communications utilizing various modes of collateral materials; i.e. cable TV messages, cable castings, website and external newsletters, email messages, social media and video productions
  4. Maintain open lines of communication and relationships with external and internal stakeholders, promoting involvement of students, parents, staff members, and community members in school and district activities
  5. Develop and coordinate, with administrators and the local media; press releases, media briefings, promotion of school activities and other communication as appropriate, while establishing and maintaining media relations relationships
  6. Anticipate community concerns, media coverage and consult the administration on probable public relations consequences relating to shifts in existing programs and policies
  7. Develop and maintain programs to elicit feedback from various stakeholders through surveys, questionnaires, focus groups, interviews, environmental scans and other appropriate methods
  8. Researches, writes, and edits articles
  9. Develop and implement in-service programs and provide support to District personnel in the development of effective community relations, communications and marketing activities/programs, crisis management, media relations, and customer service
  10. Manage the direction and content of the district web site
  11. Serve as district spokesperson during times of crisis and for general media inquiries and maintain a database on inquiries for District information
  12. Research, develop, implement and evaluate a continuous marketing plan to support the District’s mission, core values and goals
  13. Perform regular communications audits of District departments and schools to evaluate effectiveness and guide the development of in-service opportunities

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Continually define the District’s digital communications strategy to include the use of video, social media and online communications tools
  2. Submit budgets as appropriate
  3. Act as official photographer at local, state and federal events on behalf of the district for display in the lobby, various WBSD publications and promotions collateral
  4. Coordinate promotional activities for the Superintendent of schools including “lunch with the Superintendent” and serve as a media liaison during school visits
  5. Seek out and arrange public appearances throughout community to promote the district’s schools, students and programs
  6. Create, supervise and coordinate the preparation and printing of district publications, calendar, articles, brochures, maps and performance reports
  7. Submit a school district annual report at the end of the year
  8. Develop and initiate fund-raising programs as needed
  9. Assist in the coordination and implementation of district recognition programs with Human Resources
  10. Implement and monitor an emergency response program with district safety manager
  11. Perform other duties as assigned

Education & Experience:

  1. Bachelor’s Degree in related field with 3 to 5 years of experience, or comparable experience in the field of communications required. Communications, public relations, or journalism degree preferred.

Key Skills and Abilities:

  1. Ability to develop strategic communication approach responsive to the diverse needs of District stakeholders 
  2. Ability to implement strategic communications plan to improve communications using continuous improvement methodologies. 
  3. Skill and ability to identify and use analytics and data to improve communications 
  4. Intellectual curiosity and professional maturity to know where and when to engage in professional development 
  5. Strong social media skills preferred
  6. Proficient use of current technologies, including, but not limited to MS Office Suite, marketing software, graphic design, and webpage applications
  7. Excellent communications skills, written and verbal, and knowledge of various media
  8. Ability to provide leadership in coordinating internal and external public information and public relations programs.
  9. Able to prioritize, communicate and interact in a positive, professional, and politically astute manner with the Board of Education, administrators, staff, district parents, community, students, news media, and other stakeholders
  10. Read and interpret documents, such as District policies and procedures, federal statutes, state statues, and DPI regulations, and routine operating and maintenance instructions for the purpose of communicating complex information to the general public
  11. Able to multi-task and handle multiple projects under tight deadlines
  12. Must be able to work independently as well as within a team and sometimes in a stressful environment 
  13. Maintain confidential information

$65,000 to $75,000 Exempt Full-Time (12 months)

INCLUDES FULL BENEFITS: Health Insurance, Dental, Retirement, District paid life and long term disability insurance, as well as voluntary participation in 403(b), additional life, Short Term Disability, vision, and paid time off.



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