National Director of Marketing and Communications

Job Purpose

Under the direction of the Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Marketing and Communications for Open Sky Education is responsible for building our strategy and managing the implementation of all marketing, branding and communications efforts across the organization. This role will be a direct manager and support for all student enrollment and retention functions as well as an indirect support for all staff recruitment and retention functions.

S/he will work closely with the CEO, Executive Directors, Data & Applications, Human Resources, School Admissions Officers (SAMs), Regional operations teams, and School Leadership Teams to lead our communications and marketing efforts and maintain brand alignment.

Essential Responsibilities

General:

· Build, maintain, and manage a network of external vendors and agencies to support all communications, marketing, and branding needs of the organization.

· Oversee and optimize a 6-figure budget to meet all branding, marketing, and communications goals.

Branding:

· Maintain and build on all branding materials to ensure alignment with our mission and taking into account the voice of customer for key stakeholders across all OSE brands.

· Ensure consistent branding throughout all aspects of the organization (websites, all documents produced, facilities, signage, clothing, etc.) including developing policies and procedures for the use of all branding, marketing and communications.

Marketing:

· Develop the marketing strategies based on voice of customer for each key stakeholder.

· Build, maintain, and manage a network of external vendors and agencies to support all communications, marketing, and branding needs of the organization.

· Manage the development of all marketing materials including presentations, videos, websites, key messaging through prose and phrases, 1-pagers, etc.

· Oversee implementation of all marketing strategies to assist our teams in reaching their annual goals in the following areas: staff recruitment and retention, student recruitment and retention, fundraising, parent communications, staff communications, advocacy, media relations, external relations.

· Maintain and build on our enrollment process including our Parent Experience Journey, managing the weekly publications and communications of all enrollment metrics to key stakeholders, and collaborating with regional and school staff related to all aspects of the enrollment process.

Communications:

· Assist functional leaders to develop communications strategies based on voice of customer.

· Lead in developing and implementing internal communications strategies at all levels to maintain strong staff, student and parent engagement.

· Oversee all aspects of public relations including providing training, developing and executing public relations protocols and assisting the school, regional and national teams in all areas of public relations including media relations and social media.

· Collaborate with school and regional teams to oversee our social media strategy and implementation as well as provide support for interactions with social media posts.

· Build systems, handbooks, training and provide support for emergency and/or crisis communications.

Qualifications and Competencies

Mission and Culture Alignment

· Passion and strong commitment for making high-quality Christian education accessible and affordable to far more children across our nation.

· Builds productive relationships that support a culture of “team and family”

· Self-starter, high energy, positive, “can do” attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and attention to detail

Educational Excellence

· Deep passion for providing high-quality Christian education especially in urban communities and for families who have historically had fewer educational options.

Forming Character

· Enjoys tackling complex challenges daily in a rapidly changing, high-paced working environment.

Resource Management

· Capable of delegating well and effectively monitoring the progress of team members

· Keen analytic, organization and complex problem-solving skills which allows for strategic data interpretation

Collaborative Relationships

· Gets results collaboratively with others across multiple layers and function

· Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills and exceptionally responsive to current team and new candidates; experience in effectively building relationships and communicating at all levels

Serving Leader

· Exemplifies our core values

· Exemplifies Serving Leadership by continually raising the bar, confronting the brutal facts, and inspiring the leadership team to achieve beyond their own expectations

· Thinks strategically and imaginatively with the ability to align our mission, voice of customer, end communication goals, and a creative process to achieve goals

General Skills, Education, and Experience

· Strong communications skills with ability to write clear, persuasive and inspiring content

· Strong computer skills and knowledge of necessary platforms for the position

· Bachelor’s degree required

· Five or more years of equivalent prior experience

· Agency experience preferred

Work Location

This is primarily an on-site role working mostly from our National Office located in Waukesha, WI. Some flexibility may be granted for remote work up to 1-2 days a week if/as approved by the COO. Also, some travel will be required on occasion to be on site in our schools, currently located in WI and AZ.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.