Primary Purpose:

Provide strategic leadership for Districtwide partnerships alumni engagement and community advocacy efforts. The Director of Partnerships & Community Engagement builds and sustains relationships with business nonprofit higher education alumni and civic stakeholders; cultivates a strong network of informed advocates for the District; and ensures partnerships align with District priorities student outcomes and long-term community support. This role leads partnership strategy and provides strategic oversight of the Comal Education Foundation in coordination with the Chief Communications Officer.

Education / Certification:

1. Bachelors degree in journalism communications public relations or related field.

Special Knowledge / Skills:

1. Knowledge of creating and managing marketing projects
2. Knowledge of desktop publishing and graphic design
3. Superior presentation and analytical skills plus demonstrated skills to handle a variety of assignments simultaneously.
4. Strong communication public relations and interpersonal skills
5. Ability to use Photoshop Illustrator Dreamweaver InDesign and WordPress
6. Ability to implement policy and procedures
7. Ability to analyze and interpret data and statistics
8. Ability to work under deadline pressure and extra hours if needed on assignments

Experience / Other Requirements:

1. Three years of successful marketing and/or advertising experience in public education preferred.
2. Personal cell phone is required to handle district related business including after hours or when away from the office on district business.

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Strategic Leadership & Alignment

• Lead the Districts partnership alumni engagement and community advocacy strategy in alignment with District priorities and Communications Department goals.
• Serve as a senior advisor to the Chief Communications Officer on partnerships community relations and external engagement.
• Ensure alignment between partnerships messaging advocacy efforts and District brand and narrative.
• Identify opportunities to leverage relationships to support instructional priorities workforce development and student success.

Districtwide Partnership Strategy

• Develop and oversee high-impact partnerships with businesses nonprofit organizations chambers of commerce higher education institutions and regional organizations.
• Cultivate executive-level relationships that support student learning workforce development staff support and District initiatives.
• Establish clear accessible pathways for partner engagement including mentoring volunteering sponsorships in-kind support and employee perks.
• Collaborate with campuses and District departments to align partnerships with instructional operational and strategic needs.
• Ensure partnerships are coordinated intentional and scalable across the District.

Alumni Engagement & Advocate Network Development

• Develop and lead a Districtwide alumni engagement strategy that builds long-term relationships with graduates as advocates mentors partners and supporters.
• Create structures and pathways for alumni involvement including mentorship speaking engagements workforce connections and community advocacy.
• Partner with Communications staff to elevate alumni stories that reinforce District impact and outcomes.
• Cultivate a broader network of informed advocates - including alumni parents business leaders and community partners - who understand and support District priorities.

Government Relations & Legislative Engagement

• Support District leadership in maintaining relationships with local state and federal elected officials and legislative offices.
• Coordinate campus visits briefings and recognition opportunities that strengthen understanding of District initiatives.
• Support consistent messaging related to District priorities when engaging with governmental stakeholders in coordination with the Chief Communications Officer.

Community Advocacy & Relationship Building

• Build and sustain trust-based relationships with community leaders civic organizations and regional partners
• Support community engagement efforts that encourage long-term advocacy for public education and the District.
• Participate in key partner cultivation efforts major sponsorships and strategic relationship meetings.
• Coordinate advocacy-focused engagement efforts that strengthen long-term support for public education and the District.

Foundation Oversight & Strategic Coordination

• Provide strategic oversight for the Comal Education Foundation in coordination with the Chief Communications Officer.
• Serve as the District liaison to the Foundations Board of Directors.
• Guide long-range planning sustainability efforts and alignment between Foundation initiatives and District priorities.
• Review and approve Foundation goals fundraising strategies budgets and annual reporting.

Measurement Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of partnerships advocacy efforts and external engagement.
• Provide regular updates and strategic reporting to the Chief Communications Officer Superintendent Cabinet and Board of Trustees.
• Use data feedback and community insights to continuously refine partnership and advocacy strategies.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervise and support the Coordinator of Partnerships & Education Foundation.
• Establish priorities workflows and accountability to ensure effective execution of partnerships and Foundation operations.

Working Conditions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Maintain emotional control under stress.
2. Occasional prolonged and irregular hours.
3. Frequent districtwide and statewide travel.
4. Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds.

Required Experience:

Director