Director of Communications & Community Engagement

Position Summary:

The School District of University City seeks a dynamic team player to work as the Director of Communication and Community Engagement in a small fast-paced and highly creative Communications Office. The Director of Communications and Community Engagement will help lead our efforts in telling the story of the School District of University City through internal and external platforms events and relationships. Examples include but are not limited to the creation of excellent internal and external communication materials news publications marketing materials strong media contacts successful community engagement activities and numerous special events in a diverse school district with a progressive mindset.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Meet bi-weekly with building leaders (or their designee) to develop relationships and to maintain a pulse on the District to gather facts and unique news stories from each school resulting in the production of story pitches press releases news briefs and occasional stories for both the website and the Districts print magazine PRIDE.
• Manage and maintain content migration content updates and continued content upgrades for the Districts website in keeping with District branding and design standards including production of written content.
• Ensure social media updates to Facebook Twitter Instagram and other social media accounts; maintain social media master planning calendar; collect and report monthly analytics.
• Lead communications activities for the district strategic plan
• Oversee a variety of internal and external calendars regarding school and district events.
• Facilitate taking photos and adjust as needed in Photoshop or other publishing programs.
• Manage the daily organization and archiving of digital photos.
• Lead the design and produce fliers and social media graphics in basic design programs.
• Facilitate print vendors on special projects/products.
• Ensure office and clerical work that includes monitoring office phones and email accounts maintaining spreadsheets managing event registrations and follow-up. correspondence printing jobs vendor contracts requisitions and billing.
• Coordinate and lead event planning as necessary.
• Maintain the highest standards of email and phone etiquette and response.
• Support special projects and partnerships as assigned by the Superintendent or District Chief of Staff.
• Coordinate School Board Meetings in terms of video; recognitions; other communications needs.
• Lead the Districts legislative advocacy strategy and efforts.
• Serve as the liaison for One UCity UCEF (University City Education Foundation).

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation description of the types of duties and responsibilities required for this position. Employees may be asked to perform other job-related duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

The qualifications noted below are required to enable the employee to perform the essential duties/responsibilities of this position.

• Bachelors degree in communications marketing journalism or related field; advanced degree preferred
• Experience in communications journalism public relations or other related settings. Public education-setting experience preferred but not required
• Experience supervising a team
• Knowledge of the educational landscape in St. Louis especially the states accreditation system MSIP (Missouri School Improvement Program)
• Exceptional and demonstrated customer service and people skills
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends at District events
• Demonstrated event planning and execution skills
• Organized self-starter and multitasker with strong organizational skills
• Ability to strategically work with a diverse set of stakeholders ranging from elected officials to school administrators to families
• Strong technology skills and eagerness to learn and effectively utilize a variety of platforms relevant to school communications including Google Suite Microsoft Office School Messenger Blackboard Finalsite Adobe Suite Canva and other systems
• Self-starter with an ability to juggle assignments while working with multiple departments and schools
• Commitment to equity inclusion and student voice
• Ability to work comfortably with numerous stakeholders and leaders using strong interpersonal skills and confidentiality
• Excellent writing editing and copy-editing skills including social media skills
• Knowledge and utilization of AP Style and standards

Candidates must provide three to five samples of their writing and design work for consideration. Samples should demonstrate a variety of capabilities and could include publicity campaigns news articles social media posts graphic design reports etc.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Sufficient vision to read printed material see distant objects with clarity and identify and distinguish objects
• Sufficient hearing to hear conversations in person and on the telephone and hear sounds clearly up to 30 feet
• Ability to speak in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversation and on the telephone and in addressing groups
• Ability to exert up to 25 pounds of force to lift carry push pull or otherwise move objects
• This position requires standing walking sitting bending and reaching for extended periods of time
• Sufficient manual dexterity and/or mobility to grasp and/or manipulate objects operate mechanical equipment and move about the work area
• This position will subject the employee to work environments that have exposure to weather or interiors with extremes of heat and/or cold wet and/or humid conditions high noise levels and various work related hazards

EEO Statement:

The School District of University City is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race color religion national origin age disability or sex including pregnancy sexual orientation and gender identity and other characteristics protected by law.

Learn more about The School District of University City at

Required Experience:

Director