Director, Strategic Communications

Job Overview

The Director of Strategic Communications serves as the divisions senior communications strategist and advisor on public communications reputation management and organizational messaging. Reporting to the Chief Communications Officer the Director provides executive leadership for a multidisciplinary communications team responsible for strategic communications digital communications social media branding storytelling marketing issues and change management and content strategy.

The Director develops and executes enterprise-wide communications strategies that advance division priorities strengthen stakeholder trust increase employee and community engagement and protect the reputation of Loudoun County Public Schools. This position collaborates with Cabinet members School Board members principals and cross-functional departments and directors to ensure clear consistent and strategic communications that support organizational goals.

Roles and Responsibilities

The following information is intended to describe the overall nature and scope of the work being performed. This is not a comprehensive listing of all responsibilities or tasks; work may differ and other work may be assigned when deemed appropriate.

• Provides executive leadership vision and operational oversight for a high-performing strategic communications team and serves as senior advisor on strategic communications reputation management stakeholder engagement and organizational messaging.
• Develops implements and continuously evaluates a comprehensive division-wide strategic communications plan aligned with the LCPS Strategic Plan and organizational priorities.
• Leads integrated enterprise-wide communications campaigns that influence understanding engagement trust coordinated use of earned owned shared and paid media.
• Provides strategic communications counsel and executive messaging support to the Superintendent Cabinet School Board and Senior Leadership on high-profile initiatives emerging issues and organizational priorities.
• Serves as steward of the LCPS brand ensuring consistent messaging visual identity editorial standards and communications quality across all division communications.
• Protects and enhances the divisions reputation through proactive communications issues management
• Leads mentors develops and evaluates a multidisciplinary communications team responsible for writing editing video production digital communications marketing social media graphic design analytics and stakeholder engagement.
• Establishes performance expectations encourages innovation and fosters a highly collaborative customer-focused culture emphasizing creativity accountability and continuous improvement.
• Uses marketing research audience insights engagement metrics and performance analytics to evaluate communications effectiveness and guide strategic decision-making.
• Oversees advisory committees and community engagement initiatives that promote two-way communication and meaningful stakeholder participation including the School Board Advisory committee LEAF (Loudoun Education Alliance of Families).
• Leads enterprise communications technology initiatives including digital communications platforms website governance communication systems and change management strategies that improve communication effectiveness and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

Below are the minimum qualifications for this job. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are also acceptable.

Education

Bachelors Degree in English Communications Journalism Public Relations or related field

Licensed and Certifications

Experience

• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in strategic communications public relations marketing journalism or corporate communications.
• Five (5) years leading high-performing communications teams in complex organizations.
• Demonstrated experience advising executive leadership and governing boards.
• Experience leading enterprise communications initiatives across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Experience managing organizational reputation issues management and developing integrated communications campaigns informed by audience research and performance analytics.
• Experience managing cross-functional initiatives involving multiple departments and executive stakeholders.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Expert knowledge of strategic communications integrated marketing public relations reputation management branding stakeholder engagement and change management.
• Exceptional writing editing and executive communication skills with mastery of AP Style.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex organizational initiatives into compelling communications for diverse audiences.
• Strong strategic thinking judgment and decision-making skills.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with executive leaders School Board members community leaders and employees.
• Experience using data research and analytics to evaluate communication effectiveness and guide strategy.
• Knowledge of Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) FERPA accessibility requirements copyright and communications-related legal considerations.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and perform effectively in high-pressure and crisis situations.
• Strong leadership skills with demonstrated success developing collaborative innovative high-performing teams.

Preferred Experience:
Experience in public education government higher education healthcare or other complex public-sector organizations.
Experience leading digital transformation or enterprise communications technology implementations.

Physical Requirements

The following provides a brief description of physical requirements for this job:

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly talking expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. The employee must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately loudly or quickly. The employee must possess normal cognitive abilities including the ability to learn recall and apply certain practices and policies. Work requires frequently sitting and/or remaining in a stationary position for long periods of time; exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and negligible amounts of force frequently to lift carry push pull or otherwise move objects.

Reports to: Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Months/Days/Hours:12 months/ 254 days/ 8 hours

Salary Level:Universal/Scale B.3 - Level 27

Salary Scale: Range:$152991 - $236475

Remote Work Eligible:No

Union Designation: Non-Union

Required Experience:

Director