Description

SUMMARY: 

The Director of Strategic Communications is responsible for directing and managing all district strategic communications, marketing, and public relations while ensuring strategies serve the cultures of our diverse community and are in alignment with the District's vision, mission and goals.  Functions of this position include district-level internal and external communications, media relations, public and community engagement and special events. In collaboration with the Superintendent, this role facilities communication with the school board and serves as an internal consultant to schools and other departments on communication-related issues.  This role regularly collaborating with other staff members to ensure communication needs for district-wide initiatives are met. The work of this position is intended to promote district, school and student successes, build parent/caregiver and community support, and strengthen public confidence in the district and its schools.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Establish the Communications Plan and use design strategies and tactics to drive a multi-channel communications strategy across the district.
2. Lead a team of marketing and design professionals to design implement and updates the district's strategic plan for communications, interagency collaboration, School Board result policies, internal communication systems and parent/caregiver and community engagement.
3. As necessary, provides for contacts and immediate responsiveness at all times including receiving and assessing information, cooperating with news media, law enforcement, and others, and informing appropriate district personnel.
4. Coordinates marketing campaigns relative to new strategic plan outcomes or developing programs; writes or reviews articles and statements; assists the superintendent in developing and publicizing reports related to the performance of the district and articulates district goals and objectives; and advises district administrators and other personnel on public relations aspects of such programs.
5. Develop a brand voice and maintain brand integrity across all platforms.
6. Attends School Board meetings and coordinates requests for interviews, responds to questions and provides results of requested Board actions as appropriate.
7. Communicates with the School Board using various mediums under the direction of the Superintendent.
8. Initiates and maintains digital, video, audio, and print content communications with non-English speaking media and populations they represent.
9. Communicates with various stakeholders (e.g. district and school personnel, board members, parents, caregivers, students, public, media, etc.) through various mediums (e.g. manual and electronic presentations, printed publications, e-mails, web pages, video, blogs, etc.) to promote the work of the district and ensure a positive brand image, trust, pride, and return on investment is represented in all communications ensuring that materials are language translated and captioned ensuring accessibility.
10. Provide quality control for messaging, communications, and graphics by all district staff and serve as a key team member in coordinating high-profile District events and/or initiatives (i.e, graduation, enrollment, referendum, convocation, Black History Month, etc.).
11. Reviews communications from the District to external stakeholders and advises on ways to enhance presentation quality and text.  
12. Plans, composes and produces a wide variety of materials (e.g. facts sheets, press releases, brochures, calendars, staff directories, posters, brochures and a variety of newsletters, social media content) to distribute to district personnel and the community in print and electronically; provides research and writing support to the Superintendent and other district administrators; composes communiqué for the Superintendent as directed.
13. Consults with administrators and establishes standards for web-based, multimedia, and printed external communications that reflect the district's brand and brand identity.
14. Facilitate the process for school sites to create a yearly Family Engagement Plan, ensuring that non dominant voices are lifted.
15. Co Facilitates the Parent Leadership Group to ensure equitable fundraising and practices across all school sites.
16. Provides director oversight and supervision to the Sun Prairie Community Schools program and the community liaison positions.
17. Facilitate the Service Excellence Team in morale building and coordinating activities/events at the District Support Center.
18. Serves as the district communication contact as emergent situations arise. Ensure appropriate communication is sent from the school or district level in response to incidents/emergencies. Updates, maintains and facilitates the district crisis communication plan.
19. Serves as a member of the Superintendent's Cabinet; gathers information, verifies accuracy, collaborates with Cabinet members to align messaging, and informs the Superintendent and others of emerging situations tracking engagement across various platforms to make data-driven decisions.
20. Manage media relations and develop contacts with media members, influencers, and community leaders.
21. Serves as media liaison for the district. Prepares and distributes news releases, arranges media interviews and conferences, responds to media requests and provides training for the Board, site administrators and other staff members regarding relations with news media.
22. Provides training, advice and support to administrators to enhance community engagement opportunities and strengthen relationships/increase transparency with key stakeholders and the community for various projects and initiatives.
23. Manages and maintains the district's web site and newsletter, including developing and reviewing content, collaborating with staff to develop and design standards, templates, or structures to assist users with updating web content for which they are responsible.
24. Collaborates with the Technology Department in the development and maintenance of web site policies, planning, and design.
25. Develops and prepares the annual preliminary budget for communication activities in alignment with the strategic plan and the communications plan.
26. Controls and authorizes communications expenditures in accordance with established procedures.
27. Coordinates distribution and collection, and tabulates data for communication and engagement related external and internal opinion surveys. Assists in preparing and analyzing feedback from surveys.
     

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervises Multimedia and Website Strategist and Administrative Associate

Requirements

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to eligible individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: 

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in marketing, communications, journalism, or related, and six to eight years of work experience in communication, marketing or journalism.

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE SKILLS: 

Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.  Ability to edit written materials with a high degree of accuracy and to create a powerful and clear message. Requires well-developed language and writing skills to prepare professional materials and edit text to be suitable for presentations, and general communications. Ability to effectively respond to inquiries from staff and community.  Research information and communicate in a practical, non-technical manner. Demonstrated skill in presenting information to a variety of audiences.

ANALYTICAL AND REASONING ABILITY: 

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.  Ability to make judgments and decisions by solving problems, making evaluations, or reaching conclusions. Proven ability to lead communication strategies in other organizations.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

The position requires specialized knowledge of public relations and communications principles, practices, and methods. Requires knowledge of the design, layout and production of written, printed and electronic materials. Requires advanced knowledge of computer-aided office productivity tools including but not limited to, word and desktop publishing, graphics, web page editing and maintenance programs. Requires the ability to identify, organize, and sequence activities that support external communications programs. Requires the ability to conceptualize and prepare layouts for communications materials. Experience with multi-media technology and its application to school district communication.  Work under pressure and meet deadlines.  Initiate and organize work with self-direction.  Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and School Board policies. Demonstrated skill in developing and implementing media, advocacy or marketing campaigns. Demonstrated skill in representing an organization to the public or/and media.

TEMPERAMENT: 

Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with staff, media and the community at large. Requires the ability to use initiative to attain objectives. Requires the ability to work under deadline pressure and handle simultaneous projects. Requires well-developed human relation skills to persuade others, speak to and demonstrate to small and large groups of administrators, teachers and community members and convey a positive image of the District.

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES:

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear and operate a computer. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and reach with hands and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds, such as boxes of computer paper.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  Position usually demands meeting deadlines with severe time constraints.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Shall complete a physical examination as required by Wisconsin Statute 118.25.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES:

Valid driver's license.