Strategic Communications Manager

Job Title: Strategic Communications Manager
Location: Network
Address 910 W Van Buren, Chicago, IL 60607
Reports To: Managing Director of Marketing and Communications
Salary Range: $75,000+ based on experience and other credentials
Employee Type: Regular Full Time
Start Date: January 2024

Company Mission

Distinctive Schools creates diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. We support all learners to be engaged, curious, and to achieve their full potential. Our students become confident advocates, creative problem-solvers, and collaborative leaders.

Position Overview

The Strategic Communications Manager is responsible for developing and executing internal and external communications strategies for the company. This includes developing and managing the company's press releases, website, social media channels, and email marketing campaigns. The Strategic Communications Manager will also work with the marketing team to develop and execute public relations campaigns, and to create and manage all marketing collateral.

Strategic Communications Manager is responsible for developing and executing Strategic Communications plans that support the organization's mission, goals, and objectives. This includes developing and managing the organization's brand, creating and executing content marketing campaigns, and managing media relations. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of Strategic Communications, public relations, and marketing.

This role is responsible for all communications, in close partnership with the Managing Director of Marketing and Communications for the following audiences:

• Distinctive School team members

• Students and families

• Investors/partners

• General public

• Media

Brand Communications

• Develop and execute Strategic Communications plans that align with the organization's overall goals and objectives

• L??ead external communications for network priorities, including but not limited to strategic partnerships, student success, organizational impacts within the community, new school openings, events and issues management

• Responsible for Distinctive Schools brand, promotion of accomplishments and ensuring the voice of Distinctive Schools

• Cross-collaborate with Distinctive Schools team members to ensure branding and communications strategies are successful

• Assist in the develop and drive implementation of strategies for marketing and increasing brand awareness

• Consult and thought partner to executive leaders regarding communications, branding, and strategic marketing

Public Relations

• Manage media relations, including developing and maintaining relationships with journalists, pitching stories, and responding to media

• Oversee and guide the day-to-day proactive pitching, fulfillment of local and national media requests, speaking engagements, appearances, and major news pieces around corporate strategy and thought leadership, providing media training, responses and talking points when appropriate

• Draft, edit and continuously improve communications strategy and messaging materials, including press releases, briefing documents, FAQs and fact sheets for external audiences

• Track and measure the effectiveness of communications campaigns and make recommendations for improvement

• Represent the company to media and external stakeholders

• Maintain relationships with key media contacts, including developing and maintaining relationships with journalists, pitching stories, and responding to media inquiries

• Assist with crisis communications, including developing and executing crisis plans, communicating with stakeholders, and managing the media and various audiences

Internal Communications

• Own intranet, Happeo, from a content development and dissemination perspective ensuring all DS team members are informed of organizational news/happenings

• Manage internal communications process from concept development to execution and analysis

• Create and deploy monthly newsletters to internal stakeholders/team members

• Support board and partner relations communications including quarterly performance, updates to investor presentations and the annual report and CEO letter

• Partner with cross functional teams to build board related materials, including reports, presentations, proposals, etc.

Marketing (Digital, Website and Social Media)

• Create public-facing original content and engagement campaigns

• Develop storytelling content which aligns to strategic plan for Network and campus websites, social media, and in print materials (including all copywriting). This includes content marketing aimed at generating leads, driving traffics and building relationships with target audiences

• Help craft the editorial strategy that supports Distinctive Schools communications strategy and narrative, including the development of video and social content to raise our profile and drive the business

• Write, edit and send all internal communications across a range of company messaging platforms to inform, inspire and engage

• Collaborate with marketing team on creating marketing materials for recruitment, development, and grants

• Assist as needed with Distinctive Schools online marketing functions, including the development and implementation of online email campaigns, social media campaigns, and collateral

Requirements (minimum)

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree

Qualifications

• Five to seven years of experience communications or public relations field

• Excellent writing and editing skills

• Strong verbal communication and organizational and project management skills that include program/event planning and tactical execution

• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure

• Technology demands:

  • Proficient with cloud-based solutions (Google Suite)

  • Familiar with social media platform management

• Travel: to various campuses throughout the region

Physical demands
Work is typically performed in an office setting with occasional extended periods of time at computer terminals. Occasional program necessity requires working hours beyond set hours and days. Frequent telephonic and occasional personal contact. Generally, the job requires 80% sitting, 10% walking, and 10% standing.

Benefits

• 25+ Paid holidays & 15 days PTO annually
• 12 weeks family paid leave
• Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 403b match
  • Fully match up to 3%
  • 50% match up to 5%
• Professional development including tuition reimbursement
• Gym and wellness discounts
• And more

Description Disclaimer

Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.

EEO

Distinctive Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law.

Distinctive Schools is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Distinctive Schools will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact talent@distinctiveschools.org or call 773.828.4191