Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications

JOB SUMMARY:

The Darrow School offers an opportunity for a dynamic, team-oriented, and experienced marketing and communications professional to join a small, independent school community in strengthening our brand and finding innovate new ways to speak to our market.

 The Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications [DSMC] oversees all aspects of communications and marketing for the School, serving advancement and alumnae/i needs, admission needs, parent needs, and other institutional needs. The Director will manage Darrow’s social media presence and ensure that all online activity created by Darrow constituents is in keeping with our brand strategy. This is a full-time, 12-month administrative position with some evening and weekend hours as needed. The DSMC reports directly to the Head of School.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Write content for online and print communications, compelling readers to engage with the School;
• Follow best practices in search engine optimization (incl. keyword optimization, meta descriptions, image alt descriptions, heading formatting);
• Manage production of the School’s alumni magazine, The Peg Board;
• Increase traffic to website by 40% within first year;
• Develop blog plan that aims for three search engine optimized posts per week;
• Oversee the content and design of our website and electronic communications, including a bi-weekly newsletter and updates to events calendar online;
• Develop and implement a communications/marketing plan incorporating consistent themes that support the School's strategic plan/initiatives and priorities;
• Manage Communications projects from inception through completion
• Photograph school events for image library
• Manage the School's communications messaging to consistently reflect and convey its established identity and mission;
• Work closely with the Advancement Office to implement a clear communications plan for fundraising;
• Work closely with the Admission Office to prepare materials in support of recruitment and retention; including developing quarterly ads for print, social media, and Google AdWords;
• Provides the coordination between Admissions and Advancement department project supervisors to ensures necessary reviews and approvals are received;
• Develop, track and update project schedules; review remaining work; identify and resolve conflicts; analyze impacts to schedule of any proposed changes;
• Oversee the School’s social media accounts/presence through compelling content generation and advertising, including:
  • 1 Facebook post per day
  • 2-4 Twitter posts per day
  • 1-2 Instagram posts per day