You're a strong, hands-on communications professional who enjoys providing leadership to a small team, revamping current programs, and seeking out new opportunities to support and promote an organization. Managing internal and external communications, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, keeping projects on track and on budget - you're highly skilled at everything you do. You enjoy rolling up your sleeves to write copy and do what needs to be done.
We're thrilled to partner with our client, Southpointe Academy, in their search for a Director of Communications who will lead, create, implement and evaluate the communications plan. This includes planning, organizing, coordinating, and managing all internal and external communications, including the website, social media platforms, parent communications, marketing, graphic design and school publications.
About Southpointe Academy
Southpointe Academy is a vibrant and innovative private K-12 school in Tsawwassen, BC. It is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum World School that offers its students and families a caring, community-centred environment.
Driven by its core values of kindness, integrity, perseverance, respect and responsibility, Southpointe aims to develop young people of character who will make a positive difference in the world.
About the workplace
This is a full-time role that requires working 5 days a week from the Tsawwassen, BC campus.
About the role
- Lead, create, implement and evaluate the school's strategic and tactical communications plan.
- Collaborate with key stakeholders and engage appropriate market research to develop, implement, evaluate and coordinate print and digital marketing strategies, communications and PR activities.
- Oversee the guidelines and implementation of branding, marketing, communications, and PR for respective divisions/departments of the school community.
- Develop internal publications including newsletters, emails, websites and special projects (e.g., annual yearbook, large poster printing, school installations), ensuring information, images and content are current and positively reflect the school and its values.
- Develop external publications such as marketing collateral, social media posts, annual reports, and digital and print advertisements.
- Support communications for Education, Advancement, Admissions and Alumni Relations activities.
- Contribute to projects promoting alumni relations.
- Assist the Advancement Team with donor communications and initiatives and provide event support (e.g., building unique web pages and giving onsite support) as necessary.
- Create admissions-related communications to ensure all new families receive timely and effective school communications.
- Assist school leadership with communications about school-wide and divisional events.
- Serve as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team and promote the school's vision, mission, guiding principles, and strategic plans.
- Use relevant research (data mining, demographic information, market analysis and competitive analysis) to support strategic planning.
- Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement action plans and evaluate the progress and results.
- Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the school's goals.
- Lead and manage a small team of direct reports (on staff or contracted).
- Provide subject matter expertise on crisis communications and public relations.
- Produce regular reports on progress that include (but are not limited to) monthly board reports and quarterly personal/professional divisional/department reports.
The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $115,000, along with extended benefits, three weeks of vacation (plus the days between Christmas and New Years Day), paid sick time, RRSP matching program, and more.
About you
- 7+ years of communications experience, ideally in education or a related industry.
- Bachelor's degree in a related field.
- Thorough knowledge of both internal and external communications, and brand marketing.
- Demonstrated leadership and team-building skills, including experience in setting goals, motivating, leading, evaluating and developing a small team of professionals.
- Strong organizational, self-management and collaboration skills to execute cross-functional communication programs to a high standard.
- Exceptional verbal and written communications skills.
- Experience in crisis communications is an asset.
- Experience interacting with senior-level business and community leaders.
- Demonstrated understanding of diversity and the importance of an inclusive community.
- Demonstrated professionalism and discretion in handling sensitive/confidential matters and in representing the school, publicly and privately in all domains.
- Knowledge and understanding of the education sector and/or working with children is an asset.
About Smart, Savvy
Smart, Savvy
- Associates is a marketing recruitment agency that connects companies with marketing, communications and creative professionals at all levels, from coordinators to C-suite. Based in Vancouver, BC, this team of marketers-turned-recruiters have an in-depth understanding of the industry and work diligently to find best-in-class talent for each search.