The Director of Marketing and Communications leads a highly creative and driven team focused on stewarding the strong brand of McDonogh School, a nationally recognized leader in PK-12 independent school education.

McDonogh's faculty and staff are engaged and invested in the school’s mission to provide life-altering educational experiences that inspire personal and intellectual growth. Documenting and publicizing the accomplishments of our vibrant and innovative community is central to the work of the marketing and communications team.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned professional who will drive results across multiple departmental initiatives and deliver dynamic content to inspire the engagement of all McDonogh constituents. They are responsible for developing and executing marketing and communications strategies to advance recruitment, retention, and philanthropic objectives. The candidate must be an excellent writer and strong editor who is adept in marketing, public relations, media relations, and crisis communications.

The Director is a member of the senior administrative team and works closely with the Head of School and the President of the Board of Trustees.

Essential Functions

• Develop and execute marketing and campaign plans that engage internal and external constituents and expand McDonogh’s profile locally, regionally, and nationally
• Oversee and ensure brand integrity including messaging and positioning, content control and quality, and adherence to the school’s graphic and editorial standards across all channels
• Manage the marketing and communications team and collaborate with other constituents of the McDonogh community to promote the school from diverse perspectives using multiple platforms
• Collaborate with and advise the administration on issues of crisis management messaging
• Serve as the media spokesperson and manage media relations, including writing and distributing press releases, pitching stories, and cultivating positive relations with local and national media
• Manage all digital and print advertising initiatives
• Produce persuasive and creative content for collateral materials, advertisements, and constituent correspondence to increase the school's visibility and competitive positioning
• Manage relationships with outside marketing and communications firms to identify emerging marketing opportunities and mission-appropriate market segments, design effective targeting strategies, and track and assess effectiveness
• Oversee the strategic and creative direction of the school’s website and social media platforms, including content, analytics reports, and SEO
• Collaborate with admissions, philanthropy, and hiring teams to develop marketing and communications strategies to achieve goals related to student enrollment and family engagement, fundraising, and faculty/staff recruitment and retention

Recommended Employment Qualifications

5-10 years of relevant experience in independent schools, higher education, or other mission-based institutions or businesses. A bachelor’s degree or higher in English, Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field.

Additional Experience

• Demonstrated experience overseeing photography, videography, website content management and design, and social media marketing
• Experience in strategic communications planning and brand management
• Must have demonstrated success using a variety of marketing platforms (content marketing, social media marketing, public relations, thought leadership, etc.)
• Must have experience in managing crisis communication and a working knowledge of crisis communication best practices
• Must have the ability to collect and analyze data to effectively inform innovation and change to current and future marketing and communications strategies and efforts
• Proficiency in Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, and Adobe Creative Suite

Additional Requirements

• Commitment to continued learning (personal and team) and development on issues of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Demonstrate maturity, humility, professionalism, confidence, integrity, confidentiality, and a strong work ethic
• Desire to work in a diverse environment and inclusive culture that values and respects difference across race, ethnicity, religion, and orientation or identity
• Excellent interpersonal skills including self-awareness, good instincts, and sound judgment
• Must be detail-oriented and able to handle multiple priorities and deadlines
• Must have excellent writing and editing skills, and experience writing for print and digital platforms
• Proven ability to effectively lead, manage, and inspire a creative team in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities

Working Conditions

Evening, weekend, and Holiday hours may be required. Lifting and carrying of equipment is not typical but may be required on rare occasions. Lifting up to 25 pounds. Other working conditions include climbing stairs, walking around campus, sitting, standing, and significant computer use including extensive close use of a computer monitor.