The French American School of Puget Sound (FASPS) seeks a Director of Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations who can anticipate communications and marketing opportunities and proactively put ideas and plans into action. Our ideal candidate is a seasoned communications, marketing, and public relations professional, a graceful writer, a dynamic leader, an active and social community member, and a creative and strategic thinker — in addition to being someone who is also able to roll up their sleeves to get the job done.
In this position, the successful candidate will work to advance communications, marketing, and public relations within and beyond the school community, focusing on the school’s mission, vision, and core values, and advancing the school’s presence within and among students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni students, and the broader FASPS community. The Director of Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations is expected to maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality while working with every member of the school community. This position reports directly to the Head of School.
This is a full-time, 12-month position, with a competitive salary and benefits.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Regularly audit communications tools, processes, and procedures as necessary.
Streamline the flow of communications to key audiences including current students and parents, prospective families, faculty and staff, donors, and alumni. Maintain positive relationships with, through consistent, accurate, informative, and timely communications.
Understand and educate others on the current state of the private, independent school environment, parent perspectives on school’s brand, and the best path toward strengthening those perspectives.
Ensure that the school’s mission, vision, and core values are clearly articulated and understood, and that the school’s brand is well positioned, its messages are top of mind, and leadership is well informed.
Secure and promote school’s brand identity by ensuring consistent deployment in all aspects, both tangible (school name, logo, colors, typefaces, etc.) and intangible (personalized attention, transparency, timely response, respect, etc.).
Develop and execute short- and long-term integrated communications and marketing campaigns that leverage all channels, including website, social media, print, word of mouth, direct mail, video, webinars, SEO, paid search, events, email, etc.
Assist in positioning school as a leader in bilingual education in the Pacific Northwest by differentiating school from competitors and by fostering partnerships with individuals and organizations regionally and worldwide.
Work closely with school leadership, the Board of Trustees, Parents Committee, and other key stakeholders on marketing and communications initiatives including but not limited to:
Developing and implementing a schoolwide integrated communications and marketing plan based on the school’s five-year strategic plan and in support of strategic goals and objectives across all departments.
Consistent, accurate, on-brand, and on-message internal and external communications.
Communications about school programs, goals, policies, procedures, news, speeches, press releases, and other critical content.
Providing crisis communications support as needed.
Educating parents, both current and prospective, in the value and benefits of school’s harmonized, bilingual program.
Conducting regular parent, student, and employee surveys (annual Parent Satisfaction Survey, annual alumni student surveys, school climate surveys, health and safety surveys, etc.).
Understand and be committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work and utilizing anti-racist communications strategies, ensuring all communications reflect school’s commitment to DEI and create a sense of belonging within the community.
Use KPIs to monitor effectiveness of integrated communications and marketing campaigns, engagement approaches, and to meet tactical and strategic goals.
Co-manage school’s Marketing and Admissions budget with Admissions Director.
Act as school’s media point person, managing inquiries and pitching stories.
Monitor media coverage in order to track mentions and public perceptions of school.
Oversee content, design, maintenance, and performance of school’s website.
Promote, market, and attend internal and external school events, including open houses, presentations, parent coffees, donor and fundraising events, and more.
PREFERRED SKILLS:
Relevant experience as a strategic and creative marketing and communications leader.
Previous experience in a school environment preferred.
Experience working in non-profit organizations during a capital campaign preferred but not necessary.
Ability to speak and write French preferred but not necessary.
Strong and demonstrated experience strategically engaging different stakeholder groups within and outside of an organization.
Ability to write well and quickly in others’ voices.
Excellent proofreading, editing, and quality control skills.
Ability to synthesize complex information quickly.
Demonstrated skill and knowledge in:
Adobe Creative Cloud
Constant Contact
Microsoft 365 Applications
Video Production
Current social media platforms
CMS software
Actively engaged in ongoing professional development and best practices within the field of marketing and communications.
Demonstrated ability to use good judgment and maintain confidentiality.
Ability to lead with compassion, integrity, and a sense of humor.
Willingness to help with welcoming and/or dismissal duties as necessary.
APPLICATION:
To be considered, please send a cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for this position, a resume, and three professional references to [email protected]. No phone calls please.
ABOUT FASPS:
The French American School of Puget Sound (FASPS) is an independent day school located on Mercer Island, serving students 18 months of age through grade 8 with a bilingual program taught in both French and English. Founded in 1995 by a small group of educators and Francophiles, FASPS opened its doors with two teachers and 13 students. Today, FASPS welcomes on two campuses 445 students whose families come from around the world, representing more than 50 different nationalities and speaking more than 20 different languages at home. FASPS is fully accredited by the French Ministry of National Education and the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS).
At FASPS, we prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion. We commit to creating and nurturing a culture that seeks diverse representation, respects and celebrates individual and group differences, and strives to address inequities in our community and beyond.
DIVERSITY results from the unique blend of what makes us singular as student, parent and employee. It means respect for the values shaped in part by each individual’s background, race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, religion, nation of origin, language, socio-economic status, and any other differentiating factors.
EQUITY is the process to provide the broadest possible set of opportunities for each individual’s needs and ensure that students, parents, and employees thrive. Equity is the process; equality is the sought-after outcome.
INCLUSIVITY is the intentional creation and nurturing of a school environment in which the engagement of each student, parent and employee is valued and sought.
FASPS does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal.
