Position
With the focus to support and advance the School’s mission, vision, and values, the Director leads the comprehensive strategic marketing and communication plan for the School. The primary objective is to tell the unique story of Portsmouth Abbey School internally and externally, to inform and increase awareness of the School, generate interest and demand among prospective families, strengthen our institutional brand and reputation, and raise visibility both regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Head of School, Admission and Advancement Offices to develop new strategies for enhancing the existing marketing and communication plan. The Director is a collaborative and impact-focused communicator who uses a well-developed understanding of the School and its people to support the wide-ranging engagement with the Abbey community and the institution's many stakeholders and audiences.
• Manage the work of the marketing and communications department consisting of the Director and an Assistant Director, which is responsible for producing all official school communications to all major constituencies (prospective students and their families, parents, alumni, key volunteers, major donors), including:
  • Digital communications: website, institutional communication, and social media channels
  • Print publications: admission materials, alumni direct mailings, school handbook, the curriculum guide, the Annual Report on Giving, and employee recruitment materials
  • Periodicals, printed and digital. Current examples: The Bulletin, Monthly Musings
  • Media relations: local, regional, and national
  • Advertising: print, digital and through use of Google analytics
  • Videos, video streaming, slideshows, etc.
• Maintain and manage the School’s website, including content, appearance and architecture of the site, working in conjunction with other departments to ensure their pages are consistent with standards for design, content and end user experience.
• Maintain and manage the School’s social media pages, including content, appearance and architecture of each, working in conjunction with other departments to ensure their pages are consistent with standards for design, content, and end user experience.
• Oversee and manage official school communications across all media platforms and ensure materials are timely, accurate, in adherence with the School’s Style and Standards Guide, and in support of the School’s mission and priorities.
• Manage the use of the official School branding across departments such as logos, colors, and fonts, to ensure consistency of use schoolwide
• Review the School’s Style and Standards Guide annually and revise as needed.
• Provide support to the Head of School, administrators, and departments schoolwide to identify communications, marketing, media, and public relations opportunities to inform and solidify relationships with all constituencies - including students, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, alumni, and the greater community.
• Partner with the Director of Enrollment Management and the Office of Admission to develop and implement admission marketing and communication strategies, including outreach to prospective students and families from inquiry to enrollment, and continued support for new students and families to welcome them to our community.
• Ensure that strategies and content are in alignment with Portsmouth Abbey School communications policies and protocols relating to brand identity, editorial style, image use, copyright, social media guidelines, web hosting, accessibility and vendor hiring.
• Provide support to the Director of Parent Relations with communication to current families to engage parents and enhance retention.
• Collaborate with the Director of Advancement and the Office of Development & Alumni Affairs to design and implement marketing and communication strategies to strengthen donor engagement and drive increased contributions and participation.
• Identify, track, and report the impact of communications with key benchmark data and survey metrics.
• Conduct market research to analyze current trends and identify opportunities to promote the School.
• Manage the Marketing and Communications budget to meet and remain within the annual allocation.
• Represent the School’s senior administration at events, serve on School committees, and attend School events, as appropriate. Examples include: School Assemblies, special student events, Admission Open Houses, Commencement Weekend, Reunion Weekend
• Hire outside photographers as needed for special events
• Assist in communications response in crisis situations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Preferred Skills, Capabilities, and Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate will have excellent writing, communication, and interpersonal skills, think creatively and strategically, be a problem-solver, possess proven leadership skills, be a team player, and be a great cultural and mission fit for the School community.
• Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, communications, marketing, or equivalent field required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Five or more years of experience in marketing and communications with independent schools, college/university or non-profit organizations preferred.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, including proficiency in MLA and Associated Press writing styles
• Proven ability to effectively lead and manage a team.
• Proven ability to effectively lead and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Be adaptable and flexible in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with Finalsite, Raiser’s Edge, Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator or their equivalent.
• Possess excellent organizational skills and the ability to provide reasonable expectation parameters to consistently meet project deadlines.