Job Description

The digital communications specialist participates in a broad range of activities involving public and employee communications, publications, and electronic media describing policies, programs, and activities of Alexandria City Public Schools. Work is characterized by considerable planning, writing, and design of digital communications, under tight deadlines.

This is a public contact position requiring skillful handling of queries from the public, administrators, supervisory personnel, and employees. Assignments are received through the assistant director of communications, meetings, and written instructions/requests affording latitude for independent judgment and action in the performance of duties. The ability to manage multiple tasks at the same time in a fast-paced environment is required, as well as proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator, and PhotoShop.

The digital communications specialist must be a professional who is deeply dedicated to students and their families in support of their success not just during the school day, but also after they leave the school and throughout the school year. The individual must also have a passion for improving education and dramatically increasing achievement and life outcomes for all students; a belief that all students can reach high levels of achievement with support from adults, including families, staff, and the community.

Work is performed under general supervision and involves considerable knowledge of the school division's organization, policies, regulations, and an ability to exercise tact and sound judgment.

This position reports to the assistant director of communications.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in public relations, mass communications, or a related field.

Experience: Two years of training and experience in public education and media relations work preferred

• Knowledge of digital communications best practices and principles, including but not limited to writing for the web, social media engagement, graphic design, photography, email design, marketing, and analytics.
• Proficiency with current technology for performance of duties, including digital communications platforms, social media platforms, analytics software, mobile phone apps, and graphic design software.
• Possesses an equity mindset, with the ability to adapt communications for a diverse audience and work with translated content;
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking and judgment skills;
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills;
• Considerable research and organizational skills, and the ability to manage several projects at once in a fast-paced environment;
• Ability to develop a digital communications strategy and produce creative, effective, and engaging digital communications content; and
• Skillful in collaborating with colleagues across departments and developing digital communications as part of broader school division communications campaigns and goals.
• Proficiency required in Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator, and PhotoShop.

Essential Functions

• Write and disseminate information to the public and school division staff via digital channels, including but not limited to social media, email, e-newsletters, digital graphics, and mobile apps.
• Develop and lead the digital communications strategy in collaboration with the assistant director of communications, and manage the division's social media channels, including content planning, writing and design, monitoring, and customer service and engagement, as well as training and coaching school social media editors.
• Oversee the division/school email newsletter platform, including training for division and school staff, design of templates, and list management.
• Advise on best practices and guidelines for visual communications (graphic design), including preparing and formatting digital files for use in websites, social media channels, and pre-press, and oversee ACPS logo and brand guidelines.
• Track and report statistics to evaluate the effectiveness of digital communications strategies.
• Design and produce the division's key newsletters, and contribute to the division's website and other publications.
• Occasional writing, graphic design, and typesetting for print publications and division-wide forms in multiple languages.
• Collaborate with other Office of Communications staff on projects, initiatives, and events.
• Support communications needed by departments and schools, especially email messages for dissemination to staff and families.
• Work with School and Community Relations colleagues to determine appropriate communications for target audiences and to submit documents for translation before distribution to families.
• Recommend innovative avenues of communication for external and internal audiences.
• Solicit feedback from stakeholders through formal and informal means on communications and the school division in general.
• Research information.
• Assist with emergency/crisis communications as needed; this includes being on-call for specific evenings and weekends for dissemination of emergency communications.
• May perform other additional duties or tasks as designated by the supervisor.
• Some evening and weekend work is required.

Clearances

• Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance.
• Tuberculosis Skin Test.

Public Health Compliance

• Proof of COVID vaccination. Exemptions for religious/medical will be reviewed.
• Must follow safety and health protocols.

WP

Primary Location:
Central Office
Salary Range:
$65,644.80 - $80,755.20 / Support SUP-34
Shift Type:
Full-Time