Coordinator, Communications

Position Overview

The mission of the Office of Communications is to improve outcomes for every student in DC Public Schools through strategic communication between and among schools, families, the greater DC community, and other stakeholders. We shine a light on the inspiring stories of the students and schools within DCPS and engage with internal and external stakeholders to update the community on DCPS policies and initiatives.

All our work is designed to accelerate student success by:

• Building and sustaining relationships between and among DCPS, families, communities, and partners that increase trust;
• Increasing transparency and access to information, resources, and DCPS leadership and staff;
• Building capacity in schools and Central Office to enhance communication with staff, families and communities to improve student outcomes; and
• Ensuring DCPS’s stakeholders are well-informed about our priorities and our successes, and have context about our challenges.

Divisions/Teams

• Strategic Communications:
  • Builds and executes communications systems to ensure clear, specific, and strategic communications to stakeholders.
  • Supports district-wide branding and marketing through photography, graphic design, logo creation, social media and newsletter engagement, and more.
  • Works cross-functionally to understand district priorities and strategies and apply them to messaging.
  • Stays closely aware of progress of projects, high-level initiatives, and emerging issues across the organization and proactively helps to adjust communications approach based on changes in direction, priorities, and resources.
• Operations Communications:
  • Develops and leads overall school-based communications strategy with clear and specific guidelines.
  • Approves and writes school-based communications on issues including facilities, building modernizations, health, school climate, and other crisis communications.
  • Leads the implementation of school-operations communications, including a districtwide process of approved communications.
  • Identifies key ways to turn crisis communications into opportunities to reverse existing narratives about DC Public Schools.
  • Works across several Central Office teams to manage crisis communications, often outside of the school day.
• Press:
  • Manages reactive and proactive engagement with local and national media stories to share the stories of DCPS students, staff and schools.
  • Devises media outreach strategies to support strategic communications objectives.
  • Supports crisis communications work by ensuring media are accurately reporting on developments within the DCPS community.
  • Prepares and supports school leaders and staff to represent DC Public Schools in media.
  • Ensure that key messaging, talking points, and other media materials align with priorities and guidelines set by the Executive Office of the Mayor.

The Coordinator, Communications is responsible for supporting to the Office of Communications. This role will also be responsible for completing operational work, including but limited to meeting logistics, scheduling, and organizational tasks.

The Coordinator, Communications will report to the Chief of Communications.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Schedules and coordinates logistics for program-related meetings, conferences, appointments, and press events in support of the Chief of Communications.
• Implements key processes and systems related to the district’s communications, including monitoring and tracking the distribution of Central Services communications to various external stakeholders.
• Drafting and editing various communications content and materials.
• Enters requisitions for the Office of Communications, monitors expenditures, and addresses human resources needs as they arise.
• Builds relationships and liaises with other teams to coordinate cross-functional project responsibilities and completion.
• Tracks and reports progress of deliverables and projects through use of various computer programs and tools.
• Generates memos, reports, and presentations of communications data collected from websites, incident reporting tools, social media, email outreach, and earned media outlets to inform decision-making.
• Responds effectively to requests and inquiries from multiple external and internal DCPS stakeholders, including families, principals, school-based staff, and community members via shared district inboxes, social media, etc.
• Supports the work of other teams and leaders within the Office of Communications, as necessary, to meet overall goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and two to four years of related work experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• Highly organized, proficient in web-based programs or applications.
• Proven track record in managing and coordinating complex projects.
• Results-oriented coupled with strong work ethic.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and attention to detail.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills. Strong editing skills a plus.
• Ability to work independently and be a self-starter; and comfort with ambiguity.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in managing difficult situations and unexpected challenges.

DCPS Values

• STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
• COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
• EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
• EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
• TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
• JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.