Responsibilities

• This position would be responsible for managing the school’s daily internal and external, communications--creating and organizing content for VCS. Having an eye for aesthetics and close attention to detail is essential for this role. The Assistant Director of Communications will be responsible for:
• Actively pursue news stories, photo ops, and social media content. Develop relationships with staff and students, and maintain a visible presence, visiting classrooms and attending events to capture photos, videos, and story content for use on social media, the VCS blog, and the school magazine. Identify potential long-form stories and staff contributors for the VCS magazine.
• In conjunction with the Director of Communications, manage annual communications calendar. Use the school-wide calendar and past communications calendars to maintain an accurate understanding of when and how events and information should be communicated to various constituents. Serve as the first point of contact for staff wishing to send internal and external communications, responding to their requests in a timely and helpful manner. Provide weekly communications schedules to the Director of Advancement.
• Help create and maintain an organizational system for digital assets. Support the Advancement staff in managing the functional storage of current and archival images. Locate and share sets of photos with staff or parents when requested.
• Manage digital systems including VCS website, staff and parent portals, and distribution lists. Collaborate with website providers and advancement staff to maintain elements of the website: replace photos, rewrite copy, and think creatively about the best ways to present information.
• Working with the Director of Communications, set up daily communications each morning in our school notification system; lead the process of receiving appropriate approvals and scheduling emails on a deliberate timeline. Draft new letters and edit pre-existing communications as necessary. Send tests of daily communications to appropriate groups of administrators and incorporate their edits, following up with them as necessary to ensure communications are approved in a timely manner, and the communications calendar stays on schedule.
• In conjunction with the Director of Communications, create and publish parent, staff, and administrative calendars. Ensure events are listed accurately and maintain up-to-date calendars.
• In conjunction with the Director of Communications, publish the annual yearbook. Assist with communicating with the vendor, graphic design, photographs, and layout of the annual yearbook.
• Assist the Director of Communications as a member of the digital marketing team . Implement recommendations, collaborate on social media ads and other marketing materials. Assist with monthly analytic updates for communication team meetings.
• Serve as a member of the crisis communications team. Draft or edit time-sensitive letters, occasionally outside of working hours. Support crisis communications strategy and building a robust inventory of letters for various crisis-level scenarios.

Requirements

• Exceptional verbal, writing, editing, proofreading skills
• Experience with digital photography and video
• Strong work ethic and high level of integrity
• Ability to write in a variety of styles for different audiences/uses
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize a multitude of tasks by volume, urgency, etc.
• Resourceful and attentive to detail and accuracy
• Tactful and discreet
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others
• High energy and enthusiastic about working in an academic atmosphere
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to engage effectively with individuals of all ages and at all levels of the school

Preferred

• Finalsite and Blackbaud a plus
• Familiarity with Photoshop/Lightroom/Adobe Creative Suite a plus