Harrisburg Academy, a preschool through 12th grade coeducational, college preparatory day school seeks an accomplished and innovative Director of Marketing and Communications to enhance communications with all constituencies, raise the school’s visibility and advance its brand.

The school is guided by its core values: academic excellence, fostering creativity/critical thinking, character development, creating a nurturing community, and partnering with the family and the community. The school leadership is highly collaborative and committed to building on the school’s many strengths. It believes that admissions and fundraising goals can be enhanced by more effectively communicating the school’s value to both internal and external constituencies.

BASIC FUNCTION

Reporting to the Head of School and working with the senior administrative team, the Director of Marketing and Communications will lead, plan, direct and implement overall strategies for all marketing and communications on behalf of the school in order to raise its visibility, advance its brand, and articulate clear messaging to internal and external constituencies. The Director will oversee and actively participate in the creation, design, budget and production of regularly produced events and all school publications.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Director of Marketing and Communications will oversee the development of all advertising, publicity, and public relations and serve as the school’s spokesperson when so designated by the Head of School. The primary objective of the Director of Marketing and Communications is to create and communicate a compelling story about Harrisburg Academy. This message should lead to increased admissions applications and should support the efforts of the Development and Admissions Offices.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Marketing and Communications will be expected to:

• Rapidly acclimate to Harrisburg Academy; thoroughly know the history, culture, traditions and constituencies of the school; understand the educational philosophy; continually assess all marketing and communications activities of the department.
• Plan for, and deploy, digital activities: website, online campaigns, email marketing, social media and digital content production.
• Plan and manage the department budget in order to maximize the effectiveness of all communications. This includes bidding out production of materials when appropriate to outside vendors.
• Create and execute a plan that regularly places the school in local media. Manage all messaging in the media.
• Develop marketing and communications strategies and plans that advance the Academy and drive increased engagement with prospective and current constituencies.
• Collaborate with administrative departments in articulating their purpose and ongoing work. Specifically, this includes the Head of School, Development, Admissions, Academic Divisions, and Institutional Technology.
• Ensure brand and messaging quality and consistency and establish guidelines to apply across all departments, activities and events at the school and among professional and volunteer leadership.
• In collaboration with the Director of Admissions, design strategies and implement concrete plans to increase student applications and maintain prospective student and family interest.
• In collaboration with the Director of Development, design strategies and implement concrete plans to capitalize on increased visibility and clear branding of the school to drive increased giving.
• Review, revise, and update as necessary the school’s crisis communication plan.
• Manage all aspects of the school’s print and electronic communications, ensuring the continuity of the school’s brand and logo. Oversee the work of graphic designers and print vendors in production of printed materials and web visuals.
• Engage actively in professional development in order to remain current in best practices related to independent school communications, emerging social media, and effective marketing and advertising strategies.
• Provide staff leadership to the department in all respects, including hiring, day-to-day management and motivation of marketing staff and contractors, ensuring professional development and excellence.
• Participate actively in the work and success of the senior leadership team and provide support for school events and administrative jobs as requested.