This position is 8 hours per day, 12 months. Criteria for Initial Step Placement on the Schedule
Provisions Governing the Professional and Technical Salary Schedule per Collective Bargaining Agreement Criteria for Initial Placement on the Schedule Initial placement shall be made by Human Resources on Step 1 unless employee has previous experience in a Washington school district; then, years of experience credit will be considered for placement.

Advancement
All professional and technical employees will move incrementally over one salary schedule step each year. Step advances are only made once a year effective September 1. To be eligible for such step advancement, an employee must have been in the position by January 31 of the previous school year.
BASIC FUNCTION: Under the direction of the Executive Director, Communications and Public Affairs, the Communications Specialist works to implement the District's communication plans and strategies to continually enhance the relationship between the District and staff, students, parents, and community by providing consistent, reliable, timely, and engaging information via a variety of outreach methods. In addition, this position develops and distributes district communications in print and electronic formats; serves as a contact for news media, staff, and the public; and manages the District's social media program.

The Communications Specialist has excellent written and oral communication skills and can produce clear, compelling, and accurate content, on tight deadlines, with close attention to the audience, goals, messaging, and tone. The Communications Specialist can effectively utilize traditional, current, and advanced communication tools and technologies to enhance effective public relations. In addition, the Communications Specialist has excellent project management skills, an upbeat and collaborative approach, a deep understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the ability to work well with interdepartmental teams and contractors.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

Incumbent may perform any combination of the essential functions shown below. This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, knowledge, or abilities associated with this classification but is intended to accurately reflect the principal job elements.

E = ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Assists the Communications and Public Affairs team in achieving the District's Strategic Communication Plan and carrying out policies established by the Board of Directors in Successfully Preparing All Students for Their Futures. (E)
Creates regular, relevant written and multimedia content for websites, social media, e-newsletters, and other communication channels. (E)
Seeks out and facilitates promotion and publicity of district and school events, news, and stories. (E)
Maintains website content and social media pages as assigned.
Plans and produces district publications, coordinating with graphic designers, printers, and other contractors as needed. (E)

Develops, implements and monitors district social media programs and recommends effectrive social media strategies supporting district services, programs, news, public alerts, and other functions. (E)

Manages web and electronic content and projects, including but not limited to districtwide e-newsletters and special campaigns. (E)

Assists staff in preparing or editing communications, including reports, articles, correspondence, speeches, and presentations. (E)

Establishes and maintains content consistency, adhering to style guidelines, branding and voice. (E)

Assists in planning, coordinating, and executing special events. (E)

Attends district and department meetings, as well as other meetings as assigned. (E)

Maintains confidentiality in all matters associated with the assignment. (E)

Completes assignments within established parameters, including planning and preparing stories for online dissemination; managing web content and web pages; working with web developers to assess and address technical challenges in displaying online content; maintaining adequate and careful records as required. (E)

Creates regular web news articles based on District related events, news, reviews, etc. (E)

Communicates regularly with the public, colleagues, and district staff positively and constructively. (E)

Works with all members of the school community in promoting good public relations. (E)

Maintains adequate and careful records as required by supervisor and/or the District. (E)

Performs all other duties as assigned. (E)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate's degree in communications or related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years of full-time experience in the communications field with both print and electronic media,
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including writing, editing, and proofreading in Associated Press style, standard business styles, and colloquial styles.
• Working knowledge of internal and external public relations programs.
• Demonstrated ability to write clear, concise, grammatically, and factually correct copy in standard print, business, and speech styles.
• Proficiency with current technology for performance duties, including graphic design and publication/print software.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in communications or related field.
• Professional certification(s) in communications, public relations, community engagement, project management, social media management, and /or organizational leadership.
• Bilingual (oral and written; academic fluency) in Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Punjabi, or Somali.
• Previous successful experience in an ethnically diverse public school district.
• Ability to work individually, in partnerships, and with a minimum of direction at various simultaneous professional tasks and responsibility levels.
• Knowledge of the district community.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking and judgment skills

Employment eligibility may include fingerprints, health (TB), and/or other employment clearance.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Ability to quickly write clear, concise, grammatically, and factually correct copy in varying styles.
• Ability to effectively and concisely summarize and communicate district goals, policies, practices, and programs to staff and the community.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as work effectively in a team setting.
• Proactive self-starter with an ability to work in a high-energy, high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing situations, priorities, and workloads
• Excellent organizational, time management, project management, and problem-solving skills to coordinate and complete multiple simultaneous projects
• Ability to effectively collaborate and communicate with other staff and stakeholders, including those from diverse language and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to exercise discretion in confidential and sensitive matters.
• Ability to respond effectively with calm, tact, and sound judgment in stressful situations.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public relations, mass communications, and community relations, including internal and external communications programs.
• Knowledge and understanding of public education goals, objectives, and policies
• Knowledge of the District and the local community.
• Experience and skill-building and maintaining positive relationships with local news media.
• Research, best practices, and technical aspects of the field of communications and community engagement.
• Knowledge and experience in school public relations and communications.
• Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Proficiency in writing for and managing various social media platforms.
• Computer proficiency in web-based design.
• Effective facilitation skills for various professional interactions with adults.
• District organization, operations, policies, and procedures.
• Communications protocols and best practices when working with large and diverse audiences in an informed and respectful manner.

Ability to:

• Earn trust and credibility with colleagues.
• Effectively work with and co-plan with colleagues.
• Operate technology hardware and software necessary to perform assigned duties/responsibilities.
• Demonstrate multicultural and ethnic understanding and sensitivity, and communicate effectively with all cultural groups in the school community.
• Use skills to promote effective customer service.
• Facilitate and maintain timely, accurate, and efficient record keeping.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise good judgment.
• Construct, implement, and monitor timelines and meet project and report deadlines.
• Create templates and tools to support project management activities.
• Demonstrate initiative and use existing resources to solve problems.
• Recognize the difference between a technical issue and a human issue.
• Provide creative solutions to technical issues, primarily using existing resources.
• Plan, organize and prioritize work to meet multiple schedules and deadlines and manage simultaneous tasks with many interruptions.
• Work independently with appropriate direction and supervision; work under pressure.
• Understand, analyze, and prepare narrative and statistical reports.
• Use effective interpersonal skills to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with school and district personnel, parents, and external partners.

(Allowable Substitutions: Any combination of experience and training which provides the incumbent/applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work, as determined by the District.)
WORKING CONDITIONS: Environment:

• Daily activity is performed in an office environment.
• Demanding timelines.
• Subject to frequent interruptions and extensive contact with staff, parents, and the public.
• Indoor and outdoor environment.
• Occasional nights and weekend events.

Physical demands:

• Bending at the waist, kneeling or crouching, and reaching to retrieve and maintain files and records.
• Reaching overhead, above the shoulders, and horizontally.
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate standard office equipment, computer keyboard, and other equipment necessary to complete the required duties.
• Hearing and speaking to exchange information in person and on the telephone.
• Visual ability to read and prepare/process documents and to monitor various services and personnel.
• Sitting for extended periods.
• Standing for extended periods.
• Walking over rough or uneven surfaces.
• Climbing, occasional use of stepladders.
• Physical activity may be required, which could include moderate lifting and storing of materials and equipment.

The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Hazards:

• Extended viewing of a computer monitor.
• Working around and with office equipment having moving parts.
• Frequent travel in and out of the District.
• Frequent transporting and set up of materials, supplies, and displays in and out of District.