Communications Specialist- Generalist


We are searching for an experienced Communications Specialist- Generalist at our Doyle Administration Building facility.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Essential Functions

• Responsible for administering and managing communications activities within assigned service-line areas consistent with the MMSD's communications objectives and plans.
• Serves as the subject matter expert and applies gained knowledge to execute, maintain and improve systems, programs, or processes.
• Consultation, development and implementation of communications plans for assigned service-lines to ensure students, educators, families, community partners and internal audiences understand and engage in the process of achieving the goals of the district's top strategic priorities.
• Works as a consultant, adviser and communications subject matter expert to service-line contacts, is adept at synthesizing complex information and crafting narrative content that resonates with a community audience via a range of communications methods, including social media, video, web articles, newsletters and more.
• Appropriately prioritize and manage multiple projects that meet the expectations of all service-line contacts and district leadership, including meeting established deadlines and quality standards.
• Provides various support and conducts activities related to logistics, reporting, training, communications, and processes.
• Participates in the planning and implementation of new initiatives.
• Demonstrates astute cultural awareness and responsiveness in all communications and planning.
• Assesses and troubleshoots escalated problems and applies expert understanding to resolve complex challenges of stakeholders; focuses on root cause identification in order to achieve systemic and sustainable improvement.
• Ensures appropriate key stakeholder involvement in planning, goal-setting, and implementation to achieve buy-in of work products. Ensures purposeful, positive and professional interactions and relationships with all stakeholders; enables consistent application of work products across MMSD.
• Identifies opportunities for improvement, prioritizes, and recommends solutions to management and service-line contacts. Implements approved enhancements to ensure consistency across service lines. Identifies opportunities to reduce costs; analyzes available data, trends, and feedback, and ensures compliance with expectations for optimal operation and goal achievement.
• Works closely with Communications leaders and other members of the Communications team to develop, support and execute timely, thorough and clear strategic communications plans that engage all critical stakeholders and champion community support for our public schools.
• Builds collaborative, cross-functional team relationships to establish communication strategies and ensure a consistent message for targeted internal and external audiences.
• Assists with production of communications materials, including writing, formatting, designing, editing and proofreading newsletters, web and social media content, media and public relations materials, print collateral and promotional materials, live streams, blogs, podcasts, videos FAQs, etc.
• Assists with crisis communications response as needed.
• Available to work occasional weekends or after normal work hours for events and other activities if needed.

Manages the review and approval process with key stakeholders before releasing communications materials.

Conducts necessary research to support communications planning, messaging and writing projects.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Five (5) or more years of experience in communications, public relations, community outreach, marketing or journalism.
• Advanced writing, proofreading and editing skills with a demonstrated ability to translate complex subjects into engaging stories for diverse audiences.
• Produce content for a variety of formats including articles, e-newsletters, web copy, brochures, posters, reports, advertisements, PSAs, social media posts, etc.
• Research topics, coordinate and conduct interviews, and produce stories
• Translate complex educational concepts into understandable language
• Assist in the development, distribution, and maintenance of high-quality collateral
• Provide communications support and training to school leaders and staff
• Prepare reports and serve on work teams as needed
• Staff evening or weekend events and school board meetings, on occasion
• Photo and video shooting and editing experience
• Podcasting, audio recording, and editing experience
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, Adobe Creative cloud apps including InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop, Google apps
• Proficiency with website content management systems and/or HTML. Skills in web design and web editing, basic knowledge of HTML
• Manage streaming video for Zoom, Facebook Live, YouTube, captioning
• Stays current with social media platforms and trends
• Knowledge and skills in effective public relations, communication and marketing practices
• Demonstrated high level of oral and written communication skills, attention to detail and ability to write for a variety of audiences
• Experienced in market research methodology and data analysis
• Proofread and edit copy and manage the review and approval process for projects
• Familiarity with coordinating language translators/translation for communications projects

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or related field.

Exempt

Annual Salary

46,446.40 - 64,792.00

Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.