Chief Marketing and Communications Officer- 01852

KANSAS CITY MISSOURI SCHOOL DISTRICT

Job Description

Job Title: Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Job Title Code: 01852

Salary Grade: $152k-budget max

Department: Board of Education

Reports to: Superintendent

FLSA Status: Exempt

Date Prepared: May 2022

PURPOSE OF JOB:

The Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO) for Kansas City Public Schools is a strategic, innovator leader in communications and marketing who is both-process and relationship-orientated. As the Executive Communications leader, the CMCO is expected to drive the district's communications, marketing, partnerships, and PR efforts to align with the strategic goals.

The CMCO is passionate about serving in an urban school district; guides the superintendent, Cabinet and the Board in best practices to achieve optimal, positive brand perception and recognition; empowers their team to perform their duties to the benefit of the organization; and works collaboratively across departments in the best interest of the students, families and communities we serve.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES: include the following.

• Serve as Chief Communication strategist on KCPS initiatives, goals and priorities with focus on forward looking message and communications planning.
• Develop, implement and evaluate district marketing and student recruiting strategies in a highly competitive school-choice market.
• In collaboration with their team; develops, oversees daily implementation of and measures the success of annual strategic communications plan including enrollment, marketing, public relations and external communications, internal and staff communications, branding, digital and social media, advertising, publications, graphic design, community engagement, events and other strategies supporting KCPS goals.
• Sets and monitor the Office of Communications annual budget, with a focus on engagement and ROI.
• Develop and ensure adherence to an internal communications process workflow to create efficient and effective customer service, with an emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Through visionary and goal-oriented leadership, manage the department responsible for all aspects of internal and external communications related to enrollment, branding, family and community engagement and outreach. Ensure team's progress-to-goals are evaluated monthly and/or quarterly.
• Oversee all communications, marketing and community relations activities, while providing guidance, support and feedback to Office of Communications staff.
• Creates systematic and analytics reporting schedule to ensure all departmental activities are exceeding, reaching or making gains toward full measurement of ROI and other goals as outlined in the strategic communications plan.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community leaders, organizations and members of the media.
• Provide media training for appropriate KCPS administrators and departments; develop, implement and monitor the crisis communications plan as needed; and organize press conferences and the release of information to the media and the public, as necessary.
• In collaboration with Enrollment; develop, implement and evaluate an enrollment marketing campaign within the annual strategic communications plan framework, analyzing metrics and ROI, while providing guidance and support to assist KCPS in reaching its enrollment and retention goals.
• Serve as the in-house communications expert and strategist on KCPS initiatives, goals and priorities, engaging collaboratively with the Board, Cabinet and other leadership team members.
• Secure the development of public opinion polls and solicit feedback from KCPS community members through formal and informal means regarding District initiatives, programs, and decisions.
• Engage with Board and Executive staff, challenging current processes to ensure transformational change.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Yes

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Communications, Journalism, Business or related field.
• Ten (10) years of accomplished strategic communications and marketing (brand management) experience.
• Proven ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with others across business units, functional departments, localities and disciplines.
• Ability to create partnerships at all levels of KCPS.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including excellent presentation, facilitation and listening skills.

CORE LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

These leadership competencies are expected of all Executive level staff at Kansas City, Missouri Public School District and form the basis of our performance management system for Executive level staff.

LEADING CHANGE

Continual Learning - Grasps the essence of new information; masters new technical, educational and managerial knowledge quickly; recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development seeks feedback from others and opportunities to master new knowledge.

Creativity and Innovation - Develops new insights into situations and applies innovative solutions to make organizational improvements; creates a work environment that encourages creative thinking and innovation; designs and implements new or cutting-edge programs/processes.

External Awareness - Identifies and keeps up to date on key educational policies and trends at the national and local level and looks for opportunities to bring best practices to PPS. Factors political, social and economic trends that affect the organization into management strategy and plans on an ongoing

basis.

Flexibility - Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior and work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles. Adjusts rapidly to new situations warranting attention and resolution.

Resilience - Deals effectively with pressure; maintains focus and intensity and remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks. Effectively balances personal life and work.

Service Motivation - Creates and sustains an organizational culture which encourages others to provide the quality of service essential to providing excellent support to staff, schools, family and community. Enables others to acquire the tools and support they need to perform well. Shows a commitment to the KCMSD mission and goals. Influences others toward a spirit of service and meaningful contributions to making progress on the KCMSD vital signs.

Strategic Thinking - Formulates effective strategies consistent with the academic, social and organizational challenges of the organization. Examines policy issues and strategic planning with a long-term perspective. Determines objectives and sets priorities; anticipates potential stakeholder reactions or opportunities.

Vision - Takes a long-term view and acts as a catalyst for organizational change; builds a shared vision with others. Influences others to translate vision into action. Demonstrates a passionate belief that all children can achieve at high levels.

LEADING PEOPLE

Conflict Management - Identifies and takes steps to prevent potential situations that could result in unpleasant confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a positive and constructive manner to minimize negative impact. Maintains emotional self-control in conflict situations.

Leveraging Diversity - Recruits, develops, and retains a diverse high-quality workforce. Leads and manages an inclusive workplace that maximizes the talents of each person. Ensures that equity and high expectations for all staff and students are ingrained in all aspects of the work of the district. Respects, understands, values and seeks out individual differences to achieve the vision and mission of the organization. Embraces the diversity of families and community partners and looks for mechanisms to expand the involvement of diverse community members in the work of the district. Able to lead staff in ongoing conversations and self-reflection about race and poverty.

Integrity/Honesty - Instills mutual trust and confidence; creates a culture that fosters high standards of ethics; behaves in a fair and ethical manner toward others, and demonstrates a sense of responsibility and

commitment to student achievement. Follows through on commitments, maintains an atmosphere of openness and transparency.

Team Building - Inspires, motivates, and guides others toward goal accomplishments. Consistently develops and sustains cooperative working relationships. Encourages and facilitates cooperation within the organization and with customer groups; fosters commitment, team spirit, pride, trust. Develops leadership in others through coaching, mentoring, rewarding, and guiding employees.

III. RESULTS DRIVEN

Accountability - Assures that effective controls are developed and maintained to ensure the integrity of the organization. Holds self and others accountable for goals and responsibilities. Can be relied upon to ensure that projects within areas of specific responsibility are completed in a timely manner and within budget. Monitors and evaluates plans; focuses on results and measuring attainment of outcomes. Holds self and others accountable to put the needs of students ahead of the needs of adults in the system in solving problems.

Customer Service - Balancing interests of a variety of stakeholders; readily readjusts priorities to respond to pressing and changing customer demands, both internal and external. Anticipates and meets the need of customers; maintains a high level of service; is committed to continuous improvement of services.

Decisiveness - Exercises good judgment by making sound and well-informed decisions that are data driven; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; makes effective and timely decisions, even when data is limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; is proactive and achievement oriented.

Entrepreneurship - Identifies opportunities to develop and implement new processes and programs within or outside of the organization. Is willing to take risks; initiates actions that involve a deliberate risk to achieve a recognized benefit or advantage.

Problem Solving - Identifies and analyzes problems; distinguishes between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical decisions; provides solutions to individual and organizational problems

Technical Credibility - Understands and appropriately applies procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise, both educational and managerial. Is able to make sound hiring and capital resource decisions and to address training and development needs. Understands linkages between administrative competencies and mission needs.

BUSINESS ACUMEN

Financial Management - Demonstrates broad understanding of principles of financial management and marketing expertise necessary to ensure appropriate funding levels. Prepares, justifies, and/or administers the budget for the program area; uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities; monitors expenditures in support of programs and policies. Identifies cost-effective approaches.

Human Capital Management - Assesses current and future staffing needs based on organizational goals and budget realities. Using merit principles, ensures staff are appropriately selected, developed, utilized, appraised, and rewarded; takes corrective action when necessary.

Technology Management - Uses efficient and cost-effective approaches to integrate technology into the workplace and improve program effectiveness. Develops strategies using new technology to enhance decision making. Understands the impact of technological changes on the organization.

BUILDING COALITIONS/COMMUNICATIONS

Influencing/Negotiating - Persuades others; builds consensus through give and take; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals; facilitates "win-win" situations.

Interpersonal Skills - Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of different people in different situations; is tactful, compassionate and sensitive, and treats others with respect.

Oral Communication - Makes clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals or groups; listens effectively and clarifies information as needed; facilitates an open exchange of ideas and fosters an atmosphere of open communication.

Partnering - Develops networks and builds alliances both internally and externally, engages in cross-functional activities; collaborates across boundaries, and finds common ground with a widening range of stakeholders. Utilizes contacts to build and strengthen internal and external support bases.

Political Savvy - Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Approaches each problem situation with a clear perception of organizational and political reality; recognizes the impact of alternative courses of action.

Written Communication - Expresses facts and ideas in writing in a clear, convincing and organized manner.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of 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.

This job requires that the employee be able to: sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, use hands, fingers, reach with hands and fingers; bend, stoop, lift objects of at least ten pounds. Job requires the employee occasionally to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Visual ability requires mono and color vision, close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Length of work year: 12 months (7.5 hours per day/5 days per week)

Benefits: Health and Dental Insurance are provided.

KCPS Defined Benefit Pension plan - mandatory 9% contribution is required from employee and matched by KCPS; Voluntary retirement savings plans are also available.