Internal Communications Manager

Internal Communications Manager

Location: Flexible

Role Mission: The Internal Communications Manager will be responsible for leading the IDEA Public Schools' internal communications channels, infrastructure, resources, and brand alignment, through managing the IDEA's intranet site- the "Hub", publications, internal and staff communications, programming for all IDEA signature and secondary event programming, campus-level parent communications and newsletters at the HQ level and across our established and growing regions. In this role, the Internal Communications Manager will focus on developing mission and brand-aligned copy, content, and strategic plans to increase staff engagement, satisfaction, and retention at HQ and across regions, in addition to managing IDEA's Hub platform. This includes, but is not limited to the direct oversight of IDEA's Hub and internal communications channels referenced above, and partnering with campus contacts on managing campus-based parent communications to consistency and effectiveness. The Internal Communications Manager will report to the Director of Communications and work alongside two Regional Communications Managers to achieve team goals.

Accountabilities:

Execute an Effective & Ongoing Communications Strategy:

• Re-envision monthly external/internal newsletter communications (The Spotlight) to ensure it is meeting regional, organizational, and audience needs.o This may include launching regional newsletters
• Lead Hub content development and management to ensure it is timely, relevant, and integrated across communications platforms.
• Responsible for ad hoc and all-staff communications.
• Co-lead the use and engagement of IDEA's All Staff Facebook page• Develop copy and communications strategies for donor stewardship touchpoints, correspondence, and IDEA's year-end appeal campaign.
• IDEA Blogs: Generate owned blog content 2-3/week to help share news, announcements, and information with our key audiences.
• Staff Communications: Develop and distribute all-staff emails and help lead two all-staff calls annually.
• Organizational Updates: These are weekly videos that Tom Torkelson, IDEA's Founder & CEO, sends to all staff and supporters. The topics are planned by Tom and his Chief of Staff. The communications team coordinates the calendar and taping of the videos, in partnership with the Chief of Staff, and develops Tom's prep docs each week.
• Develop a comprehensive internal communications strategy for the district
• Develop campus parent communications infrastructure:

-Campus Parent Communications: Develop campus-level training, resources, best practices and oversight to help provide best-in-class parent communications via Parent Weeklies, School Messenger, and Class Dojo.

- Parent Weekly: Auditing for use, advising and training campuses on best practices and communications norms

- School Messenger: Advising and training campuses on best practices and communications norms

- Class Dojo: Advising and training campuses on best practices and communications norms

Serve as the storyteller and script writer for the programming for IDEA's signature and secondary events:

• Event Programming: Develop scripts, programming, oversee training and prep and help manage logistics and the run-of-show management for IDEA's signature and secondary events.

o Three IDEA regional luncheons

o Ribbon cuttings

o New campus groundbreakings

o College Signing Day

o Dinner & Auction

Serve as the storyteller in charge of IDEA's Blog webpage

• Set the vision for each blog story
• Research, write, edit, and develop content for a minimum of 2-3 blog posts per week
• Develop table of contents and respective sections
• Rally partners throughout the organization on content generation and approval
• Partner with creative team on management of the blog webpage
• Ensure vetting and investment among stakeholders throughout the organization
• Develop communications plan for weekly blogs

Serve as the storyteller in charge of IDEA's premier quarterly magazine, IMPACT, persistence and recruitment publications:

• Set the vision for each edition/issue
• Serve as the copywriter and co-editor for all of IDEA's publications
• Develop table of contents and respective sections
• Rally partners throughout the organization on content generation and approval
• Partner with creative team on magazine design
• Ensure vetting and investment among stakeholders throughout the organization
• Communications plan for magazine launch
• Help update and provide content for the IMPACT webpage on IDEA's website

Serve as the storyteller in charge of IDEA's Annual Report:

• Ensure publication in January of each year
• Serve as the copywriter and co-editor
• Work with stakeholders to develop content, vet information, and align messaging
• Partner with the creative team on design

Serve as the storyteller in charge of Signature Videography:

• • Develop story and execute annual signature video inventory which includes, but is not limited to: video content for College Signing Day, IDEA's Dinner & Auction, regional luncheons, Back to School Bash, commercials, and at least one signature, multi-purpose video.
• Develop and execute annual video calendar in response to organizational needs (i.e. AP For All, The Wonders of Pre-K, etc.)
• Manage videographer on video filming and editing

Directly manage IDEA's growing districtwide Hub website with the goal of increased reach and engagement year over year:

• Manage planned editorial content for the Hub
• Support the posting of editorial content (blogs, news, announcements, etc.)
• Work with campuses and departments to generate news and information that aligns with established content guidelines
• Thought partner with Director of Communications on internal campaigns to host and amplify throughout the year
• Ensure that the Hub is reflective of the most up-to-date organizational information and have an ever-changing look and feel (Hub slide swapping, etc.)

Partner with campus leads to co-administrate parent communications accounts (School Messenger, Parent Weeklies, and Class Dojo) with the goal of increased consistency and parent engagement year over year:

• Provide campus-level resources, training, and best practices for managing campus parent communications
• Develop and distribute a monthly campus parent communication newsletter for campus-level leads
• Provide campuses with the tools they need to create and manage effective parent communications
• Share parent communications ideas with campus leaders for their implementation
• Ensure that all campuses have access to parent communications channels• Share best practices with campus leaders monthly with a parent communications champion of the month.
• Address concerns with campus leaders immediately

Serve as the data owner for campus parent communication districtwide and campus-based along with tracking progress toward goals on consistency and effectiveness.

• Develop and maintain a parent communication tracker
• Ensure tracking device is calculating PTG and has a year over year comparison formula.
• Work with COO contact to ensure integration of data tracking into dashboard.

Live values of IDEA

• Believes and is committed to our mission: that all students are capable of getting to and through college
• Is driven by outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them
• Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change
• Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization
• Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes
• Embodies IDEA's core values
• Believes and is committed to our mission: that all students are capable of getting to and through college
• Is driven by outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them
• Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change
• Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization
• Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes
• Embodies IDEA's core values

Qualifications:

• Believes in IDEA's mission
• Bachelor's degree required; Masters preferred
• Experienced in public relations/media relations and social media platforms and analytics
• Demonstrated ability to continuously improve and make modifications as necessary to ensure goals are reached
• Understanding and/or personal experience in the K-12 landscape, especially with charters preferred
• Views constructive feedback with a growth mindset.

Selection Process: After submitting your online application, IDEA will review your materials. Candidates with a track record of success who pass the initial application screening will be invited to a phone or video interview. Candidates who are successful with this second interview will move into final consideration by the hiring manager.

Application Instructions: Please select "Apply Now" in the upper-left hand corner of this page. You will then be taking to the application portal entrance. After you create a new profile, you will be able to apply directly for this role. If you have already created a profile, you may simply login to begin your application.

IDEA Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability, in admission or access to, or treatment of employment in its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries concerning the organization's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), may contact IDEA Human Resources at (956) 377-8000.