Director, Communications & Community Relations

Job Summary

Lake Washington School District is immediately seeking qualified candidates for a position as Director, Communications and Community Relations . This is a 1.0 FTE position with a full year calendar.

Annual salary: $153,895.00 This is an exempt position. Full benefit package available.

Posting Information: This position is open until filled with first consideration given to applications received by November 9, 2017.

PLEASE APPLY ON-LINE AT:

http://www.lwsd.org/employment/administrative-employees

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director, Communications and Community Relations provides executive-level leadership and oversight of the district’s strategic communications to foster community awareness, support and involvement in realizing the district’s vision of “Every Student Future Ready.” The Director provides vision, leadership and direction for the district’s overall communication strategy, developing, monitoring, and implementing innovative and effective methods for strengthening positive communications and relations with the community. This cabinet-level position reports to the Deputy Superintendent/Chief of Staff and is accountable for the overall success of the Communications and Community Relations department in accomplishing strategic goals. The Director assists the Deputy Superintendent and Superintendent in achieving district objectives and key performance indicators, assuring alignment with law, policy, and priorities established by the Board of Directors. The Director assumes responsibility for success of district-wide communications systems; media relations; community/public information and relations; volunteer engagement; print, multi-media, and social-media outreach; and crisis communications.

Responsibilities and Duties

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS :

• Develops and implements a strategic communications plan for the district including appropriate communication, information, public relations and involvement strategies aligned with the district’s strategic plan.
• Demonstrates an understanding of educational issues and an ability to articulate district views and issues to a wide variety of audiences.
• Acts as an integral part of the district’s Cabinet and leadership teams. Provides a public relations point of view to district-level decisions and provides input to the administrative team in the development of school and public relations efforts.
• Oversees the operations of the communications, volunteer/partnership, and print center functions.
• Supervises and evaluates eight departmental staff. Prepares and presents materials for the superintendent and Board of Directors
• Assures effective public relations by maintaining relationships and communications with news media, local school committees, school sites and other citizen advisory committees, civic groups, businesses, employee organizations, local, state and national government officials, public agencies, postal authorities, district staff, senior citizens, new residents, religious institutions, real estate agents and key communicators.
• Ensures effective media relations by thorough, accurate reporting of district issues and events, serving as a liaison between the news media and the district. Implement crisis communication plans as necessary; manage media relations and advise district staff.
• Provides information on community attitudes and opinions by regularly collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing communication needs. Conducts informal and formal surveys of the community and staff opinions and attitudes concerning LWSD programs, services, and operations.
• Contributes to effective employee relations by planning and implementing programs for employee recognition.
• Contributes to public understanding of local levies and bond proposals and other ballot measures put before the voters by the board of directors. Develops and manages informational campaigns and associated duties.
• Assures effective relations with local, state and national government representatives. Be knowledgeable on appropriate educational issues and/or legislation and act as a resource to keep the school board, administrators, staff and residents aware of pending legislation that could affect the district; and provide testimony and/or solicit research when appropriate.
• Assures the effective and professional operations of the department by developing and implementing sound policies, procedures and regulations. Assures district practices are within Public Disclosure Commission regulations. Oversees responses to all requests under the Public Records Act.
• Assures the financial well-being of the department by performing cost control activities and monitoring all fiscal operations of the department. Prepares and justifies department budget requests; approve all department expenditures. Assures the efficient and economical use of department funds, human resources, materials, facilities and time.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Ability to effectively prepare and present visual materials
• Ability to effective present and speak publicly
• Ability to think strategically and creatively problem solve
• Ability to organize, plan and execute within timelines
• Ability to organize and coordinate workload
• Ability to learn and operate a variety of software programs
• Ability to work well under pressure and use sound judgment, including appropriate handling of confidential matters
• Ability to analyze complex situations and synthesize diverse information
• Ability to both take direction and provide guidance and direction to staff and promote a team environment
• Ability to facilitate and promote collaborative decision-making and/or make effective independent decisions when situation requires
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of others both within and outside of the district
• Ability to facilitate conflict resolution

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• APR (Accredited Public Relations) Certification/Master’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree + 5 years school public relations experience

Benefits

Administrative employees working at least 20 hours per week are eligible for:

• Medical insurance (six different plans to choose from)
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• State Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts for Unreimbursed Medical and Dependent Care expenses
• Optional insurance for long-term care, short-term disability and more
• Real estate services
• Pre-paid legal services and ID theft protection

These descriptions of benefits are general: the specific benefits for a particular position may be different. All benefits are subject to change.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $153,895.00 /year