Director of Communications

About the job

Otsego Public Schools serves approximately 2300 students across 85 square miles that include Allegan and Kalamazoo counties. Our vision is “Expect Excellence” and we strive as a district to achieve excellence for our students, staff and our community. From our new district strategic plan, we are focused on student well-being, school culture and climate, individualized student success and career exploration and engagement.

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Director of Communications plays a key role on the administrative team at Otsego Public Schools, providing strategic guidance for district and building communications needs. This person is responsible for maintaining the district website, creating content for and posting to social media platforms, partnering with local media outlets, creating a quarterly district newsletter, and coordinating various staff recognition awards. All staff, including the Director of Communications, are expected to display a positive, caring, nurturing attitude and a genuine desire to assist all students and staff when necessary to maintain a safe and orderly environment.

RECOMMENDED EMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS 

EDUCATION: 

• Bachelor's Degree in business, public relations, journalism or other related field preferred

EXPERIENCE / SKILLS: 

• Minimum 5 years experience
• Strong work ethic with a high level of confidentiality
• Must be familiar with current software
• Must be highly organized, able to work on multiple projects at the same time and able to meet deadlines.
• Must have strong written and verbal communication skills

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain frequent and effective communication with district administrators to meet the needs of educational, extracurricular and community education communications.
• Develop messaging and strategic communication plans for district initiatives, crisis situations and communication with key stakeholders
• Develop effective goals for the department consistent with the District Goals established by the Board of Education.
• Maintain a weekly events calendar to include classroom and district events both during and after school.
• Highlight curriculum activities, extracurriculars and events across communication platforms.
• Layout, design and write quarterly district newsletter.
• Partner with local media outlets on newsworthy items, send news releases and photos.
• Create brochures, flyers and social media graphics for promotional events/programs.
• Maintain all content and updates to district and building websites.
• Curate content for, and maintain social media platforms.
• Monitor and track analytics for district website, social media, app and district communications.
• Regular and predictable attendance is required.
• Evening and weekend work is necessary to attend major events.
• All other duties as assigned by the Superintendent and/or Board of Education.

From time to time, in emergency situations, it becomes necessary for all adults, including the Director of Communication, to assist in supervising groups of students and attending to the physical needs of students.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person in this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed by such a person. 

REQUIRED: Capturing Kids Hearts training to be completed within the first two years of employment 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk; occasional stooping, bending, and reaching. Close vision is required to perform computer related tasks. 

Work Environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 12 month employee

Salary and Benefits Information:

• Salary: Based on experience
• Benefits: Consistent with non-union employees

Application materials can be emailed to:  [email protected] or mailed to:

Amber Neal

Otsego Public Schools

400 Sherwood St

Otsego, MI 49078