CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Company: Poway Unified School District
Location: San Diego
Posted on: October 19, 2024

Job Description:

Check out the role overview below If you are confident you have got the right skills and experience, apply today.
Description
***Current vacancy is 40 hours/ week, 12 months/ year***
**This recruitment will establish an eligibility list valid for 6 months to fill current and future vacancies during that time period.**
BASIC FUNCTION: Under general direction of the Superintendent, plans, develops, coordinates and implements communication and public relations activities; manages effective media, community, and public relations and engagement; coordinates, and facilitates special public events; Supports key District initiatives with internal and external stakeholders; focuses on and is responsible for optimizing communication to advance the District's vision, mission and values, and building capacity within the District to create and maintain strong communication.
Examples of Duties
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

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• Serves on the Superintendent's Cabinet as public relations advisor and supports the Superintendent, Board of Trustees, and members of the Cabinet, and District leadership by providing current knowledge and understanding of trends, issues, and research, pertinent to the work of public school districts, public education, and public relations/communications.
  
• Researches, plans, develops and evaluates internal and external communications plans to advance the District's vision, mission and initiatives; conducts annual reviews of communications plans; develops and oversees the implementation of the District's communications processes, protocols and procedures, including during crises and emergencies.
  
• Reviews and revises, as appropriate, District policies related to communication and media.
  
• Establishes and maintains positive and cooperative working relationships with representatives of local communications media, community, and employee organizations.
  
• Supervises and coordinates the preparation of the District's internal and external digital and print communication tools (e.g. district websites, social media sites, publications, press releases, newsletters, photos, videos) to enhance the understanding and awareness and support of the District's operations and programs.
  
• Serves as primary District spokesperson and liaison with the media and builds capacity in other leaders to serve in this role, as appropriate; assists schools and departments in coordinating media coverage.
  
• Acts as reliable information source regarding the District in the face of emergencies, crises and other public education or District related issues; generates immediate, effective responses, with Superintendent's approval, in District's crises or emergencies.
  
• Oversees the release of public records, information, and materials regarding District activities and programs; develops and facilitates open forums and/or other feedback mechanisms for parents, students, employees, and other interested parties.
  
• Represents the Superintendent and District as a communications link with a wide variety of public and private organizations, conferences and boards. Collaborates with business partners, community leaders, district committees, parents, community members, donors and other education leaders to coordinate activities and programs, resolve issues and conflicts, and exchange information.
  
• Identifies community issues and concerns, and develops strategies for dealing effectively and proactively with community issues and concerns; interacts with diverse stakeholder groups, with the overarching goal of building trust in the District's commitment to transparency and partnership with all stakeholders.
  
• Gives presentations and attends designated meetings including Board of Education and Cabinet meetings, to gather and present information and identify publicity goals for the District.
  
• Coordinates, and facilitates a variety of District events including visits by foreign and domestic public officials, fund raisers, ceremonies, recognition events, special presentations, and other events as required.
  
• Provides training in the development and implementation of public relations strategies and techniques and builds internal capacity to support strong, two-way communication to build awareness of and support for District programs and services to support students and helps school sites to engage parents and the school community.
  
• Coordinates marketing, outreach, and public relations activities for the District to enhance school/community relations.
  
• Participates in special research projects as directed by the Superintendent, including the preparation of the annual State of the District report.
  
• Maintains positive relationships with, and provides training to District high school student representatives, and the student representative on the School Board.
  
• Trains, evaluates and supervises assigned personnel.
  
• Perform related duties as assigned.
  
  Minimum Qualifications
  EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in communications, public relations, journalism or related field and a minimum of five (5) years of professional experience that provides the knowledge and skills outlined in the position description. Related experience in public education preferred. Master's degree preferred.
  LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License and use of private or alternative means of transportation is required.
  Supplemental Information
  KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
  KNOWLEDGE OF: Principles, practices and policies of public relations, marketing and media; Principles and techniques of event planning; Principles and techniques of project management; Elements of writing news releases and other material for print and broadcast media; Principles and techniques of printing, publication and website production; Marketing practices; Report writing and other written and oral communication techniques; Principles and practices of training, evaluating and providing work direction to others; Policies and objectives of school programs and activities; Correct English grammar, spelling, punctuation and language usage; Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
  ABILITY TO: Maintain confidentiality of sensitive and privileged information; Exercise professional judgment in the release of information and materials to the media and public; Conduct research and use statistics effectively; Prioritize and schedule work on several projects simultaneously, re-prioritizing to meet deadlines; Meet schedules and timelines; Manage employees and department budget; Apply knowledge of state and federal laws regarding freedom of press, open meetings, public records act, campus access rights, FERPA, public communications, conflict of interest and privacy rights; Plan, edit and produce publications; Plan, edit and produce electronic and/or visual presentations; Plan, coordinate and document projects; Plan and carry out special events; Take photographs and videos with digital cameras; Write clearly and persuasively for a variety of readers; Write in a wide variety of styles depending on the requirements of the material; Independently compose reports, news releases, articles and correspondence describing complex issues or programs; Identify, develop and successfully present news and feature story opportunities to print and broadcast editors and reporters; Prepare and deliver oral presentations to groups both inside and outside the organization; Speak effectively before large and small groups; Creatively and effectively analyze situations and problems and adopt effective and appropriate courses of action; Perform reliably and effectively in a variety of situations requiring specialized knowledge, tact and good judgment; Establish and maintain effective working relationships; Train principals and administrators in communication strategies; Ability to listen, cooperate and collaborate with others both inside and outside the organization; Operate a computer and assigned office equipment.
  WORKING CONDITIONS:
  ENVIRONMENT: Office environment; School sites and departments; Community settings and events.
  PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Hearing and speaking to exchange information and make presentations; Seeing to read a variety of materials; Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard; Sitting for extended periods of time.
  HAZARDS: Contact with dissatisfied or abusive individuals; Exposure to hazards of emergency situation sites.
  In accordance with Personnel Commission Rules and Regulations of Classified Service # 70.200.1, new employees to Poway Unified School District will be placed at Step 1 of the official salary range designated for the position. Any variances in initial placement are addressed in, and shall be carried out in agreement with, this rule.
  The Poway Unified School District (PUSD) is an equal opportunity employer/program and is committed to an active Nondiscrimination Program. PUSD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, ethnic group identification, ancestry, religion, gender, gender identification, mental or physical disability.
  For more information, please contact the Title IX/Equity Compliance Officer, Associate Superintendent of Personnel Support Services, Poway Unified School District, 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA 92128-3406.
  
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Keywords: Poway Unified School District, Laguna Niguel , CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, Executive , San Diego, California