Position Overview:

The Marketing and Communications Director is responsible for developing a comprehensive strategy to build understanding and support for the mission of Sacred Heart education and enhance the reputation of the Academy and Hardey Prep as leaders among independent Catholic schools, locally and nationally. The Marketing and Communications Director manages resources and oversees initiatives that raise awareness of the school's distinctive character, strengthen Sacred Heart's brand position, and engage and inform key constituent groups. Key areas of responsibility include school publications, social media, public relations, advertising and brand identity, as well as supervision of two full-time Marketing and Communications Associates. The position demands the full range of communications skills, both creative and technical:  copy-writing, graphic design, photography and experience in using electronic media to support institutional goals.
 
The ideal candidate is a strong project manager who can think both creatively and strategically and who has the ability to take complex projects from start to finish, on deadline. In addition, the Marketing and Communications Director must demonstrate a commitment to staying abreast of trends in marketing and communication methods and to practices among peer schools.  The Marketing and Communications Director must exhibit strong leadership and interpersonal skills, be able to work effectively with colleagues, volunteers and vendors and consistently project a positive image of Sacred Heart Schools. The Marketing and Communications Director reports to the Director of Institutional Advancement.
 
The Communications Office is one of the four offices, including Admissions, Development and Diversity and Community Outreach, which make up the Department of Institutional Advancement.  The Institutional Advancement Team works collaboratively to build understanding and support of the school’s mission and programs and to secure resources to enhance the school and secure its future.  Collectively and individually, the team strives to model the values expressed in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education.


Essential Job Functions: ​
 
STRATEGY AND POLICY

• Develop and execute an annual marketing plan designed to advance the mission, vision, and strategic objectives of Sacred Heart Schools; ensure the plan is closely-aligned with the Board of Trustees’ Strategic Plan
• Develop metrics that define success, assess effectiveness, and measure progress; regularly provide reports to Director of Institutional Advancement and Head of Schools
• Develop and maintain standards for the school's brand, editorial and visual identities
• Implement “best practice” policies for communications as articulated by professional and accreditation organizations such as the National Association for Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the Network of Sacred Heart Schools
• Develop and maintain an effective crisis and emergency communications policy; train key personnel
• With the Director of Institutional Advancement, administer all budgets related to communications; provide input for budget development

 
COMMUNICATIONS

• Lead the effort to build and execute the annual communications calendar, maintaining a clear focus on institutional priorities while remaining responsive to constituent requests
• Ensure constituents receive timely and accurate school information through a variety of user-friendly and easily-accessible communication vehicles; ensure school information, messages and themes are consistent, cohesive and reinforced across all platforms, both print and electronic
• Serve as chief editor and publisher for key school publications such as the Annual Report, Heartbeat, From the Head and the Heart, On Board and the school yearbook
• Work closely with the Marketing and Communications Associates to ensure the excellence of the school’s website and social media channels; stay abreast of trends in electronic communication in order to keep the school current with new developments
• With the assistance of the Marketing and Communications Associates, maintain a robust portfolio of professional and staff-generated photography  and video of school events, facilities, programs and personnel for use in publications, both print and digital; maintain list of students who cannot be shown in photographs or on video and ensure they do not appear in on-line or print publications

 
COLLABORATION

• Provide counsel and support to the Head of Schools and academic leadership in identifying effective ways to communicate with parents and other key constituencies
• Collaborate with the Admissions and Development offices to produce high quality materials that support enrollment and fundraising objectives
• Work with the School Office to ensure back-to-school  and other essential parent/school information is available to the school community in timely, accurate and user-friendly ways
• Coordinate regular Editorial Board meetings to generate ideas and encourage feedback from faculty/staff and other constituents
• Support word-of-mouth marketing efforts through the Parent Ambassador Network and Angel Family program
• Stay abreast of academic, classroom and extracurricular programs and activities
• Develop a rich understanding of Sacred Heart’s history, traditions and key differentiators (single-sex education, values-based education, Network of Sacred Heart Schools, Society of the Sacred Heart) in order to communicate them effectively
• Meet regularly with Director of Institutional Advancement and the Admissions, Development and Diversity and Community Outreach directors to share information, plan and manage the activities of the Driehaus Center

 
MEDIA AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Establish media contacts; serve as the first point-of-contact for media inquiries; identify public relations and promotional opportunities to position the school for greater media visibility
• Serve as communications liaison with the Archdiocese of Chicago, Network of Sacred Heart Schools and the Society of the Sacred Heart; suggest stories and provide content, as needed

 
SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT

• Recruit, manage and supervise Communications staff and volunteers
• Manage assignments and workflow for the  Marketing and Communications Associates
• Provide annual reviews for Marketing and Communications Associates and work with them to create professional development plans to enhance their skills

OTHER PROJECTS as identified by the Director of Institutional Advancement and/or Head of School


Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Five-plus years of relevant professional experience in communications, marketing, public relations or advancement, preferably in an educational or non-profit setting
• Outstanding leadership, interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• Thorough understanding of marketing and branding principles, as well as solid grasp of new media channels
• Strong project management skills; demonstrated ability to manage multiple and complex tasks with hard deadlines
• Excellent writing, editorial and proofreading skills
• Excellent computer skills, particularly Microsoft Office:  Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Graphic design experience and facility with Adobe Creative Suite:  inDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator
• Experience in website management and familiarity with content management systems
• Experience with digital photography, iMovie and/or Final Cut Pro
• Ability to work in fast-paced environment
• Ability to work remotely from home when necessary
• Availability for occasional weekend and evening work
• Experience with Finalsite or Blackbaud
• Respect for and experience in independent or Catholic education, and the ability to effectively communicate these values desired

Applicants should upload a cover letter and resume by January 20. 
 

Sacred Heart Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability or handicap, veteran status, marital status or any other classification protected by law.

There are certain positions, such as those that teach students religion at Sacred Heart Schools, for which it is necessary to be Catholic, for which preference in hiring shall be given to people who are Catholic and who evidence an understanding of the Catholic faith and a commitment to living that faith. Such preference is allowed under state and federal law, and does not constitute an illegal act of discrimination.