Communication Specialist

Details Posted: 01-Jul-26 Location: Brooklyn, New York Type: Full Time Salary: $75,000 - $85,000 Categories: Communications/PR Required Education: 4 Year Degree Poly Prep's mission is to prepare and inspire the next diverse generation of leaders and global citizens to act with intelligence, imagination, and––above all––character. Poly Prep seeks ambitious and community-driven applicants for the position of COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST to join our Engagement & Communications team. Within our department, you’ll be Poly Prep's embedded storyteller—part reporter, part editor, part photographer, part content strategist—responsible for finding the stories, telling them well, and getting them out the door. You document school life, shaping how it’s understood and celebrated, while keeping Poly Prep's voice and brand consistent everywhere it shows up. You’re eager, driven, and ready to hit the ground running. You thrive in a fast‑paced environment, take initiative, listen deeply, and bring energy to everything you do. You’re a strong independent contributor, and you also love being part of a team—planning, building on ideas together, and making them happen. Primary Responsibilities Tell Our Stories Write two to three web-friendly feature stories per week for polyprep.org—everything from profiles and event recaps to a look inside academic and co‑curricular life Contribute to the school's biannual magazine—supporting editorial production, coordinating contributors, and helping bring each issue to life Capture the Moments Be on the ground, with camera in hand at rehearsals, classes, clubs, and special events across both our Park Slope and Dyker Heights campuses; book our agency photographers and videographers as needed Shoot and edit compelling still photography; produce short‑form video content Upload your photos and video to our digital asset management platform, keeping our library accessible and up‑to‑date Own Our Digital Presence Write copy, design assets, and publish content across Poly Prep's social media channels (@polyprep) Stay current on trends and peer school activity to keep our content timely, relevant, and resonant Create and/or adapt content for campus screens—keeping displays fresh, engaging, and relevant for students, faculty, staff, and visiting families Keep Our Community Informed Assemble the front page of our weekly all‑school newsletter; supervise and proofread the three divisional bulletins within Draft or refine community‑wide emails, reflecting Poly Prep's voice and values Work closely with the team’s event manager to ensure all dates/times in communications are correct; that changes are communicated effectively; ensure calendar entries have descriptions Stay Ahead of the Story Attend the weekly events meeting and cultivate relationships across the school community with students, faculty, coaches, and staff so you always know what's happening and what's worth covering; you are responsible for the editorial agenda Coordinate with our graphic designer and Poly stakeholders to produce the promotional assets for Arts productions and Commencement such as the playbills, posters, postcards, as well as the official Commencement program—managing timelines, contributors, and details Elevate Student Voices Collaborate with the journalism and media studies coordinator, consulting on class projects and tangible publishing opportunities via Poly’s website, magazine, or social media Mentor student writers who work with the communications department to develop their storytelling skills and contribute authentic, diverse perspectives to our communications platforms Foster an inclusive editorial culture where students feel welcome and encouraged to write/create content Manage the Brand Champion Poly Prep's graphic and editorial standards across all content Ensure every piece of content—from a social post to a feature story—reflects the school's identity with accuracy, consistency, and quality Exercise sound editorial judgment about what to publish, what to hold, and how to handle sensitive situations in a K‑12 environment Support the department's media relations efforts—working with the Senior Director to facilitate media access on campus, secure necessary permissions, and develop story pitches designed for external press pickup Support the broader work of the Engagement & Communications team in whatever capacity is needed Qualifications Education: Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, marketing, or a related humanities field, with/​or commensurate experience that demonstrates equivalent skills. Experience: This role is best suited for someone with a professional background in journalism, school communications, or content marketing, though we’re open to candidates at a range of experience levels. What matters most is a demonstrated passion for storytelling and a portfolio that shows what you can do across different channels. Experience through college media, campus publications, internships, or freelance work is absolutely relevant. Specific Skills Exceptional writing and editing, with a portfolio that demonstrates range, quality, and the ability to produce on deadline Photography proficiency; experience creating short‑form video content for social media platforms (Instagram Reels, TikToks, YouTube Shorts) is a plus. Familiarity with photo/video editing tools and design platforms (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, CapCut, Final Cut Pro) Experience managing social media platforms and developing content strategies Strong organizational and project management skills—you are highly organized and detailed oriented Familiarity with brand guidelines and editorial standards Certifications: n/a Who You Are Ambitious and eager: you bring energy and enthusiasm to everything you do, thrive in a fast‑paced environment, and are excited to grow and work alongside a highly skilled team A reporter at heart: you have a nose for news, you pursue stories proactively, and you come to the team with ideas A fast, skilled writer: you produce polished, engaging copy on (or before!) deadline without sacrificing quality—speed and craft are equally non‑negotiable here A confident photographer with a strong eye and the efficiency to turn images around quickly; you have solid video skills Strategically minded: you understand which stories matter most, how to prioritize across competing demands, and how to make content decisions that serve the school's larger goals Schedule This is a 12-month, in‑person position, based primarily at the Dyker Heights campus with regular visits to the Park Slope campus. Occasional evening and weekend availability is required to cover school events. Remote work flexibility may be available during the summer (mid‑June through mid‑August). Poly Prep strives to be an equitable, just, and diverse community, one proud of and deeply committed to empowering students to discover who they are and what they want to be. In keeping with the country day school philosophy, we seek community members who will share a passion for learning. Every community member at Poly Prep aspires to uphold our mission “to support and inspire the next diverse generation of leaders and global citizens to act with intelligence, imagination and--above all--character.” Benefits We offer a great environment, with a full benefits package (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, a generous match on our 403(b) retirement plan, long‑term disability, flexible spending account, pre-tax commute benefit, and free lunch). Poly Prep is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. About Poly Prep Country Day School Brooklyn, New York Nursery through Grade 12 Co-Ed Independent School. Founded in 1854 #J-18808-Ljbffr