Director of Content and Engagement

Position Title: Director of Content and Engagement Start Date: Open Until Filled Type: 12-Month, Non-Exempt

CHURCH FARM SCHOOL

1001 E. Lincoln Highway Exton, PA 19341 Church Farm School offers a competitive salary and benefits package including medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, time off including school breaks, 403(b) plan, as well as meals during the school year. Our beautiful 150-acre campus in Chester County, PA, affords our community the opportunity to access the Chester Valley Trail as well as utilize our onsite workout facilities. Church Farm School welcomes and celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

POSITION OVERVIEW

This is a strategic and a hands-on role. The Director will lead the school's content engine, driving the creation of a social-first, student-centered storytelling ecosystem rich in photo and video assets. They simultaneously help build the systems and workflows needed to shape a coherent brand voice, effective internal communications, and a modern content and engagement function. Because the Director will be on the ground capturing the life of the school, the role will need to adapt seasonally, prioritizing strategy and planning when students are off campus.

POSITION SPECIFICS

Content Strategy and Editorial Leadership (20%) Translate the Head of School’s and CAO's strategic messaging direction into actionable editorial, content, and engagement strategies. Identify and maintain story pillars that reflect what is distinctive about Church Farm while bringing attention to audience personas and appropriate segmentation Develop editorial and communications calendars that balance enrollment, fundraising, alumni, internal audience, and external audience needs working alongside departmental projects and priorities managed by the Director of Advancement Project Management. Establish and uphold house style and message consistency across schoolwide communications. Collaborate with functional owners across the organization to serve as lead editor for routine schoolwide communications and a thought partner on high-impact institutional messages. Collaborate with the Head of School and CAO on long-term planning for the website, brand evolution, video strategy, and future staffing. Multimedia Storytelling and Content Production (25%) Plan, shoot, and edit short-form video and photography placing an emphasis on external-facing content for admissions and fundraising purposes as well as evergreen narrative assets. Develop an approach and style guide detailing how Church Farm appears authentically on film and in photography, including voice, pacing, captioning, framing, etc. Build a reusable, searchable content library so digital assets can be effectively leveraged to support the creation of social media and web content, admissions collateral, donor communications, presentations, and future campaigns. Social Media and Digital Engagement (20%) Lead the strategic use of Instagram and Facebook as central channels for prospective student and family engagement during the 2026-27 school year. Play an active role in mentoring participants in the school’s Student Ambassador Program, focusing on sustainably folding students into content creation through appropriate training, prompts, and review processes. Help evaluate and, if approved, launch and guide a student-informed TikTok presence while maintaining stronger institutional control over Instagram and Facebook. Create repeatable formats for Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, including Reels, Stories, carousels, short videos, captions, takeovers, Q&As, etc. Manage engagement practices for Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, including monitoring, response protocols, tagged content, user-generated content, and escalation when needed. Support digital and social marketing limited to audience development initiatives, including Public Programs and Events @ The Farm and the school’s annual Christmas Pageant. Support high-priority website content updates and prepare for a future website redesign by identifying content gaps, audience pathways, and reusable assets. Admissions Marketing and Institutional Communications (15%) Partner closely with the CAO, the Director of Enrollment Management, and the Director of Advancement Project Management to ensure prospective students and families encounter clear, compelling, mission-aligned storytelling across digital, print, and in-person touchpoints. Guide editorial photography for a limited, themed collection of admissions collateral and related print/digital pieces in the 2026-27 school year, coordinating with internal project priorities managed by the Director of Advancement Project Management and with outside designers or vendors as needed. Partner with the development and alumni relations teams to ensure donor-facing and alumni communications align with strategic messaging, schoolwide voice, and visual identity. Support the CAO and members of the Senior Leadership Team in creating stronger internal communications practices and clearer messaging. Collaborate effectively to edit, package, and deploy biweekly e-newsletters, internal updates and routine schoolwide communications, and select leadership messages in partnership with members of the advancement team and functional owners. Brand Stewardship and Vendor Management (10%) Serve as day-to-day protector of the school's brand voice and visual consistency until dedicated creative services capacity is added. Write creative briefs, manage feedback, and coordinate with outside designers, printers, and other vendors to ensure high-quality, on-brand deliverables and competitive pricing. Partner with the CAO and future creative services teammates on the timing and scope of larger brand, website, print collateral, swag, environmental signage/wayfinding, and visual identity work. Planning, Measurement, and Continuous Improvement (10%) Create an 18- to 24-month plan for channel maintenance and growth tied to resource allocation. Establish realistic metrics for content and engagement work, including reach, engagement, response rates, reuse, inquiries, registrations, etc. Conduct regular reviews of social media performance and audience response to refine story pillars, channel strategy, and posting/engagement practices. Develop lightweight reporting practices to support the Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors understanding what is working. Use AI and related tools responsibly while maintaining human editorial judgment. Other Duties as Assigned Other Duties as Assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will have the following: Expertise in photography, videography, editing, and digital content creation. Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing communications, editorial leadership, multimedia storytelling, nonprofit communications, or a related field required; advanced degree or equivalent professional experience preferred. Seven or more years of progressive experience in content strategy, marketing communications, editorial leadership, multimedia storytelling, nonprofit communications, or a related field. Demonstrated excellence in writing, editing, interviewing, and audience-centered storytelling. Experience managing social media strategy and engagement for an institution. Experience developing editorial and communications calendars, content pillars, and repeatable content systems. Experience managing vendors, creative briefs, design feedback, and multi-stakeholder approvals. Familiarity with independent school admissions and fundraising preferred. Portfolio of written, photo, video, social media, and/or campaign work strongly preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Strong editorial judgment and ability to translate institutional goals/priorities into audience-specific stories and engagement across print and digital channels. An ability to balance long-range planning with daily content demands. Strong visual instincts and ability to protect brand consistency. Able to seamlessly integrate into the life of the school, including spending significant time embedded with students and teachers in academic, extracurricular, athletic, and residential settings. Ability to work with students as content contributors while maintaining appropriate adult oversight, privacy practices, and institutional standards. Collaborative, mission-driven approach and ability to build trust with students, faculty, staff, families, alumni, donors, and external partners. Willingness to work evenings and weekends.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to work at a computer for extended periods. Ability to move throughout a multi-building campus. Ability to lift up to 20 pounds occasionally. Ability to see, hear, and speak clearly to interact with individuals and groups. Ability to assist with event setup, registration, and cleanup as needed. Church Farm School is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Church Farm School welcomes and celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. #J-18808-Ljbffr Paisboa