Director of Marketing and Communications

Director of Marketing and Communications

Girard College - Philadelphia, PA 19121

The Director of Marketing and Communications for Girard College is a high-impact, relationship-driven leader responsible for shaping the institution's public voice, enhancing brand equity, and driving strategic messaging. This individual will play a vital role in integrating marketing strategies with institutional advancement, enrollment management, and community relations for the College.

This is a 12-month on-site position reporting directly to the Chief Advancement Officer.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Brand Management:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive, institution-wide marketing, branding, and public relations strategy to elevate the Girard College profile.

• Support enrollment initiatives by crafting target recruitment campaigns and materials.

• Enhance internal and external community engagement while managing all campus-wide internal communications in close collaboration with school leadership.

Advancement:

• Work with the Chief Advancement Officer to strengthen fundraising initiatives and major funding campaigns.

• In Collaboration with the Director of Major Gifts, author major gift proposals, campaign messaging, donor stewardship reports, and alumni engagement assets.

Internal Communications:

• Maintain an active daily campus presence to foster relationships across administration, faculty, staff, and students.

• Partner with the President, VP of Operations, VP of Student Experience, and Human Resources to ensure a unified institutional voice across all divisions.

Media Relations & Crisis Communications:

• Serve as the primary media contact and official spokesperson.

• Drive proactive public relations efforts to position school leadership as thought leaders in boarding school education to expand the school's profile.

• In collaboration with key stakeholders, formulate and implement crisis communications plans as necessary.

Digital & Content Oversight:

• Direct the school's digital media strategy, including website design, search engine optimization, and social media platforms.

• Oversee the production of all major print publications, including magazines, viewbooks, and annual reports.

• Establish, monitor, and enforce clear, school-wide editorial and branding standards.

Student Mentorship & Campus Integration:

• Create experiential learning opportunities for students by actively mentoring them in multimedia fields.

• Manage, employ, and support students in various campus roles, including event photography, videography, and media production.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in marketing and communications, preferably within independent schools, higher education, or non-profit sectors.

Technical & Operational Skills:

• Demonstrated proficiency in institutional budget management and campaign strategy execution.

• Hands-on experience with customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Background in advancement software platforms and donor databases is a plus.

• Strong familiarity with content management systems (CMS), digital email marketing platforms, and web analytics tools.

Core Competencies:

• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Comprehensive understanding of brand positioning, identity, and style guidelines across physical and digital mediums

• Competence or basic execution using design software (e.g., Canva, Adobe Suite) and content curation tools.

• Ability to frame school marketing initiatives inclusively to accommodate culturally diverse student and family backgrounds as well as alumni, trustees, and potential donors.

• Understanding of FERPA, COPPA, and related policies regarding posting student photos, names, and information.

• Ability to work flexibly, including attending evening or weekend campus events as required by a vibrant boarding school community.