Executive Director of Communications

Job Title: Executive Director of Communications, GCISD Wage/Hour Status: Exempt


Reports To: Superintendent Pay Grade: Professional 9


Dept./School: Administration Days Paid: 233

Primary Purpose:


Provides strategic leadership in developing and executing proactive communication plans that support district priorities, strengthen community trust, and advance student success. Develops and delivers clear, consistent messaging by translating complex issues into language that is easy to understand. Serves as a trusted advisor to district and campus leaders by providing communications counsel, public relations guidance, and support in effective communication practices. Responsible for fostering meaningful community engagement and enhancing recognition of GCISD's students, staff, schools, and programs. The Executive Director of Communications serves as the district's primary spokesperson and oversees external communications on behalf of GCISD.

Key Leadership Responsibilities:

• Participates as an active member of the superintendent's executive team.
• Acts as an organizational consultant, providing advice, assistance and recommendations as required. Sets the community engagement priorities for the district. Acts strategically about issues, process, timing and messaging.
• Leads all efforts to bring awareness about the district and each school, program and department to earn broad community support and recognition.
• Maintains a strong network of key constituents and media partners.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience:

• Experience in communications, public relations or other relevant fields and/or demonstrated substantial experience in community engagement.
• Experience in developing and implementing communication plans and strategies.
• Experience in facilitating online discussion and community relationship development.
• Experience in developing and implementing marketing and branding strategies.
• Experience in a similar role in a school district or government environment desired.
• Experience leading a team with a positive, high-performing team culture.
• Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, journalism or related field.

Special Knowledge & Skills:

• High-level community engagement skills including planning, communication presentation, facilitation, event management, and evaluation.
• High-level project management skills, including project scoping, assessment, logistics, and implementation.
• High-level interpersonal skills, including effective verbal and written communications and active listening skills. Excels in writing with the ability to translate complex concepts and explanations into easily understandable communication.
• High-level social media and interaction skills, including the ability to facilitate online conversations and publications.
• Ability to deliver high-quality training, effective community meetings and discussion with groups.
• Good problem-solving skills, along with the ability to set priorities, manage time effectively and process deadlines of projects and programs.

Job Responsibilities:

Strategic Relationships, Communication and Engagement:

• Responsible for development of brand strategy and implementation, brand marketing efforts and public engagement for GCISD and, as needed, for various schools and their programs.
• Research, develop, advise upon and implement a range of innovative, relevant and effective techniques to engage the GCISD community in our decision-making process and support ongoing community development practices.
• Lead and oversee the execution of short-term and long-term plans relating to internal and external communications to stakeholders of the GCISD community, as well as to state and national leaders and audiences.
• Create strong positive relationships with advocacy groups, civic, professional, business and government representatives, parents, and members of the media.
• Act as a central coordination point to support staff in the development and implementation of community engagement strategies to enhance and maximize the level and quality of community participation.
• Lead and execute community engagement initiatives, information campaigns and projects, delivering high-quality results on time.
• Build a strong base of parent advocacy and leadership within the GCISD community.
• Act as a central liaison for campus leaders to ensure exceptional customer service and clear communication about campus programs, events and issues.
• Monitor community satisfaction levels and facilitate appropriate responses.
• Develop and maintain ways of effectively communicating the mission, vision and a positive image to the community.
• Oversee proactive positive media outreach through articles, press releases, and advisories to promote awareness of GCISD programs and their value.
• Further develop, enhance, update and maintain GCISD.net to ensure that our information is vibrant, relevant, easy to use and accessible.
• Oversee GCISD Gameday.
• Manage all communication for emergency and crisis situations in conjunction with city communication teams and media.

Supervisory Responsibilities:


Manages staff in the Communications Services Department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, recommending for hire, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, kneel, squat, bend, stoop, push, pull, and twist. The employee must occasionally lift or carry (less than 15 pounds). Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Requires considerable close-up work with computer video displays.