Our Reggio-inspired, social-constructivist curriculum is inquiry-based and driven in part by children’s interests. We emphasize collaboration and recognize the gifts that each child brings to the group. Our approach is one that recognizes the whole child and focuses first and foremost on social and emotional learning and relationships as the necessary foundations for education.
Sabot is an educational home for teachers drawn to relationships and practices that are rooted in unifying beliefs about children and learning, based on current neurological and educational research and reliant on our teacher-researchers’ collaborative problem solving and creativity. Sabot teachers are both guides and fellow travelers in the collaborative learning process and in making students’ learning visible to themselves and others. We view teaching not as a static set of skills, but as a dynamic process, manifested in our culture of research and our commitment to teacher development.
Sabot School seeks a creative, detail-oriented and collaborative professional to join our community as a part-time Marketing and Communications Coordinator. This person will not only have a diverse range of media and communication skills, such as video editing, photography, graphic design and website content management, they will also be a flexible and ambitious team player who will join a cohesive, committed, and talented community.
Additionally, the Marketing and Communications Coordinator must possess an enthusiastic commitment to the importance of building and sustaining a diverse, just, inclusive, and equitable environment.
General Summary:
As a member of the school’s administrative team and a direct report to the Head of School, the Marketing and Communications Coordinator will collaborate with the Head of School and the school’s Communications Officer to develop and implement a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy plan for the School. The Marketing and Communications Coordinator is the creative, organized and energetic leader, who is responsible for content development, website updates, graphic design and photography. With a focus mainly on content production, this position is for someone who both loves strategy and planning and also execution. This position also serves as the primary media relations contact for the School.
Essential Duties:
– In collaboration with the Head of School, the Board of Directors, and Communications Officer, design and implement a comprehensive communication and marketing strategy to elevate and sustain communications with and among students, parents (current and prospective), faculty & staff, the Board of Directors, grandparents, alumni, donors, founders, external educators and Institute participants, and community partners;
– Support the communication needs of the Head of School, Senior Leadership Team, Program Group and Board of Directors;
– Lead school marketing efforts including messaging and creation of digital and print materials;
– Capture, distill, and disseminate essential features and outcomes of our approach;
– Develop and maintain strong working relationships with local and national media;
– Write and edit press releases, OpEd pieces for local press and feature articles for school website;
– Collaboratively maintain an active presence on Sabot School’s social media outlets, providing content for those sites through video, photography and graphics;
– Optimize the Sabot School website as a source of information for, and communication with, key constituencies and audiences;
– Maintain website content to ensure accuracy and currency of information;
– Design, write, and provide project management for publications and school communications, including newsletters, annual report, and other regular publications;
– Design, write and provide content updates for the Parent Portal on Veracross and Sabot Stories page on the website, including updating links and highlighting important events and information;
– Collaborate with the School’s agency of record to execute marketing plan, including SEO and SEM management, content production feedback and social media advertising creation and monitoring of all analytics;
– Collaborate with Communications Officer to provide input for the annual communications budget;
– With the Communications Officer track expenditures according to the budget;
– Review monthly financial reports with the Director of Finance;
– Assume collateral duties as needed or be present at times other than your established schedule.
- Education and Experience: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in marketing, journalism, communications or a related field.
- Experience in an independent school, college or non-profit environment is a plus.
- Must be able to complete a background check.
- Willingness and ability to work some evenings and weekends, flexibility for a dynamic schedule to meet the school calendar
- A willingness to participate fully in a dynamic day school located in Richmond, Virginia;
- An ability to work collaboratively with other school community members and inspire colleagues’ best work;
- A knowledge of the culture and climate of an independent school and the broader educational environment;
- A nuanced understanding of the relationship between enrollment messaging, community messaging, and advancement messaging;
- An awareness and sensitivity to economic, cultural, and other issues present in the enrollment of a diverse student body;
- Superior communications skills, both written and oral (clarity, brevity, authenticity, spelling and grammar);
- Be accessible, approachable, and welcoming; - Proven editorial and copywriting ability as dictated by the Sabot Style Guide;
- Maintain exceptional interpersonal skills and professional presence; - Imaginative storytelling and editorial skills;
- A fluency in current social media and communications channels and excitement for what’s next;
- Be proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign or similar), Google Apps, Microsoft Office Suite, audio/video editing tools, and other relevant technology;
- Experience in website management preferred;
- A high level of attention to detail and superior organization skills;
- An ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with the highest degree of integrity;
- The ability to multitask, keep calm under pressure and treat everyone with respect;
- An eye for design to uphold and enhance Sabot’s visual identity;
- An appreciation and respect for Sabot’s history, mission, values, and brand;
- A sense of curiosity, a positive attitude, flexibility and a great sense of humor.