The Advent School, located in the Beacon Hill section of Boston, Massachusetts, serves 200 students in pre-Kindergarten through Sixth Grade. A mission-focused school founded in the principles of social justice, Advent has served the students and families of Boston since 1961. Through its Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum, Advent's faculty deliver authentic, rigorous, and experiential learning opportunities that encourage students to "learn with passion, act with courage, and change the world."
The Advent School seeks a Director of Marketing & Communications to be a leader in the development and execution of the school’s strategic marketing and communications plans. Reporting to the Head of School and a member of the senior leadership team, the Director of Marketing & Communications serves as an innovative content creator, storyteller, and brand manager, responsible for overseeing marketing, communications, media relations, and all aspects of the school’s public image. As such, they are charged with shaping, articulating, and implementing a positive and consistent identity and experience that represents the mission and vision of The Advent School.
As a member of the school’s Advancement Department, the Director of Marketing & Communications works collaboratively across the school community to identify, create, and manage content that tells the story of the unique mission, values, programs, and people that make The Advent School a top progressive, independent school in Boston.
The Director of Marketing & Communications is a salaried position for the 2024-25 academic year that includes medical and dental insurance, a 401(k) plan, professional development opportunities, and vacation benefits.
Responsibilities & Duties
Marketing
Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing plan for the school based on the goals outlined in the school’s most recent strategic plan, which includes an internal marketing strategy to reinforce the school’s value proposition to the family community, and an external marketing strategy to generate increased awareness of the school.
Create messaging for the school that is representative of Advent’s unique history, mission, and pedagogical approach that is clear, concise, and highly visible and that builds a brand that is both recognizable and desirable.
Develop a powerful, unified brand identity and enforce brand standards across the school community, ensuring all messaging is aligned and follows the school’s style guide.
Cultivate and sustain media relationships, including regular checks of digital review sites, and identifying and acting upon effective outreach opportunities for the school.
Collect, develop, and manage analytics data for all relevant digital media channels and platforms to measure effectiveness, efficiency, and impact. Provide regular reports to the school leadership team.
Serve on the Board of Trustees Marketing Committee
Communications
Design and oversee the production of all marketing and communications materials, including print and digital content, school website, social media, video, ads, etc., in collaboration with senior leaders.
Create and distribute the school’s weekly e-newsletter, ensuring timely and relevant communications for families.
Manage and regularly update the content of the school’s website, including monthly public blog posts.
Oversee the creation and dissemination of publications including the annual report and viewbook.
Collaborate with stakeholders across the organization to develop a school-wide communications calendar that is responsive to communications needs of all constituents.
Monitor, catalog, and archive media coverage, communications, photographs, etc.
Other
Be the face of the school’s marketing and communications efforts for both internal and external audiences.
Be a thought partner and collaborator with colleagues, listening attentively to their goals and bringing the vision to life.
Supervise the work of outside vendors, including graphic designers, photographers, and printers.
Manage the marketing budget and provide recommendations to leadership regarding funding for strategic department initiatives.
Attend occasional evening and weekend events as needed.
Additional tasks as assigned by the Head of School.
Required Skills & Characteristics
The Advent School is a good fit for professionals who believe in the School's mission of education for equity and social justice. Candidates should possess strong personal drive and motivation, demonstrate exemplary professional behavior and values, and be resourceful, responsible, and collaborative.
The ideal candidate will have three to five years experience as a marketing or communications professional, ideally in education or a non-profit setting, in addition to:
A deep commitment to Advent's mission and vision
Proficiency in graphic design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, etc.) and Google Suite and Microsoft Office
Knowledge and experience with social media platforms and management tools, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Wistia, YouTube, and Niche
Experience managing websites, including maintaining SEO-friendly content
Experience with digital analytics, including Google Analytics and Hootsuite
Familiarity with Blackbaud products, including Pushpage, is an asset
Proven skill in copywriting and editing
Proven ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, targeting and optimizing content
Ability to collaborate with colleagues, Trustees, and Advent School families
Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize projects based on the school's goals
Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications or related field, or equivalent job experience
The Advent School, located in the Beacon Hill section of Boston, Massachusetts, serves 200 pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade students. A mission-focused school founded on the principles of social justice, Advent has served the students and families of Boston since 1961. Through its Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum, Advent's faculty delivers authentic, rigorous, and experiential learning opportunities that encourage students to "learn with passion, act with courage, and change the world."