Job Description: Chief of Communications and Engagement


Company: Region 4 Education Service Center
Location: Houston, Texas (ESC Region 4)
Job Category: Administrative
Job Type: Full-Time
Salary: $Commensurate with experience - Yearly

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Chief of Communications and Engagement

Classification:  Admin/Prof

Exemption Status/Test:  Exempt/Executive

Job Grade:  N/A

Department:  Communications and Engagement

Reports To:  Executive Director

 

 

Job Goal:

The Chief of Communications and Engagement is responsible for the stewardship, planning, creative and strategic development of communication strategies to support the strategic direction, recognition and understanding of the Region 4 Education Service Center as District Advancement Champions.  This individual is responsible for developing and implementing strategies that promote two-way communication internally and externally, enhance marketing of district-wide programs/initiatives, and increase understanding of the Center’s initiatives and performance results.

        

The Chief of Communications and Engagement creates compelling and successful marketing communications campaigns, programs and efforts that support the strategic direction of Region 4.  This individual further ensures that center-wide goals and priorities are communicated and ensures that policies for brand stewardship, compliance and adoption are adhered to in the form of licensing and trademarks for Region 4 assets.

 

The Chief also provides leadership, development, training, creative and strategic direction, and oversight to the employees within the Communications and Engagement Division.

  

Qualifications:

Required

  1. Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in communications, journalism, English, or a related field
  2. At least 10 years of experience in communications or a related field, with at least five years of executive-level supervisory communications experience
  3. Expert knowledge and understanding of all aspects of communications, including strategic planning for various media venues, technical aspects, analytic assessments, requirements, and most appropriate or effective applications
  4. At least 10 years of experience in strategic communications, crisis management, marketing, and brand management with a successful track record and examples of result-driven campaigns and efforts

Preferred

  1. At least seven (7) years of direct experience in the field of communications
  2. At least five (5) successful years of leadership experience in a communications role

Special Knowledge and Skills

  1. Demonstrated experience in developing and managing brand and reputation – articulation, visioning and re-visioning for a complex, centralized organization.
  2. Demonstrated experience in multiple mediums of communication, including but not limited to social media, printed materials, videos, TV, radio, internet, and intranet.
  3. Deep knowledge of Region 4, including its purpose, core values, goals, strategic priorities, and business strategies; expert knowledge of current PK-12 affairs and issues in public education
  4. Demonstrated experience in event planning and management.
  5. Exceptional ability to prioritize, create, and deliver high-quality deliverables with limited guidance in a fast-paced, changing environment within budget and time constraints.
  6. Demonstrated ability to proactively address trending industry-related issues with a focus on “getting ahead” of a story with content development and execution.
  7. Proven ability to adapt to changing communications needs, adjust the pace of work, and tolerate ambiguity as well as to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  8. Exceptional ability to build trust, interact, and cultivate relationships with internal and external stakeholders with confidence and credibility, proactively driving communications outcomes and providing insightful counsel.
  9. Exceptional ability to anticipate customer needs, as well as to identify and champion opportunities for the development and implementation of new services and methods to meet or exceed customer needs.
  10. Exceptional ability to create and organize the timing and execution of surveys, focus groups and interviews to gather input and feedback from stakeholders and analyze the results.
  11. Demonstrated experience with gathering and evaluating quantitative and qualitative data to assess return on investment (ROI) of marketing and communications efforts.
  12. Expert management skills to select, train, lead, direct, guide, and motivate professional and support staff to produce high quality work; skill to take corrective action as required.
  13. Demonstrated experience in launching innovative technologies/strategies that support the strategic communications plan, such as artificial intelligence, geofencing marketing, influencer engagement, etc.

Major Responsibilities:

  1. Lead, guide, and monitor implementation of a comprehensive communications strategy that results in effective long- and short-term internal and external strategic communications and marketing plans, including crisis communications, to ensure that the Center has its pulse on both internal and external stakeholders and spotlights their accomplishments and achievements.
  2. Coordinate timely, relevant Region 4 communications including website, internet, intranet, social media channels videos, photos, printed materials, and other forms of media.
  3. Develop a comprehensive marketing communications plan to clearly and creatively articulate to our primary customers – the superintendents of the districts within Region 4 – that “every employee of the Center serves as their District Advancement Champion and we have their backs.”
  4. Act as the Center’s spokesperson on critical issues and supervise media responses issued by the communications department.
  5. Prepare and provide information to its customers and to the general public about the vision, goals, and strategic priorities of the Region 4 Education Service Center.
  6. Plan, design, and execute Region 4 special events for internal and external stakeholders.
  7. Identify key stakeholders for marketing efforts.
  8. Cultivate positive relationships with school districts, businesses, nonprofit organizations, elected officials, institutes of higher education, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders.
  9. Market and distribute pertinent information about the Center and its products, services, and technical assistance to customers.
  10. Communicate Center news, events, policies, procedures, and activities to employees.
  11. Represent the executive director as an official of the Center.
  12. Serve as a member of the executive director’s Cabinet.
  13. Attend board meetings and identified committee meetings when appropriate and/or requested.
  14. Assist in performing all tasks necessary to achieve Region 4’s goals.
  15. Follow center safety protocols and emergency procedures.
  16. Perform all other duties as assigned. 

Supervision/Personnel Management

  1. Select, train, evaluate, and supervise the secretary, supervisors, and department directors of the Communications and Community Engagement Division, including completing evaluations per Region 4 policies.
  2. Develop and deliver training, support, and improvement plans to enhance the effectiveness of the division’s operations. 

Physical Demands/Environmental Factors/ Mental Demands:

Frequent use of standard office equipment; prolonged sitting; occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting; repetitive hand motions (keyboarding and use of mouse); occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 20 pounds); may work prolonged and irregular hours; occasional statewide travel; work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under pressure.