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Communications Specialist III

Washtenaw Intermediate School District
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The WISD's Mission is to promote the continuous improvement of achievement for every student while providing high-quality service to our customers through leadership, innovation, and collaboration. 

 

The WISD’s Vision is to be a leader in empowering, facilitating, and delivering high-quality, boundary-spanning, educational system that educates all children through an equitable, inclusive, and holistic approach.   

 

POSITION SUMMARY:   

The Communications Specialist III provides marketing and communication expertise for the District’s projects and campaigns. The Communications Specialist III will provide support and project coordination to Washtenaw Intermediate School District and local constituent school districts as assigned. The position uses multiple communication channels to promote the work of the district, its programs and learners, and its partnerships. The associated job duties are performed independently and in collaboration with other departments within the district, local public-school administrators, families, students, and other community leaders such as business and industry partners. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a willingness and ability to promote, communicate, and embrace the District’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice in the classroom and work environment. 

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

  • Demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, social justice and inclusion in all practices and position responsibilities.
  • Demonstrates the ability to examine how his/her/their position (directly or indirectly) impacts educational equities in student achievement outcomes.
  • Engages in reflection and ongoing learning and development on critical concepts and terms identified in the Washtenaw ISD Education Equity Policy, including concepts such as cultural proficiency, racial equity, and systemic and structural inequities.
  • Directly supports and implements the District’s strategic communication plan, and also develops and manages project-specific communication plans using the Research, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (RPIE) process. Specific projects may focus on Career Technical Education, early childhood, and more, and each will be aligned with the District’s broader strategic communication plan. This includes developing and implementing strategies, objectives and tactics such as:
    • Developing, composing, revising and distributing communication and marketing materials to promote district initiatives, programs and services.
    • Preparing and refining consistent messaging for internal and external audiences.
    • Managing website content, social media, and other communication tools.
    • Building and maintaining relationships with community members and local constituents, as well as members of the media. This may include collaborating with partners, serving on committees, and/or making presentations to community groups about WISD services and activities.
    • Coordinating data collection, evaluation, and report preparation, compilation and dissemination. 
  • Seeks out multiple perspectives and diverse voices so communication and district engagement efforts are inclusive, welcoming, and supporting positive relationships with staff, students, families, and the community. This may include facilitating focus groups, hosting community meetings, developing and implementing surveys, and more.
  • Provides project and administrative support to the Director of Communications for departmental and agency initiatives:
    • Works with external communication, marketing, and advertising vendors, and assists with related contracts.
    • Assists in providing training and consultation on customer service, marketing, public relations, and communication.
    • Assists coordination and execution of special district events including Opening Day, retirement recognitions, and other staff, student and family events.
    • Assists in implementing crisis communication plans and protocols to ensure timely and accurate communication in the event of emergencies. This may include delivering agency messages via electronic notification system, telephone system/voice mail/email and other electronic media (inclement weather, breaking news, bereavement, etc.). 
    • Supports regional, state and national communication and school public relations initiatives, including coordinated campaigns, professional learning opportunities, and shared services.
    • Provides information/consultation on and/or assistance with annual reports; survey research, public opinion surveys, and focus groups; media relations; bond and millage information campaigns; newsletter design and layout; communication planning; advertising and marketing; customer service; crisis communication; meeting and retreat facilitation; other communication, marketing and public relations areas, upon request. 
  • May occasionally be required to work during the evening and/or weekend.
  • Maintains regular, predictable in-person attendance.
  • OTHER RELATED DUTIES AS ASSIGNED. 

 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

  • N/A

 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Alternative requirements that may be appropriate and acceptable to the Board of Education may be considered. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: 

  • Possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Journalism, Communications, or other industry-recognized credential such as an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).
  • Possesses a minimum of three (3) years of communications, public relations and/or marketing experience with a demonstrated record of accomplishment. 
  • Possesses experience in the field of public education (or equivalent).

 

CERTIFICATES. LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS:

  • Possesses a current valid driver’s license.

 

LANGUAGE SKILLS: 

  • Exhibits ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other departments, agencies, and individuals.   
  • Demonstrates ability to write for print and digital, including but not limited to:  newsletters, social media, news releases, reports, correspondence, scripts, marketing copy, survey questionnaires, procedures and policy. 
  • Demonstrates ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of educators, families, customers, and the general public. 
  • Demonstrates ability to facilitate group process. 
  • Exhibits ability to express self clearly, both orally and in writing. 
  • Demonstrates excellent customer service skills. 
  • Exhibits ability to articulate the need for marketing and outreach efforts in public education.

 

TECHNICAL SKILLS: 

  • Demonstrates ability to use a personal computer (PC) or MAC in a networked environment to utilize the Internet and other electronic communications mechanisms. 
  • Exhibits knowledge of productivity applications such as Microsoft Office and Google G Suite (word processing, spreadsheets, database and presentation software) is required. 
  • Demonstrates ability to synthesize complex information into simple communication.
  • Possesses a proven track record of successfully managing multiple projects with complex and competing timelines, budgets, and deadlines.
  • Possesses experience using digital and social media. 
  • Possesses experience with photography and videography. 
  • Possesses experience with managing and tracking budgets.
  • Possesses strong news judgment, writing, editing, presentation and design skills. 
  • Possesses research, organization, development and planning skills. 
  • Possesses a broad knowledge of event planning, presentation design, customer service, public relations, marketing and advertising. 
  • Demonstrates ability to multi-task and meet deadlines. 
  • Demonstrates ability to organize, prioritize, and work independently, as well as cooperatively with diverse groups. 
  • Demonstrates ability to integrate technology into the everyday workflow.
  • Demonstrates ability to implement new technologies.
  • Experience with layout/design preferred. 

 

REASONING ABILITY: 

  • Demonstrates ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.   
  • Demonstrates ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
  • Exhibits a high level of professionalism with the ability to handle confidential information, use good judgment, plan and handle complex projects, and maintain a flexible attitude.
  • Demonstrates ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
  • Demonstrates ability to interpret complex technical documents.

 

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

  • Possesses exceptional organizational, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
  • Exhibits ability to work independently with management guidance.
  • Exhibits excellent customer service and communication skills with a client-centered focus.
  • Demonstrates ability to build rapport with others and to serve diverse publics.
  • Exhibits ability to take initiative, work well with others as a collaborative team member and exhibit good communication skills.
  • Demonstrates ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other departments, agencies and individuals.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, walk, stand, talk and listen. The employee is occasionally required to bend and or twist at the trunk more than the average person. The employee is continuously repeating the same hand, arm or finger motion many times. The employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds such as books and training material. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision and the ability to adjust focus. This position requires the individual to travel and/or drive to various off-site locations. The position requires the individual to sometimes work irregular or extended work hours and meet multiple demands from several people. 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTABILITY: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

 

The noise level in the work environment is quiet to loud depending upon the activity in the particular part of the day. Occasionally the employee may be required to be outdoors for a short period of time, and therefore subject to varying weather conditions, for purposes of accomplishing the essential functions of this job. 

 

FUNCTIONS OF POSITION DESCRIPTION:

This position description has been prepared to define the general duties of the position, provide examples of work and to detail the required knowledge, skills and ability as well as the acceptable experience and training for the position.  The description is not intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the duties of employees under supervision.  The WISD retains and reserves any and all rights to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from any portion of this description in its sole judgment. 

 

This position description is not a contract for employment. 

 

The WISD is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. 

 

TERMS:   

Contract, salary and other employment conditions to be established by the Board of Education as reflected in the Non-Affiliated Staff Manual. Starting salary ranging (dependent upon experience) from $75,150 - $92,359. 

 

Washtenaw Intermediate School District is a drug-free workplace.

 

It is the policy and commitment of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any legally protected characteristic, in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies in accordance with Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, executive order 11246 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all other pertinent state and federal regulations.