Marketing and Communications Manager

Washington, DC, United States

ABOUT MERIDIAN PCS

Meridian is a PreK-8th grade school located in Washington DC’s vibrant U Street Corridor. Our mission is to inspire a passion for learning in our students and to help them build their self-confidence and self-respect through academic achievement. Our 650+ students are a diverse mix of African-American, Latino, Asian, African, and White students. Almost 30% of our students are English language learners, and we have one of the largest Hispanic populations in DC charter schools. We are committed to building a community of teachers and staff who reflect the rich diversity of our student body. Our middle school campus serves nearly 200 students in the Columbia Heights neighborhood in grades 6-8.

Meridian is committed to serving families from our local communities; and one-third of our students live within a half mile of the school. The U Street Corridor was once the heart of black culture in DC and offers a tangible historical archive for our students, and Columbia Heights is one of the most racially and economically diverse neighborhoods in the District. We are also proud of the fact that Meridian is a school of choice for parents— all eight wards of the city are represented among our student population.

Meridian’s strengths include two beautiful and historic campuses, with nearby outdoor and recreational grounds; state of the art technology for students and teachers; updated and aligned curricula; an academic program laser-focused on student growth, achievement, and social-emotional development; extensive professional development and support for teachers and leaders; and a school culture grounded in student achievement, collaboration, and student-centered learning.

Join us as we continue to take Meridian from good to great! For additional information about Meridian visit mpcs-dc.org.

Meridian seeks a Marketing and Communications Manager to develop and implement strategic marketing and communication plans to enhance the Meridian brand, promote school events, initiatives, achievements, and engage target audiences. The Marketing and Communications Manager is a key member of the family engagement team who collaborates interdepartmentally to design and manage Meridian’s marketing and communications. Reporting to the Director of Development, Community, and Family Engagement, the ideal candidate will bring demonstrated experience designing, managing and executing innovative marketing and communications projects. This is a full time 12-month salaried position.

The specific responsibilities for the Marketing and Communications Manager include, but are not limited to:

External Communication Projects, including:

Developing a strong marketing and messaging strategy for Meridian, engaging stakeholders in the process

Creating high-quality materials, both written pieces and visuals, to ensure consistent organizational messaging

Managing school website, including drafting content and graphics, and assisting with website redesign project (currently in progress)

Drafting and designing communications for diverse audiences, such as e-newsletters, flyers, brochures, etc.

Pursuing outlets for media placements and coverage

Preparing and disseminating press releases

Serving as  media contact for the organization and managing all logistics associated with media visits

Developing overall social media strategy and plan, ensure successful implementation and evaluation of strategy

Maintaining the school brand: standardized design for all materials, including school merchandise, newsletters, communication templates, brochures, and other print and web development and outreach materials

Creating high quality visuals to attract potential families and staff to Meridian

Creating and editing internal and external communications

Digital Marketing Strategy, including:

Design and produce compelling content to boost Meridian’s social media presence

Creates content for campus-based and school-wide newsletters, parent communications, and social media platforms

Manages daily engagement on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms

Coordinates social media marketing campaigns for student recruitment events; Open House Night, recruitment fairs, and other recruiting events

Collaborates with teachers and other staff for the purpose of content creation

Development-focused priorities, including:

Drafting content and designing materials for fundraising appeals in coordination with development team

Creating promotional materials for fundraising initiatives

Assisting in preparing presentations for internal and external meetings

Internal Communications, including:

Standardizing design for all organizational materials including publications, merchandise, website, and outreach materials

Taking high-quality photos and video of school events, students, and staff

Managing marketing assets including edited videos, raw video footage, and photography

Ensures consistent brand voice, vision, and aesthetic are achieved

Manages all internal department relationships and project needs for the communications team

Creates a marketing plan and materials related to student achievement, school-wide events, student and staff recruitment, and community-based partnerships

Attends family engagement and other school-based events

Working hours include evenings outside of regular school hours to support school-wide, 2-3 times per month

​ QUALIFICATIONS

Successful candidates will possess the following qualifications:

Educational Background and Work Experience

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, communications, or relevant field

Minimum of two years professional experience or relevant internships

Experience in working with diverse communities and/or in diverse educational settings

Knowledge, Skills, and Characteristics

Keen understanding of design systems and brand development

Proven experience in marketing and communications, with a track record of successful campaigns that attract and retain students, parents/guardians, and the community

Proficiency with graphic design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or similar graphic programs), digital marketing tools, social media platforms, content management systems, and analytics

Ability to work within the guidelines of established brand identity and voice

Exceptional organizational skills to manage multiple projects in a time-sensitive environment

Experience publishing written and visual web content

Photography or videography experience

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Ability to manage competing priorities

Detail oriented, with the ability to produce quality work while meeting deadlines

Strong interpersonal skills with a passion for creative storytelling

Loves to collaborate and is an excellent team player

Spanish language skills are a plus

SALARY AND BENEFITS

A recent TNTP Insight Survey of our teachers placed our staff’s satisfaction with compensation in the top quartile of all charter schools in DC. We also lead the charter sector in compensation transparency and publish our salary scales for teachers, apprentice teachers, and dedicated aides here.

Meridian teachers and staff are compensated competitively for their time and have opportunities to earn additional income through leadership opportunities at the school level, offering extracurricular clubs and sports for students, and facilitating tutoring programs.

The salary range for the Marketing and Communications Manager is $70,000-$80,000.