Director of Communications & Marketing
20 hours ago
Metuchen
Director of Communications & Marketing Reports to: Director of Advancement Supervises: Communications & Marketing Coordinator Classification: Full-time, exempt Position Summary Saint Joseph High School seeks a strategic, hands-on Director of Communications & Marketing to lead an integrated communications and marketing program that elevates the School's visibility and reputation in a manner consistent with its mission, strategic plan, enrollment goals, and fundraising objectives. The Director owns the School's brand, voice, and message across every channel, external and internal, from the website and social media to press, print, events, and community outreach. As a member of the Advancement Team, the Director reports to the Director of Advancement and serves as a close partner to the Principal, the Assistant Principal/Director of Admissions, and the Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations. The Director also leads, mentors, and develops the Communications & Marketing Coordinator. The ideal candidate is both a strategist and a practitioner: a gifted writer and storyteller who can set direction, use data to guide decisions, manage multiple priorities and deadlines, and communicate with warmth and authenticity to every member of the Saint Joseph community. Key ResponsibilitiesStrategy & Brand Leadership • Develop and execute an annual, integrated communications and marketing plan that supports community awareness, enrollment, constituent engagement, and fundraising, with clear goals and measurable outcomes., • Serve as steward of the School's brand; maintain, update, and enforce brand and style guidelines for all internal and external materials, including print, digital, signage, apparel, and event collateral., • Use market insight, trend analysis, analytics, and feedback from constituents to refine messaging, audience segmentation, and channel strategy., • Prepare regular reports for the President and leadership team on key performance indicators such as web traffic, social engagement, email performance, inquiry and application conversion, and campaign results. Content, Digital & Creative Oversight • Oversee the design, copywriting, development, and production of all marketing and communications materials in support of the School's mission, personally writing and editing high-priority pieces., • Partner with English Department to identify student writers through the school’s Media/Communications courses and clubs., • Provide strategic direction for the School's website (Finalsite), including content architecture, SEO, accessibility, and ongoing improvements, in partnership with the Coordinator and relevant departments., • Direct the School's social media strategy across platforms (Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, and others as appropriate), including editorial calendar, tone, community management guidelines, and performance review., • Guide the production of photography, video, and multimedia storytelling that showcases academics, student life, athletics, faith life, and alumni achievement., • Manage the School's email and e-newsletter communications and ensure message consistency across channels. Media Relations & Spokesperson Role • Serve as the School's primary media contact and spokesperson; draft and distribute press releases, pitch stories, and coordinate media events and interviews., • Develop and maintain crisis and emergency communications protocols, and lead communications responses in partnership with the President and school leadership., • Monitor media coverage and online sentiment; protect and strengthen the School's reputation., • Spearhead President and other key stakeholders’ talking points/speeches for public events Advancement & Development Communications • Collaborate with the Directors of Advancement and Alumni Relations to plan and produce the school's Annual Fund appeals, Annual Report, case-for-support materials, donor stewardship communications, and other advancement publications., • Support the planning and promotion of cultivation, stewardship, and community events such as the Golf Classic, Green Tie Gala, Athletics Hall of Fame, Hall of Distinction and Homecoming., • Tell compelling stories of impact for donors, alumni, parents, and friends of the School., • Lead marketing efforts for key fundraisers including Giving Day and Giving Tuesday Enrollment Marketing & Admissions Partnership • Partner with the Principal and the Assistant Principal/Director of Admissions to develop and execute enrollment marketing strategy, including campaigns, viewbooks, digital advertising, inquiry nurturing, and recruitment messaging., • Coordinate advertising, promotion, and communications for Open House and other admissions events., • Track and report on the effectiveness of enrollment marketing efforts and recommend adjustments., • Assist in communications efforts to prospective families Internal Communications • Partner with school leadership to plan and deliver consistent, timely communications to faculty, staff, students, and families. Includes weekly newsletters and leadership communications, • Create and maintain the School-wide communications calendar to coordinate messaging, avoid conflicts, and ensure key audiences are well informed. Leadership & Administration • Supervise, coach, and evaluate the Communications & Marketing Coordinator; set priorities, provide feedback, and support professional growth., • Develop and manage the communications and marketing budget; select and manage outside vendors, agencies, photographers, printers, and freelancers., • Work as a productive, collaborative member of the Advancement Team and the broader school community., • Perform other duties as assigned by the President. QualificationsRequired • Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public/Media Relations, English, Business, or a closely related field., • Five or more years of progressive experience in communications, marketing, or public relations, including experience developing and executing strategic communications and marketing plans., • Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to adapt voice and tone for different audiences., • Demonstrated experience managing social media, website content, and digital communications, including use of analytics to measure and improve results., • Proficiency with content management systems, email marketing platforms, and design tools (such as Adobe Creative Suite or Canva)., • Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and consistently meet deadlines., • Demonstrated ability to develop, manage, and track a communications and marketing budget, allocating resources effectively, negotiating with vendors, and delivering strong results within budget., • Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills; poise and professionalism as a spokesperson., • Demonstrated ability to supervise, mentor, and collaborate with others., • Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends for school and advancement events. Preferred • Experience in independent, Catholic, or other private education, or in a non-profit or mission-driven organization., • Experience with enrollment marketing and/or fundraising and advancement communications., • Experience with Finalsite or a comparable school website platform, and with a constituent relationship management (CRM) or advancement database., • Experience with photography, video production, or multimedia storytelling., • Experience with crisis communications and budget management. Core Competencies • Strategic thinking: Connects communications work to enrollment, fundraising, and mission outcomes., • Storytelling: Finds and shares meaningful, authentic moments from school life., • Brand stewardship: Maintains a consistent, recognizable voice and visual identity., • Data-informed decision making: Uses metrics and feedback to guide priorities., • Collaboration and relationship building: Builds trust with leadership, faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, trustees, donors, and friends., • Leadership: Develops and empowers a team member while modeling initiative and accountability., • Discretion and judgment: Handles sensitive information and public-facing situations with care. Working Conditions This is a full-time, on-campus position with a regular schedule during the school day. Occasional evening and weekend hours are required for events such as Open House, athletics, Homecoming, the Falcon Golf Classic, and the Green Tie Gala. The role requires the ability to use a computer for extended periods, carry light equipment for event coverage, and move about campus. Compensation & Benefits The salary range will be set based on market benchmarking and the candidate's experience and will be confirmed prior to posting. The School offers a competitive benefits package, to be described by Human Resources. The base salary has a ceiling of $65,000. How to Apply Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and portfolio or writing samples to nalfano@stjoes.org. Please include "Director of Communications & Marketing Application" in the subject line. Saint Joseph High School is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply.