Digital Communications Specialist

Job Description

The Digital Communications Specialist supports Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) by developing and executing strategic digital communications that highlight the division’s mission, vision, and accomplishments. This role manages ACPS’ social media platforms, two weekly newsletters (one for the school community and one for staff), and contributes to division-wide engagement initiatives. With a focus on increasing engagement, the specialist will actively tell the ACPS story by highlighting the achievements of students and staff on social media.

The digital communications specialist also leads the development of the digital and printed Back-to-School Packet by convening staff as needed, updates the associated forms to ensure families receive critical information at the start of each school year, and tracks the completion rate of the packets. This role requires regular visits to schools to capture photos and videos of students, staff, and school activities, as well as attendance at evening and weekend events to provide communications support.

The digital communications specialist is integral to ACPS’ mission of fostering an equitable and engaging learning environment for all students. This role supports the division’s strategic communications goals and ensures that ACPS’ story is told effectively across all digital platforms.

This 12-month, Support position reports to the Assistant Director of Communications.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in public relations, mass communications or a related field.
• Experience:
• Two years of training and experience in public education and media relations work preferred
• Knowledge of digital communications best practices and principles, including but not limited to writing for the web, social media engagement, graphic design, photography, email design, marketing, and analytics.
• Proficiency with current technology for performance of duties, including digital communications platforms, social media platforms, analytics software, mobile phone apps, video editing, and graphic design software.
• Possesses an equity mindset, with the ability to adapt communications for a diverse audience and work with translated content.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking and judgment skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation and interpersonal communication skills.
• Considerable research and organizational skills, and the ability to manage several projects at once in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to develop a digital communications strategy and produce creative, effective and engaging digital communications content.
• Skillful in collaborating with colleagues across departments and developing digital communications as part of broader school division communications campaigns and goals.
• Proficiency with using Canva and the Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop.
  
  

Essential Functions

• Write and disseminate information to the public and school division staff via digital channels, including but not limited to social media, email, e-newsletters, digital graphics, and mobile apps.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive social media strategy to increase engagement and tell the ACPS story.
• Create, schedule, and manage content across social media platforms, ensuring all posts align with ACPS branding and messaging.
• Oversee and produce the division and staff newsletter, including training for central office and school-based staff, design of templates and list management by curating content that is engaging, relevant, and highlights student and staff achievements.
• Advise on best practices and guidelines for visual communications (graphic design), including preparing and formatting digital files for use in websites, social media channels and pre-press, and oversee ACPS logo and brand guidelines.
• Track and report statistics to evaluate the effectiveness of digital communications strategies.
• Writing, graphic design and typesetting for print publications and division-wide forms in multiple languages.
• Collaborate with other Office of Communications staff on projects, initiatives and events.
• Support communications needed by departments and schools, especially email messages for dissemination to staff and families.
• Work with School and Community Relations colleagues to determine appropriate communications for target audiences and to submit documents for translation before distribution to families.
• Recommend innovative avenues of communication for external and internal audiences.
• Solicit feedback from stakeholders through formal and informal means on communications and the school division in general.
• Regularly visit schools on a weekly basis to capture photos and videos showcasing educational activities, events and accomplishments.
• Lead the development process for the annual Back-to-School Packet, ensuring timely updates and improvements to forms families complete at the start of the school year.
• Provide oversight, train and evaluate the school-based PR liaisons who are responsible for highlighting the educational activities and events within their school.
• Assist with emergency/crisis communications as needed; this includes being on-call for specific evenings and weekends for dissemination of emergency communications.
• May perform other additional duties or tasks as designated by the supervisor.
• Some occasional evening and weekend work required.
  
  

Compensation

• Salary for this position is deteremined by The ACPS Support Salary Scale, Grade 34, $39.01 to $47.99 an hour
• FLSA Status: Exempt position - This position is classified as exempt, meaning it is not eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  
  

Clearances

• Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance.
• Tuberculosis Skin Test.
• Public Health Compliance - Must follow safety and health protocols.
  
  

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