Crisis Communications Manager

ABOUT CPS:
Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) serves 35,000 students preschool to 12th grade in over 65 schools across a 91-square-mile district in Southwest Ohio. Cincinnati Public Schools is Greater Cincinnati's largest school district.

CPS is Ohio's fastest-growing, large-city district, with enrollment up more than 20 percent since 2012-13.

CPS offers families high-quality educational choices and a variety of academic programs. Our innovative approach to education, an investment and caring teachers, and a vast array of collaborative partnerships have accelerated students' achievement to highest levels in decades - ensuring that students thrive and graduate prepared to enter college, the military and the workforce.

Cincinnati Public is looking for creative, innovative, passionate, problem-solvers to join our team. We seek to have a positive impact on our children and families every day and are looking for staff members who want to not only do an excellent job with their career field but also serve as a role model for the children in CPS. We invite you to become a member of our CPS work family.

CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

POSITION SUMMARY
The Cincinnati Public Schools invites applications for the position of Crisis Communications Manager. This position reports to the Chief Communications Officer.


PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
The essential job functions include, but are not limited to, the following fundamental duties:

• Ensure that all crisis communications align with Board policies and standards.
• Collaborate with principals to develop and implement an effective communications strategy, based on our target audience.
• Collaborate and participate in the delivery of the District’s on-line presence.
• Identify communications opportunities for the District to improve crisis communication services and outcomes.
• Make rapid decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future needs.
• Proactively forecast potential issues and crisis response for the District.
• Monitor media issues and collaborate on media training and coaching.
• Build strong internal relations with internal and external contacts to ensure issues that arise are handled appropriately.
• Manage and track trends, results, and improvement opportunities in relation to District processes and operations.
• Create communications strategies and formulate appropriate messaging for sensitive and confidential materials to be communicated to internal and external audiences.
• Partner with the communications team to provide strategic tactics for issue responses within social media, digital, video, press releases, pitches and more.
• Respond to media inquiries in a timely manner.
• Provide appropriate information to reporters which align to Board policies.
• Assist in tracking confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing or related field from an accredited college or similar work experience; or associate’s degree with related work experience.

COMPETENCIES

OWNERSHIP

• Plan, produce and publish printed and digital materials.
• Must possess exceptional oral and written communication skills and be able to compose engaging and accurate content.
• Must be reliable to discreetly and competently handle confidential and sensitive client information.

CUSTOMER FOCUS

• Assist in developing communications and marketing materials geared toward CPS’ communications initiatives.
• Develop strong relationships with media representatives.

CULTURAL COMPETENCE

• Experience developing and executing social campaigns required.
• Understand, communicate with and effectively interact with populaces.
• Communication skills demonstrate empathy, connect with the audience, and exhibit knowledge.

COLLABORATION ACROSS BOUNDARIES

• Understand cross-cultural context, know when/how to contribute, and contribute to a shared outcome.
• Work with communications team members to conceptualize and implement communications strategies and campaigns.

CLEAR AND CANDID COMMUNICATION

• Maintain consistent voice throughout all of CPS content.
• Speak clearly and persuasively; listen and get clarification when necessary; respond informatively to questions; demonstrate group presentation skills; participate in meetings.
• Use metrics to drive content decisions and share these insights with stakeholders in a timely manner.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Plan, produce and publish printed and digital materials.

PLANNING AND EXECUTING

• Able to thrive in a fast-paced environment and be able to triage priorities.
• Prioritize and plan work activities; use time efficiently; plan for additional resources; set goals and objectives.

CONTRACT PROVISIONS:

Type Contract: Limited 260 days
SALARY RANGE: Manager I – Per CAAS Agreement

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
All interested applicants should submit a resume and application online at http://www.cps-k12.org/, click on employment, then Apply Online.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Note: A lead teacher in a position may not be appointed to an administrative position while serving as a lead teacher. A lead teacher may apply for an administrative position if the lead teacher resigns the lead teacher position prior to submitting an application, however, selection is not guaranteed. A consulting teacher may not be appointed to an administrative position while serving as a consulting teacher and for one full school year after serving as a consulting teacher.
Certain jobs at Cincinnati Public Schools may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation are available upon request from Talent Acquisition and Staffing.
Cincinnati Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and is subject to federal regulations pertaining to employment. The district has a continuing non-discrimination policy which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status. We hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER