SALARY: $203,978 (Non-Negotiable)
POSITION SUMMARY: Federal Way Public Schools seeks an experienced and successful communications leader with a commitment to equity to serve as the Chief Communications Officer. The Chief Communications Officer develops, implements and monitors a comprehensive strategic communications program in support of the District’s Strategic Plan, Vision for Excellence and Equity, goals, and objectives. The Chief Communications Officer gathers, prepares, and disseminates information to all stakeholders utilizing culturally responsive communication tools, including school and District websites, voice messaging system, publications, news releases, and social media to ensure equity of access for essential information. The Chief Communications Officer works with the Superintendent or designee in the development and implementation of the District’s program of public relations and internal and external communications plan aligned with District, Superintendent, and Board goals.
The Chief Communications Officer consults with the Superintendent’s senior management to develop communications strategy, handling all sensitive issues. The Chief Communications Officer manages media messaging; oversees news releases and advisories from the Superintendent’s Offices. The Chief Communications Officer applies a broad range of creative and technical skills to the development of staff expertise and to the assurance of skillful public relations.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed while in other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Advise the Superintendent and administration on broad communications strategies, as well as specific communication opportunities designed to create and maintain a favorable public image for the district.
• Help execute those strategies through media outreach, events, social media, website, voice messaging system, and other tactics.
• Assist the Superintendent or designee in planning and coordinating a comprehensive communications/marketing plan.
• Direct and edit material designed for internal and external communication to ensure credibility, understanding, and readability, and to approve format, style, content, grammar, and composition.
• Provide support to and assist the Superintendent with both the District’s and the Superintendent’s public relations and communications plans by collaboratively reviewing, revising, and implementing a plan that will build partnerships within the community.
• Establish and maintain a positive and cooperative working relationship with the local and regional press and representatives of other news media.
• Coordinate press and media relations for the District to ensure positive coverage of the District’s educational program and services; issue news releases to the local media; arrange press conferences as necessary; suggest photo features, television news ideas, and public service announcements.
• Design, develop and implement emergency internal and external communications protocol utilizing a variety of tools to inform local and regional media, parents, staff, community members, and government agencies.
• Consult with the Superintendent and administrative staff to develop communications strategies and protocol for sensitive and emerging issues.
• Provide communications and public relations counsel to schools and departments. Serve as a District resource to provide administrator training regarding best practices in communicating with the public.
• Develop employee awareness of their roles in maintaining good community relations.
• Serve as the District liaison to community organizations including, but not limited to, chambers of commerce and service clubs.
• Establish and maintain contact with community leaders and interest groups; serve on District and regional committees such as Key Communicators and Puget Sound ESD Communications Network.
• Attend regular and special meetings of the Board of Education and disseminate the actions of the Board to the news media, District employees, and the community as needed. Coordinate requests for interviews, respond to questions, and provide results of Board actions, as appropriate.
• Maintain familiarity with general educational trends and effective practices and an in-depth knowledge of current thinking and innovations in areas of responsibility.
• Design, develop, and implement strategic communications and public relations plans for special initiatives such as federal, state or local educational initiatives, local tax initiatives, and other related District activities.
• Execute, select, and manage vendor contracts and relationships to provide professional services such as writing, graphic design, printing, mailing, photographic and video services, district app and voice messaging system.
• Supervise and evaluate Communications Department Staff, implementing professional development plan to grow capacity of members of the department.
• Administer discretionary budget for the department, ensuring fiscal responsibility and appropriate planning to meet the goals of the District.
• Direct special projects as assigned by the Superintendent.
• Other duties as assigned by the Superintendent.

Required QualificationsEducation and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in journalism, public relations, advertising, and/or communications or related field.
• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience with public relations and communication.
• Any combination of education, experience, and training that provide the incumbent or applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work, as determined by the district, may substitute for the minimum qualifications set forth above.
• Strong writing and editing skills.

Preferred QualificationsMaster’s degree in related field.
Experience in serving as an executive, cabinet-level administrator in urban public education.
Experience working in public schools and/or considerable knowledge of the functions and operations of a large public school district.
Conditions Of EmploymentCriminal background clearance
Washington State driver’s license and proof of insurance and automobile available for use.
Must be willing to attend evening and weekend events
Knowledge OfCurrent trends in public and media relations and marketing, including multi-media production techniques, social media, and electronic communication channels.
knowledge of techniques for the writing and preparation of news releases, promotional brochures, and other informational materials; knowledge and experience in journalistic principles and newspaper writing.
Techniques for the writing and preparation of news releases, promotional brochures, and other informational materials; knowledge and experience in journalistic principles and newspaper writing.
Website development and management.
Publication materials.
The application of surveys and other information-gathering processes to determine attitudes and reactions to District programs.
Ability ToDirect, develop, and implement a multifaceted communications plan in support of the District’s goals and objectives and to develop effective communication strategies for the diverse Federal Way communities served by the district.
Possess strong project management skills and the ability to oversee and coordinate multiple projects and events.
Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, and customer service skills.
Direct, develop, and troubleshoot communications strategies for emerging or crisis issues.
Function in an environment characterized by potential for high levels of stress.
Demonstrate proficiency with current technology for performance of duties.
Supervise staff, including classified staff and non-represented staff.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES RELATED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND EQUITY:Knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.
Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the District.
Ability to understand and hold self and others accountable for promoting the Federal Way Public Schools’ commitment to “Each Scholar: A Voice. A Dream. A Bright Future.”
Ability to recognize that each person is a unique individual even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage.
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.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will constantly sit, stand and walk, bend neck and back, and use hands for repetitive grasping and pushing/pulling, hear and speak. The employee is frequently required to squat, kneel, use hands for fine manipulation, knee stand and push/pull. The employee will occasionally be required to climb stairs/ladder, lift and reach overhead, and lift/carry. The employee must constantly lift/carry up to 10 pounds and must frequently lift /carry up to 20 pounds. The employee will occasionally lift/carry a maximum of 35 lbs. The employee is occasionally required to push/pull a maximum weight of 200 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in indoor conditions and regularly works near video display. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee may deal with angry and upset students, parents, and community members. The employee must adjust to frequent interruptions in their work schedule. Evening and weekend work may be required. The employee may be required to travel (by car and/or plane) to a variety of locations.
WORK SCHEDULEThis position is 12 months, 260 days per year. The person in this position is occasionally required to attend evening meetings and is frequently required to work overtime.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPThis position is evaluated by and reports directly to the Superintendent.
Position interacts regularly with the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, Chief Human Resource Officer, Chief Academic Officer, Chief Finance Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Learning Improvement Officers, Executive Director of Safety and Security; Superintendent’s Cabinet and Leadership Teams, Building Administrators. Position also interacts with various other certificated and classified staff throughout the district. Contacts with individuals outside of the district include, but are not limited to, parents, students, partner agency representatives, local media, local, state, and federal government officials, and various community groups.
The Chief Communications Officer serves as the designated spokesperson for the Superintendent’s office. The Chief Communications Officer serves as the primary liaison between the Superintendent’s office and the media, and acts as principal spokesperson on all District policy matters, public information, and sensitive issues.
REPRESENTATIONNon-represented
Level Of CompensationCabinet level: Currently $203,978
This position includes the following benefits prorated based on FTE: medical, dental, vision, sick and vacation leave, life insurance and retirement.
CLASSIFICATION HISTORYUpdate 03/2024
DisclaimerThe preceding list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the scope of responsibility and the level of knowledge and skills typically required, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements, skills or duties so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.
All employment open positions are made available on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or veteran status.
Job descriptions are written as a representative list of the ADA essential duties performed by the entire classification. They cannot include, and are not intended to include, every possible activity and task performed by every specific employee.