Marketing and Communications Manager

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.

ABOUT THE POSITION

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

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.