Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or Public Relations required.
Master's degree preferred.
Over 10 years of direct experience in Communications, particularly in crisis and public relations.
Proven capacity to manage and engage internal and external stakeholders effectively.
Highly creative mindset with a track record of innovative content development.
Robust media contacts and strong crisis management skills required.
Ability to respond swiftly outside regular business hours.
Experience with high-level administrators and handling confidential information.
Responsibilities
Oversee and manage the district's strategic outreach efforts including crisis and preemptive communications.
Develop and manage strategic communications with media and partners.
Cultivate strategic relationships to improve student experiences across various groups.
Lead and align the media relations, digital communications, and creative services teams.
Conceptualize crisis communication strategies and a districtwide crisis response framework.
Serve as the on-call communications lead and district spokesperson.
Coach staff on crisis responses and media messaging techniques.
Direct the creation of marketing collateral to enhance storytelling and engagement.
Benefits
Flexible schedule to respond to communication challenges rapidly.
Creative environment fostering innovation and fresh ideas.
Opportunity to impact student experiences positively through strategic communications.
Collaboration with diverse stakeholders including civic groups and businesses.
Access to district resources for professional development.
Full Job Description
Description
The Executive Director of Strategic Engagement and Crisis Communications will oversee and manage the district's strategic outreach efforts, including crisis and preemptive communications, media and public relations, marketing, special events and related activities for all schools and central offices. This position will oversee budget and ensure quality control of all information released externally and monitor progress toward goal achievement.
Develop and manage strategic communications with media and partners to generate student, staff and district storytelling opportunities to align and enhance the district's overall brand among audiences.
Build, cultivate and monitor strategic relations using public relations strategies that foster and increase engagement among district partners, volunteers, businesses, civic groups, and local and national media to improve the student experience and learning environments.
Oversee the district's Media Relations, Dallas Schools Television, Digital Communications, and Creative Services teams, ensuring their efforts, strategies, and messaging align with departmental goals.
Lead crisis communication strategies and develop and implement a districtwide crisis response framework for campuses and departments.
Serve as the 24-hour, on-call communications lead and district spokesperson designee.
Coach all principals, departments and other key staff to respond appropriately and manage the message through crisis situations and general story development that highlights the work of the district.
Conceptualize and guide the creative vision for specialized programs.
Develop, review and distribute talking points, press releases, and speeches for all schools and central staff, trustee notices, official statements, and media responses in collaboration with the news director for media events and inquiries.
Direct the development of marketing collateral and videos to guide the creative storytelling process to engage and inform all audiences.
Liaise with senior staff to manage and oversee multiple projects, various special events, including work distribution, timelines, and product delivery in a responsive manner.
Qualifications
Required Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in Communications, journalism, marketing, or public relations.
Preferred Master's degree from an accredited university.
Required 10 + years of directly related experience in Communications including crisis, media, external and/or public relations.
Experience managing communications with a proven ability to build relationships and engage internal and external stakeholder groups for a complex organization.
Highly creative and able to think outside the norm and lead team members to develop fresh content and strategies.
Possesses an extensive list of media contacts with strong crisis/issues management skills.
Availability to mobilize and respond at a moments' notice outside of regular business day.
Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure in fast-paced environments.
Experience working with high-level administrators, leadership teams and handling information of a confidential and sensitive nature.
Proven ability to work well with others demonstrating the district's Core 4 values, in deadline situations and handle stressful situations.
Clear understanding of the commitment to the role and social responsibility of communications and public relations for an organization.
